Digester project near Tulare would turn organic waste into renewable transportation fuel

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https://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1524580875/Digester-project-near-Tulare-would-turn-organic-waste-into-renewable-transportation-fuel

BY JOHN COX The Bakersfield Californian jcox@bakersfield.com

Food processors, dairies and others in Kern County may soon have a new place to send their organic waste — and with it, a new source of renewable, compressed natural gas.

This month, two state agencies awarded grants totaling $8 million to help fund construction of a $25-million biogas digester outside Tulare believed to be the first commercial-scale project of its kind in the Central Valley.

Newport Beach-based Colony Energy Partners’ project would take in a total of 500 tons per day of material such as food waste, yard trimmings, fats and even cow manure. It would come from any facility or municipality between Bakersfield and Modesto.

The 18-acre plant proposed near Paige Avenue would heat up the mixture to produce transportation-grade methane equivalent to more than 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel per day for commercial and municipal vehicle fleets. Leftover solids could serve as a soil amendment.

Colony says the project, expected to begin operation by the end of next year, offers three primary benefits: reduced emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas; less waste diverted to landfills and additional renewable transportation fuel.

“Think of us like a landfill,” said Kent Hawkins, Colony’s managing partner. He added the company is in negotiations with haulers, food processors and other companies that would pay Colony to take their organic waste.

CalRecycle contributed $3 million to the project last week, and on Wednesday the California Energy Commission added $5 million.

The commission estimates the project will produce about 400 million cubic feet of renewable biomethane per year. It said the digester would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 41,850 metric tons per year, while reducing nitrous oxides by more than 35 tons per year.

In a written statement Thursday, Commission Chairman Robert B. Weisenmiller said the agency’s grant award is intended to promote greater use of alternative and renewable fuels.

“We aim to transform the transportation sector to help meet California’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum dependence,” he wrote. “And this biogas project has the added benefit of economic stimulus in the San Joaquin Valley.”

Since July, Colony has processed food waste at a Fresno plant handling up to 30 tons per day. The company has also proposed a liquid natural gas facility near Reno, Nev.

If the Tulare project takes off as expected, Hawkins said, its capacity could be doubled to process 1,000 tons of organic waste per day.

99 Per Cent Of Sweden’s Garbage Is Now Recycled (VIDEO)

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There’s a “recycling revolution” happening in Sweden – one that has pushed the country closer to zero waste than ever before. In fact, less than one per cent of Sweden’s household garbage ends up in landfills today.

The Scandinavian country has become so good at managing waste, they have to import garbage from the UK, Italy, Norway and Ireland to feed the country’s 32 waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, a practice that has been in place for years.

“Waste today is a commodity in a different way than it has been. It’s not only waste, it’s a business,” explained Swedish Waste Management communications director Anna-Carin Gripwell in a statement.

Read more at https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/09/02/sweden-recycling_n_5738602.html

Sunshine Canyon Landfill – Shut-Down Testing Notice

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SCAQMD NOTICE OF SUNSHINE CANYON LANDFILL GAS COLLECTION SYSTEM TESTING

As the following notice indicates, if you experience odor issues during this period, you should report them.

It is important that you do not assume that all odor issues between June 23 and July 3, 2014 are caused by this testing. Indeed, 500+ trucks arrive daily to deposit 7,500 – 8,000 tons per day of stinking trash, adding over 2,000,000 tons per year to the landfill, in an on-going odor problem which has not be resolved by the City, County or State since 2008.

The SCAQMD and its hotline 1-800-CUT-SMOG (1-800-288-7664) is the official agency for recording these odor complaints, and for issuing Notices of Violations (NOV). As always, it will be up to the SCAQMD Inspectors to determine if the odors that you report are from the daily operations, the outgassing of odor laden methane from previously deposited trash, or from the testing itself.

SCAQMD Notification of Opt-out Notices in Class Action Lawsuit Against Sunshine Canyon Landfill

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As you are aware, members of the community filed a class action lawsuit against Sunshine Canyon Landfill.  The AQMD is not a party to the lawsuit, however the Landfill’s counsel subpoenaed the contact information of individuals who have filed complaints with the District.  The District fought the production of that information, except for the complainants who are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who in theory have already disclosed their identity.

