Title
Resolution to Approve Contract Amendment No. 3 with WeCare Organics to Allow Merchant Post-Consumer Food Waste and Compostable Materials (No Funds Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your consideration is a resolution to approve Contract Amendment No. 3 with WeCare Organics (WeCare), to allow merchant post-consumer food waste and compostable materials to be received at the City’s Compost Facility for processing by WeCare as allowed under current Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regulations. This expanded compost processing will be continued based on mutual agreement of both the City and WeCare. The contract with WeCare for operating the City’s Compost Facility is a five-year contract that the City renewed for an additional two-year term until January 28, 2018.
Some of the merchant “commercial account” users that deliver material to the compost facility, such as the University of Michigan, have expressed significant interest in composting of commercial post-consumer food waste. WeCare would like to enter into a post consumer food waste agreement with parties such as the University of Michigan. Under such an agreement the merchants will be allowed to include post consumer food waste with pre-consumer food waste currently coming into the compost facility. This proposed contract amendment is necessary to enable this operational change to occur.
The commercial account users will be responsible for delivery of the merchant post-consumer food waste and compostable materials to the City Compost Facility. The program will be evaluated on an ongoing basis, for potential odors or end product contamination/degradation from the food waste.
With the successful implementation of the seasonal residential plate scrapings collection program, this is an incremental step in expanding food waste composting in the community.
Budget/Fiscal Impact
The proposed contract amendment will not require or result in any additional funds.
Sustainability Framework
This work will further the Responsible Resource Use goals of the City’s Sustainability Framework.
Staff
Prepared by: Christina Gomes, Solid Waste and Recycling Program Coordinator
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City’s Compost Facility Operator, WeCare Organics desires to accept merchant post-consumer food waste and compostable materials for processing at the City’s Compost Facility under Michigan Department of Environmental Quality regulations;
Whereas, The City views this as a beneficial expansion of the compost opportunities in the community and advances the Responsible Resource Use goals of the City’s Sustainability Framework;
Whereas, WeCare Organics, complies with the City’s non-discrimination and Living Wage Ordinances; and
Whereas, No additional City funding will be needed to implement this broadened program;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve Contract Amendment No. 3 with WeCare Organics to allow merchant post-consumer food waste and compostable materials at the City’s Compost Facility (No Funds Required);
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the agreement for services after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take all necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.