United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA-530-F-98-023a
September 1998
www.epa.gov/osw
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Del Mar, California •£ y^
75% Recovery of Food Discards
In 1996 Del Mar Fairgrounds, a 375-acre site, diverted 38 tons, or
approximately 75% of its food discards from landfill. The fairgrounds
achieved this through a comprehensive waste reduction program which includes:
off-site composting of food from its annual 20-day fair (1996 attendance 1,018,659);
vermicomposting of food from its Satellite Wagering Facility; and sending used cooking oil
to a rendering company.
Program Description
Del Mar Fairgrounds'efforts to get to "zero
waste or darn close" were partially spurred
by a 1989 California Waste Management Law
requiring 50% diversion of solid waste from
landfills. Most of the fairgrounds'
compostables come from vendors at the
annual fair who are contractually required to
participate in the waste reduction program.
This includes using paper products instead
of polystyrene and recycling cardboard
and beverage containers. Fairgrounds
staff may fine vendors for non-
compliance.
For off-site composting, Del Mar
staff provide food vendors with unlined,
covered 90-gallon plastic carts to collect
food discards. Staff daily haul the
containers on flat-bed trucks to Solana
Recyclers,a local composting company
with whom the fairgrounds has had a
long-term relationship. Solana
designates a spot next to a partially
completed windrow where Del Mar
staff unload compostables. Solana
staff then cover new material with
partially completed compost. This
acts as a biofilter to keep odor to
a minimum. Solana operates four
sites on three farms; finished
compost is used as fertilizer on
the fields. Solana can also accept paper
products, so paper contamination is not a
problem. Fairgrounds staff pull other
contaminants out of the food discard
containers; occasionally Solana staff need to
remove some additional contaminants.
At the Satellite Wagering Facility, patrons
gather to bet on horse races which they
watch on satellite television. From mid-
September through mid-July, approximately
2,500 people per day, six days a week attend.
Attendance can be as high as 5,000 for the
Kentucky Derby and other big races.
Since 1997,fruit and vegetable scraps
from the facility's kitchen have been
vermicomposted on the racetrack's infield
farm. Vermicomposting is done by eisneola
Contact:
Concessions Coordinator
Del Mar Fairgrounds
22nd District Agricultural Association
Concessions Department
P.O. Box 2668
Del Mar, CA 92014
(619) 792-4218 fax: (619) 792-4236
Compost Program Manager
Solana Recyclers
137 N.EICaminoReal
Encinitas,CA 92024
(760) 436-7986
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Costs/Benefits
fetida worms in a wood framed box,
which sits directly on the ground. Once
collected from the wagering facility,
which can provide an almost year-
round supply of worm food, scraps
sit for a few days in a container.
Staff then feed this partially
decomposed food to the worms.
Fairgrounds staff feed and water
the worms once a day. A water dripline
for use during dry periods runs through
the box. The box is covered with
cardboard and a shade cloth. The
finished worm compost, or castings, is
used as fertilizer on the fairgrounds.
From January through August 1997,
over 3 tons of food discards were
vermicomposted.
Cooking oil is collected for
rendering. Darling International, a
rendering company, provides covered
barrels for the oil and collects them
from the grounds, at no cost, as needed.
Vendor participation in this effort is also
contractually required.
In total in 1996, the fairgrounds
recycled, including composted, 5,294
tons of materials; it sent 929 tons of
trash to the landfill.
The fairgrounds did not buy any new
equipment for the off-site
composting program and had no start-
up costs.
Start-up costs for vermicomposting
were under $500, including the cost of
25 pounds of worms and collection
containers. Soon fairgrounds staff will
need to build an additional worm box.
Year-round recycling, including
composting, for the fairgrounds and
wagering facility cost about $70,000 in
labor, excluding labor for horse races.
Transportation costs $540 per year. The
fairgrounds currently pays $40-47 per
ton for tipping trash, although costs
have been as high as $70 per ton.
Compost site tipping fees are $17 per
ton. In 1996, total composting costs,
including labor and transportation,
were approximately $24 per ton.
In 1996 the fairgrounds saved over
$232,900 in landfill costs through its
waste reduction program. It earned
over $15,000 in revenue through
aluminum,glass,and cardboard
recycling.
Del Mar staff have the satisfaction
of running an environmentally
responsible fair.
Tips for Replication
• Mandate participation by all
vendors and staff.
• Develop good working
relationships with an established
company.
Program Summary, 1996
Sector
Attendance 1996
Start date
Dedicated Employees*
Method
Materials collected
Part of comprehensive waste
reduction program?
Total waste generated (TPY)
Food discards generated (TPY)
RESULTS:
Food discards recovered (TPY)
Food discards recovered (%)
Total waste recovered (%)
Fairgrounds
1,759,659 Fair and Satellite Wagering
Facility (estimated)
1992
2 plus 2 half-time employees during the fair
Off-site windrow composting; on-site
vermicomposting; rendering
Pre-consumer discards, paper plates, cups,
napkins, paper towels; vegetable and
fruit scraps; cooking oil
Yes
6,223 tons: 5,294 tons recycled,
including composted; 929 tons
landfilled
51 tons (estimated)
38 tons
75% (estimated)
85%
COSTS:
Average composting costs $24 per ton
(hauling and tipping fees)
Average avoided landfill tipping fee $40-47 per ton
Net savings $ 17-23 per ton
* A dedicated employee is one whose primary responsibility is working with the food discard program.
TPY = tons per year
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