The Solid Waste Department (SWD) requests City Council approval authority to apply for grant funds from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Composting and Food Waste Reduction Grant Pilot Project, authorizing the Department Director to act as the City’s Representative in the application process, to electronically apply for, accept, and expend the grant funds, if awarded, and to electronically apply for, accept, and expend all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the application and to extend the budget period; containing provisions relating to the subject.
The estimated grant value is $400,000.00. There is a 25% match from Fund 2305 Special Recycling Revenue Fund of $100,000.00. The anticipated project period is from March 1, 2024, to February 28, 2026.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
The City of Houston provides residential solid waste collection services to nearly 400,000 households. Residents receive garbage collection once per week and recycling every other week. We believe that Houston’s goal to reduce the environmental impacts of solid waste disposal by improving the diversion rate of food waste generated through the solid waste system perfectly aligns with the USDA’s priorities for this funding. We offer the following request to fund our continued effort to grow composting efforts that will have a direct effect on landfill capacity.
The program has three main objectives: 1) engage with communities through online and broadcast media, printed messages, and community outreach, including focused direct education in food waste and composting 2) work closely with community partners such as the Houston Independent School District, non-profit urban food production organizations, and for-profit food waste composting organizations to launch and sustain additional food waste/compost drop-off locations. 3) Provide home composting kits, kitchen composting receptacles, and family food waste transport containers free of charge upon completion of applicable training. In this way the City of Houston can improve the diversion rate of recyclable materials generated through the solid waste system by developing and testing strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans.
The program goals potentially funded by this grant may be achieved through diversifying the City’s approach towards food waste composting education in the following areas:
* Social media
* Broadcasting and public service announcements (PSA’s)
* Website development
* Focused direct education
* Food waste drop-off locations
* Home composting kits
Fiscal Note:
Funding for this item is included in the FY24 Adopted Budget. Therefore, No Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies. No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
Director's Signature:
__________________________
Mark C. Wilfalk
Director, Solid Waste Management Dept.
|
Estimated Fiscal Operating Impact
|
|
Recurring or One-Time
|
One-Time
|
|
Fund Name
|
FY2024
|
Out Year
|
Total
|
|
SWD-Recycling Revenue Fund
|
$100,000.00
|
$0
|
$100,000.00
|
|
Total
|
$100,000.00
|
$0
|
$100,000.00
|