2021 Waste Diversion Grants Program, Round I

Organization Name:

RFP Section &

Page Number Question

* If a question is not related to any section of the RFP, state “N/A” under “RFP Section & Page Number”.

** Add additional rows, if necessary.

Program Introduction

Through an exciting and innovative partnership between the City of Sanford and Garbage to Garden, the City of Sanford will increase its recycling rate by increasing the amount of organic material that is diverted from MSW. Garbage to Garden will expand its service area to include the City of Sanford and the Village of Springvale and the City will help promote composting to all residents.

This program, which will introduce a consolidated drop-off location and a subsidized curbside composting program for residents of Sanford and Springvale will provide the first alternative to home composting in the area and will increase community awareness of the many community and environmental benefits of

composting at all levels. Residents will be able to recycle all of their food scraps, including animal products and other items that it is not possible to compost at home.

Savings from Households that Compost

Sanford will save about $3/month for each household that starts composting. The average household

generates 600lbs per year of compostable waste, which currently represents nearly ⅓ of a ton of MSW. Based on the FY21 ecoMaine tipping fee of $75.50/ton, and the estimated cost of hauling MSW from Sanford to Westbrook/Portland of $25.00/ton, the savings from one household composting is $33/year.

Subsidy for Service

To encourage residents to start composting, and to create momentum around the program, the City of Sanford will contribute toward the cost of service for every household that joins the program, while funds last. This subsidy is intended to get the program off the ground, and it could be reduced or eliminated in the future. A subsidy of $5 per household per month will have a tremendous impact on the early success of the program, as it will be part of a collaborative effort with Garbage to Garden to make the program very affordable to all

residents. While the $5 subsidies may come from grant funds, the City of Sanford will recoup most of the cost through reductions in MSW. (Garbage to Garden pays its own tipping fees using subscription fees).

Special Program from Garbage to Garden

To help dramatically reduce the costs for Sanford Residents, Garbage to Garden will offer a special program created exclusively for the City of Sanford that matches the municipal subsidy with GtG’s own rate discount.

With a $5 per month subsidy from the City of Sanford, Garbage to Garden will offer weekly service for just

$5/month cost to the household.

Residents will receive compost collection on their existing trash day with a clean bucket provided with every service. Garbage to Garden will also collect fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in separate containers, to be turned into biodiesel as well as biodegradable degreaser that is used to clean buckets. Finished compost will be delivered to any resident at the time of service for just $3.25 per bag.

This program offers such an astounding value, that it is easy to imagine that Sanford’s composting program could become a success story that reaches well beyond the borders of the State of Maine.

Free-to-resident Drop-off Location

Garbage to Garden will provide materials, containers and signage to be installed at the Sanford Transfer Station to serve as a consolidated collection point for residential organics from city residents. This location will be serviced once or twice weekly by Garbage to Garden, and will be billed directly to the City of Sanford in a manner to be determined, at a rate that is lower than the cost of MSW disposal. For residents, using this drop-off will be free of charge. While many people prefer the convenience of curbside service and the clean bucket provided with our program, this provides a great option with no direct cost for those who feel they do not generate enough food scraps or do not wish to take on even the modest $5.00/monthly fee.

Outreach and Marketing Plan

Garbage to Garden will work closely with the City of Sanford to spread the word about composting in Sanford, the benefits to individual households and to the community at large. We will educate new participants on the specifics of the program, what can be composted, and best practices for an easy, convenient, and trouble-free experience.

Garbage to Garden has experience engaging with local residents to educate and inspire their neighbors to compost their food scraps. Garbage to Garden will design unique print materials that specifically promote the Sanford compost programs, both the subsidized curbside program and the drop-off program. Our routes will start off small and this will allow our staff members to spend a portion of each day promoting the program with various outreach strategies. We will seek out relationships with local businesses and organizations like the Sanford Farmers Market to further promote composting in Sanford and will offer Sanford residents

opportunities to receive free service in exchange for help promoting the program.

To ensure the widespread success of the program we envision that the City of Sanford will use a portion of grant funds (if awarded) to bolster outreach in the community, including the cost of print materials. The City will work with Garbage to Garden to spread the word through official city communications on all relevant channels, hosting events to promote the program, and by facilitating relationships with relevant community organizations.

Technical (Non-Price) Proposal RFP 21-0132

Addendum A

Technical (Non-Price) Proposal RFP 21-0132

In document A G E N D A MEETING - Solid Waste Sub-Committee Manager's Conference Room (Page 28-40)