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

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12 The Hillsborough Farmers' Market draws primarily from northern Orange County, which is an area that is often left out of climate initiatives. Many community members have expressed appreciation for the Compost Collection at the Farmers' Market: they are no longer having to make the longer car trip to the Walnut Grove Waste and Recycling Center; others who never composted before are starting to do so and have significantly decreased the amount of food waste they throw out as a result; others who were already composting at home are appreciative of the fact that they can bring items to the ERFM Community Compost Collection site that they cannot compost in their back yard, since the compostables are picked up by Brooks Contractors, an industrial composter with the ability to accept a broader range of compostables. This project will contribute to carbon reduction in several ways: by reducing methane levels at the landfill; by helping our soil to sequester more carbon and by reducing the carbon emissions from cars by providing a closer food waste drop off for residents of Northern Orange County. Based on current use numbers, we estimate that 400 community members per month will utilize this collection site. In addition, most of Orange County waste is sent to a landfill in Sampson County,where a poor minority community has had to deal with the smell and pollution of the mega landfill in their backyard. Reducing the waste that ends up in the landfill will have a positive impact on this community." Grant Dollars Requested Per Metric Ton of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduced During Project Lifetime: $106.27 HRC Comments: Overall the HRC felt that this project was inexpensive and worth funding. Reducing waste and ensuring waste is composted serves everyone.The environmental benefits of this project also align with social justice benefits as less waste would be going to landfills in more vulnerable communities. 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: CFE reviewers felt that this was a cost-effective and highly visible project that would increase access to the County's composting services. Keeping food waste out of the municipal waste stream avoid a good amount of greenhouse gas emissions as it reduces the tonnage of waste transported by heavy trucks out of the County.The applicants' proposal outlines a project that appears clear and obtainable. Not all CFE reviewers were convinced with the applicants' claim that that the presence of a compost collection sire at the market increases the number of weekly visitors to the market,thus increasing the market's economic success.Also,the CFE was concerned there was no longer-term plan for funding the compost monitors after the grant period is over. In the end,the relatively low cost and potential for diesel emissions reduction, coupled with the applicant's commitment to use media to engage with the community to encourage composting, were all factors that led to a higher rank.