The superior court judge did not agree with the District’s arguments and ordered production of the complainant identifying information to be provided to a third party to send out an “opt-out” notice, where if the individual does not “opt-out”, the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ counsel will receive their contact information limited to use in the lawsuit.

The District filed a writ before the court of appeals to challenge the trial court’s decision, which we just found out was denied.  I wanted to personally alert you to the possibility that members of the community who have complained to the District, may be receiving “opt-out” notices which requires them to affirmatively notify the third party mailer that they do not want their identifying contact information released.

Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions or require additional information.  I don’t anticipate any notices being sent until next month at the earliest.

Thank you,

Nicholas A. Sanchez/Senior Deputy District Counsel
South Coast Air Quality Management District
phone/909.396.3400
fax/909.396.2961

Agenda – Thursday, March 6, 2014

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AGENDA

SUNSHINE CANYON LANDFILL – COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

CITY & COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Thursday, March 6, 2014

3:00 p.m. until 5:00* p.m.
Knollwood Country Club
12024 Balboa Boulevard, Granada Hills, CA 91344

Maria Armoudian,   Ken Ashford, Becky Bendikson (Chair),   Jeanette Capaldi,   Gale Gundersen,

Wayde Hunter (Vice Chair & TAC Representative),   Josh Jordahl (Treasurer & TAC Alt.), Joe Vitti

 

A.  Call to Order, Roll Call, and Approval of January 9, 2014 Minutes.

B.  Old Business.  Discussion and possible action:

  • Outstanding administrative matters (Chair).
  • Treasurer’s Report (Treasurer).
  • Conduct election of CAC Officer for Secretary.

C.  New Business.  Discussion and possible Board motions & action to address the following:

1.     Browning-Ferris Industries/Republic Services Inc (BFI/Republic) report on Sunshine Canyon

Landfill (SCL) activities and operations (20 mins).

2.     South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) report on SCL odor complaints received including charts of year-to-date including, any other matters within their purview  Board motion: To request SCAQMD open proceedings for a new  Order of Abatement (20 mins).

3.     Sunshine Canyon Landfill-Local Enforcement Agency (SCL-LEA) to report on SCL inspections carried out, and other matters within their purview (15 mins).

4.     City & County Planning Departments to report on SCL matters within their purview (5 mins each).

5.     Other persons representing the City, County or State who wish to report any additional information or subject matter relating to SCL that is within their purview that has not been agendized for this meeting.  If necessary, discussion and action will be agendized for another meeting (5 mins).

D.  Public comment on items Not on the Agenda.

*Note: Speakers cards will be available at the meeting.  Each person wishing to address the Committee is asked to complete the form and submit it to the Vice Chair at the beginning of the meeting.  Speakers will be given three minutes each, time permitting.  Time may also be reduced if there are additional uncarded speakers wishing to speak at that time (maximum 10 mins).

E. Set next meeting date (May 1, 2014), & adjourn at 5:00 p.m. (followed by a 5 min. break).

F.  Special Overtime Discussion of Budget, Banking & Financial Matters (5:05 p.m – 5:35 p.m).

  • If necessary. Staff or public presence optional (30 mins).

 

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Meeting handout materials are provided to the public at the meeting, and any underlined written reports or documents referenced above can be accessed online by title at one of the following websites:

https://scl-cac.org then click on the About Us on the top of the home page.  Next click on the Documents tab, and then on the related document.  Alternatively, select Departments on the top of the home page, then click on the appropriate Agency tab, and then on the related document.

https://scllea.org then click on the Special Projects link on the left side of the home page.  Next click on the appropriate document in a list of documents presented at the bottom of the page.

If you require special accommodations, please contact Maria Masis at the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning at (213) 974-6435 or via e-mail atmmasis@planning.lacounty.gov with at least three business days notice.

For further information contact Becky Bendikson at 16911 San Fernando Mission Blvd,

Box 412, Granada Hills CA 91344 or call Wayde Hunter at (818) 363-3597