BethTForce – Page 36 – Florida Force

YARD WASTE PROCESSING EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATION & EVALUATION

With the partnership of FDOT, Sumter County and the Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence (FORCE), Seminole County, and Consolidated Resource Recovery a public demonstration event was arranged by Kessler Consulting, Inc. to test and evaluate yard waste processing and composting equipment that effectively separates plastic bags from compost and yard waste. The demonstration event was held on January 25th, 2007 at the Seminole County Yard Waste Processing Facility.

All Public and private sector yard waste processing and composting industry personnel within the state of Florida were invited to attend the demonstration. Two very different pieces of equipment were featured:

Komptech- Multistar - L3, Star Screen with Air Classifier
Airlift Separator – AL 200D Diesel

RESULTS

PRE-CONSUMER FOOD WASTE COMPOSTING DEMO

The purpose of this project is to establish a composting demonstration for source-separated food waste (vegetative waste and animal by-products) from supermarkets. The project will demonstrate proper design and operations and help to promote diversion of this major source of feed waste in Florida. The project is conceived as a demonstration of what can be accomplished under the proposed revisions to Chapter 62-709. F.A.C. that provides a registration process for source-separated pre-consumer food waste composting. Separate compost piles will be constructed using vegetative waste versus animal by-products, incorporating yard trash as the bulking agent.

RESULTS

ON-FARM COMPOSTING DEMO

The purpose of this project was to demonstrate proper design and operational procedures for on-farm composting. The specific focus was (a) use of off-farm vegetative waste to optimize composting of yard trash or manure generated on the farm, or (b) use of off-farm yard trash as part of manure management operations regulated under Chapter 62-670. F.A.C.
This project served both research and demonstration objectives. Materials handling and composting activities were closely monitored and data regarding operational procedures, best practices, feedstock and compost quality, and economics was gathered. The information obtained and the operation itself demonstrated and helped to promote efficient and environmentally-sound on-farm composting.

RESULTS

Learn More About Food Waste

Florida Food Waste - FORCE (floridaforce.org)

Interested in learning more about food waste in Florida and how your organization can help Florida reach its 75% recycling goal? Visit the FORCE website link here, hover over the RESOURCES page and you will see the FORCE Florida Food Waste subpage. There you will find links highlighting the importance of food waste reduction in Florida, including a link to Florida Food Waste Prevention Week (April 7-13, 2025), which includes activities and events aimed at raising awareness and encouraging behavior changes to reduce food waste. The page also contains resources for organizations and local governments on food waste generation and recovery, including historical and current guides, resources and reports.

Biosolids Composting

Biosolids Composting in Florida

Biosolids Composting - FORCE (floridaforce.org)

Some of you know about biosolids a.k.a “sewage sludge.” For those that do not, this nutrient-rich organic material is a result from the treatment of domestic sewage in wastewater treatment facilities. After undergoing processes to remove contaminants and pathogens, biosolids can be safely recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. To learn more about how to manage biosolids in Florida as a part of an organics recycling program visit the FORCE website link here, hover over the EDUCATION page and you will see the FORCE Rules and Regulations subpage. There you will find links about biosolids in Florida, including Florida’s biosolids rules and a link to the FDEP Domestic Wastewater Biosolids page which contains a biosolids land application site map, a self-evaluation tool for land application sites, a biosolids calculation spreadsheet and other useful links for biosolids in Florida.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food Diversion

EPA Organics Recycling Program

EPA Food Diversion - FORCE (floridaforce.org)

Looking for information on food waste organics in the United States including what your organization can do to help reduce food waste? Visit the FORCE website link here, hover over the RESOURCES page and you will see the EPA Food Diversion subpage under the Food Waste subpage. There you will find links to the EPA & USDA Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal for 2030, the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy, and a multitude of resources regarding Municipal Food Waste Planning and the EPA’s guides for reducing food waste at business and work locations. A few of our favorite tools are the “Food Waste Assessment Guidebook” and the “Food Waste Management Cost Calculator,” which estimates the cost competitiveness of alternatives to food waste disposal, including source reduction, donation, composting & recycling of yellow grease.

State Regulations

Florida Department of Environmental Protection State Regulations

State Regulations - FORCE (floridaforce.org)

Looking for a list of state regulations and policy memos regarding composting and organics recycling in Florida? Visit the FORCE website State Regulations page. There you will find links to Florida’s composting rules and regulations, along with an FDEP Composting Regulatory Report. This report provides an analysis of, and recommendations for, solid waste regulations for organics recycling facilities for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Florida School Food Waste Program and Resources Part 2

Florida School Food Waste Program and Resources Part 2

Resources Page for Florida (FL) Schools and Food Waste Management

Visit the FORCE website school food waste sub-page and hover your mouse over it to explore innovative information for FL school food waste reduction programs, including but not limited to the following resources: 1) FDACS Role, 2) Food Recovery Importance, 3) School Food Waste Challenge, 4) Resources for Schools, 5) School Gardens, 6) Share Tables, 7) Food Donations, 8) Starting a Food Donation Program, and 9) Food Donation Programs. This subpage contains a plethora of information to learn the language and the important role that food waste management plays in the FL school system. According to the USDA, K-12 schools have a special role in not only reducing, recovering, and recycling food waste on their premises, but also in educating the next generation about recovering wholesome, excess food for donation. And serve as an important conduit for reducing food to conserve nature’s resources and natural resources in food production. The information on this page is intended to provide FL specific information to FL schools (K-12).

Please help FORCE spread the word to the appropriate contacts for the schools in your area or to schools your kids attend.

Florida School Food Waste Program and Resources

Resources Page for Florida (FL) Schools and Food Waste Management - https://floridaforce.org/school-food-waste/

Visit the FORCE website school food waste sub-page and hover your mouse over it to explore innovative information for FL school food waster education programs, including but not limited to the following resources: 1) FDACS Role, 2) Food Recovery Importance, 3) School Food Waste Challenge, 4) Resources for Schools, 5) School Gardens, 6) Share Tables, 7) Food Donations, 8) Starting a Food Donation Program, and 9) Food Donation Programs. This subpage contains a plethora of information to learn the language and the important role that food waste management plays in the FL school system. According to the USDA, K-12 schools have a special role in not only reducing, recovering, and recycling food waste on their premises, but also in educating the next generation about recovering wholesome, excess food for donation. And serve as an important conduit for reducing food to conserve nature’s resources and natural resources in food production. The information on this page is intended to provide FL specific information to FL schools (K-12).

Please help FORCE spread the word to the appropriate contacts for the schools in your area or to schools your kids attend. Thank you.