Agenda 10-19-2021; 6-a - Community Climate Action Grant (CCAG) – FY 2021-22 Project Selection for General Applicants

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11 HRC reviewers would have liked to see a breakdown by race and income of who goes to the farmers market, in order to make a more informed determination of how direct the social Justice and racial equity benefits might be. In the end, given that Orange County Solid Waste has already put money into making this compost drop-off program work, and given the good cost to benefit ratio,the HRC felt that this project was beneficial. CFE Comments: By assisting with diverting food waste from the landfill waste stream,this composting project reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Compost monitors increase the use of the compost drop off location and also help reduce the amount of non-compostable waste that enters the compost stream. This quality control helps keep the composting process profitable.The grant funding will help ensure that an established program with positive impacts can continue, and the applicant has sufficient capacity to successfully complete the project. It was not clear to the CFE that the existence of compost monitors would increase use of the farmer's market overall as the applicant stated, but the presence of compost monitors would very likely be good for waste reduction education and the promotion of composting. There was also some concern about this program becoming dependent on continued grant funds in the future. In the end, because the cost request was small and the impacts immediate, there was consensus among CFE reviewers to recommend funding this project. #4 Ranked Project— Food Waste Monitor Applicant(Collaborators): Eno River Farmer's Market (Orange County Solid Waste) Funding Requested: $3,765 Recommended Funding Level: $3,765 Total Score(Out of 25 pts): 19.6 Project Description: "We are requesting funds to pay for 2 compost monitors for the Eno River Farmers' Market (ERFM) Community Compost Collection site. Monitors will work during market hours throughout the year to assure that only compostable items are collected and will provide education to ERFM customers and vendors about composting.They will also assist the ERFM Manager with community outreach in Northern Orange County to build awareness of the ERFM Community Compost Collection Site beyond the Market. Monitors will also be responsible for record keeping and setting up the compost collection table and bins and breaking it down at the end of the Market each Saturday." Project Benefits: "This project will provide funding for compost monitors at the Eno River Farmers' Market Community Compost Collection site.This will provide the oversight we need to ensure that only compostable items are collected.The monitors will also provide education to community members about composting and encourage household compost collection. This will help Orange County to decrease the amount of waste going to landfills, reduce methane emissions at the landfill, reduce transportation to a Waste and Recycling Center to drop off food waste, and will lead to the creation of rich compost that will increase the carbon capture of the soil in Orange County and the surrounding area.