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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