HomeMy WebLinkAboutTIS 2023-10-02 Item 2C - Grant Application - WA Department of Ecology Waste Reduction and Recycling EducationCity of Tukwila
Alan Ekberg, Mayor
Pubik Works Department - Hari Ponnekanti, Director/City Engineer
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee
FROM: Hari Ponnekanti, Public Works Director
BY: Colleen Minion, Solid Waste Analyst
CC: Mayor Allan Ekberg
DATE: September 29, 2023
SUBJECT: Washington Department of Ecology Waste Reduction and Recycling Education
Grant application
ISSUE
Authorize the submittal of a grant application for $50,000 to the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) Waste
Reduction and Recycling Education (WRRED) Grant to fund food waste reduction education and outreach and an organics
contamination reduction program within the City of Tukwila.
BACKGROUND
The City has been awarded the King County Re+ grant to support food service businesses across the City of Tukwila, the City
of Burien, and the City of Maple Valley in setting up organics services and establishing best practices to comply with the new
Organics Management Law. Ecology's WRRED grant would enable us to expand this project to focus on commercial and
residential food waste reduction education and outreach and focus on contamination reduction in the organics stream.
DISCUSSION
The City will focus on providing a variety of outreach, printed materials, durable giveaways, and incentives to audiences with
an overarching goal of maximizing organics diversion, decreasing contamination, and reducing food waste.
Funds will be used to contract out for project services including project planning, development, evaluation, site visits,
workshops, and translation. Funds will also be used to purchase food waste reduction tools and supplies and printed materials
(signs, flyers, brochures etc.) Funds are available from January 1, 2024 — June 30, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT
A 25% match is required for this funding opportunity, which if funded would be $12,500.
Matching funds will be drawn from the King County Re+ grant, specifically the cost of the consultant's site visits to commercial
locations, as well as signage and their translations.
RECOMMENDATION
The Committee is being asked for approval to submit an application to Ecology for a Waste Reduction and Recycling
Education Grant for 2023-2025.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Scope of work
• City of Maple Valley letter of support
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Washington State Department of Ecology
Waste Reduction and Recycling Education Grant
Scope of Work
Title: Food waste reduction and organics contamination education and outreach to commercial
and residential audiences.
Funding amount: $50,000, 25% match required.
Timeline: January 2024-June 2025
Summary:
The Cities of Tukwila, Maple Valley, and Burien have been awarded a King County Re+ grant to
support frontline food service businesses in setting up organics services and establishing best
practices to comply with the new Organics Management Law. By using the Re+ grant money as
our 25% match, Ecology's WRRED grant would enable us to expand this project to focus on
commercial and residential food waste reduction education and outreach and focus on
contamination reduction in the organics stream.
The Cities will focus on providing a variety of outreach to frontline food service business and
residents, printed materials, durable giveaways, and incentives to audiences with an
overarching goal of maximizing organics diversion, decreasing contamination, and reducing food
waste.
To ensure inclusivity and accessibility, this will include developing materials in -language for the
top three languages spoken across the Cities and having staff perform the outreach in language
where possible. Recognizing the linguistic diversity across South King County (Tukwila alone has
over 80 languages spoken in its schools), translations of educational materials, signage, and
resources will be provided to cater to non-English speaking staff and residents. This approach
encourages effective communication and engagement with individuals that may face language
barriers, promoting their active participation in food waste reduction and contamination
reduction.
Funds will be used to contract out for project services including project planning, development,
evaluation, site visits, workshops, and translations. Funds will also be used to purchase food
waste reduction tools and supplies and printed materials (signs, flyers, brochures etc.)
Project Description:
• Identify priority businesses, with a focus on frontline businesses and schools that may
be impacted by the Organics Management Law.
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• Identify or develop education and outreach materials that can be used to target any
food waste -generating facility. The materials will be available in the top 3 most common
languages for the municipalities.
• Develop potential survey questions, outreach protocols, and determine data tracking
processes.
• Visit identified priority businesses to conduct outreach and provide educational
materials about food waste reduction and contamination in the organics stream.
• Provide technical assistance to identified businesses, which includes working with them
to set up organics service and providing additional outreach and educational materials
as needed to educate about contamination and food waste reduction.
• Conduct follow-up visits to check for contamination in organics containers.
• Conduct surveys with businesses and/or schools to assess the effectiveness of the
program and understand lessons learned.
• Host food waste reduction workshops for residents and provide attendees with food
waste reduction kits. These kits may include outreach materials, countertop compost
containers, BioBag samples, ethylene absorbing pad, storage guides, chip clips, produce
storage guides etc. Translated information on giveaways will be provided as needed.
The Cities will also create a tabling display and activity focusing on wasted food to use at
in -person events.
• Highlight Food Waste Prevention Week in social media and residential newsletters.
Project Deliverables:
• Evaluation of this task will be based on the number of residents, complexes, institutions,
and/or businesses which are assisted, including quantifiable results in food waste
reduction and contamination reduction. Evaluation will also include the quantity
promotional materials, brochures, signage, and recycling/composting containers
produced and delivered.
• Decrease contamination in organics stream from targeted front line businesses by 50%.
• Decrease food waste from targeted front line businesses by 50%.
• Increase knowledge in food waste reduction techniques by 75%.
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Budget:
Item
Estimated
Timing by
Quarter
Expenditure Type
Unit
Price
Quantity
Amount Paid by
Grant
Site visits and outreach
All quarters
Personnel for other
project team
members
$140
125
$17,500
Food waste reduction tools and
supplies
All quarters
Supplies and
materials
N/A
N/A
$12,500
Project planning, development,
and evaluation
All quarters
Personnel for other
project team
members
$140
60
$8,400
Outreach materials
All quarters
Signs, flyers, stickers,
displays
N/A
N/A
$5,000
Hosting food waste reduction
workshops
All quarters
Staff and event space
N/A
N/A
$4000
Advertising
All quarters
Boosted social media
and ads
N/A
N/A
$1500
Translation services
All quarters
Translations of
materials
N/A
N/A
$1100
Total:
$ 50,000
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CITY O_F
Nt, PLE
VALLEY
A Natural Fit
September 25, 2023
Solid Waste Management Program
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
RE: Department of Ecology — Waste Reduction and Recycling Education Grant
Maple Valley Letter of Support
To whom it may concern:
The Cities of Maple Valley, Tukwila, and Burien have been awarded the King County
Re+ grant in a collaborative effort to support food service businesses across each of
their municipalities. The goal with the Re+ Grant is setting up organics services and
establishing best practices to comply with the new Organics Management Law.
Ecology's WRRED grant would enable us to expand this project to focus on commercial
and residential food waste reduction, education, and outreach, and focus on
contamination reduction in the organics stream. This will be achieved by providing a
variety of outreach, printed materials, durable giveaways, and incentives to audiences
with an overarching goal of maximizing organics diversion, decreasing contamination,
and reducing food waste.
Funds will be used to contract out for project services including project planning,
development, evaluation, site visits, workshops, and translation. Funds will also be used
to purchase food waste reduction tools and supplies and printed materials (signs, flyers,
brochures etc.)
The WRRED grant would be a great opportunity to reach a larger audience and have a
greater impact on the organic waste stream.
Sincerely,
Amy ''iaw, PE
Senior Project Engineer
amy.shaw@maplevalleywa.gov
City of Maple Valley
P.O. Box 320 I Maple Valley, WA 98038 1425-413-8800
MapleValleyWA.gov
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