suggestion to " Help reduce trucking fees & fuel costs " does appear in the Infrastructure Action section and on one of the Vision Cards which reads, “ A circular system where our compostable waste is collected, processed, and returned as a resource to farmers, landscapers, etc. We need to address the chemicals and fossil fuels holding us back” so it appears these conversations may have occurred but were not brought before the larger group for sustained conversation.
Which priority action items have you been working on since the Summit?
Respondents reported working on ten of the eleven priority action areas since the Summit. The Education Priority Action Areas are well represented which is unsurprising given that half of all respondents indicated they were in Education or from a Non-profit.
Percent of respondents already working on identified priority action areas
required composting for state agencies like USDA, IDOT, IPASS, municipal construction permit
P O L I C Y
Identify policy buckets for waste strategy with resources (& teeth) for waste strategy
pilots for public DSS households for curbside compost collections
new state law requiring all business that produce more than X lbs of waste/yr to use a composting service
I N F R A
broaden to other big actors like ComEd, waste haulers
(create/revise) compost quality standards and testing for regional farmers/composters
S T R I C E
(create) tax incentives for landscapers & top soil producers to bring in compost
use existing govt resources to subsidize composting
top down: reach out to school admin
E D U C A T I O N
teach those who write hauling contracts about what should be included
(create a) hands-on train the trainer model
collaborate w/universities/experts/nonprofits to create free & accessible resources
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Four respondents reported working on areas or issues not identified as action priorities. These other areas of work include:
Advocating for food waste drop off sites.
•
• How to reduce transportation costs (and fossil fuel use) in transporting raw food waste out of the city and then back in as finished compost. • Continuing to make connections between interested parties that tie into agriculture. • Working with our County Government, Community College, Extension, and area farmers on compost efforts.
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