Santa Ynez
Chumash Zero
Waste InitiativesKELLY FERGUSON, ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTOR
8/17/16 - TLEF
Introduction
What is Zero Waste?
Zero Waste at small events
Zero Waste at large events
Zero Waste goals and achievements at the
Chumash Casino
Santa Ynez Chumash
Reservation
SY Chumash Reservation is located in Santa
Ynez, CA on 144 acres
300 reservation residents
Chumash Casino Resort and Hotel
Tribe works with Waste Management as
primary waste partner
Zero Waste
Zero waste is the reduction and diversion of waste from landfill,
targeting 90% diversion or more.
Diverted materials are composted, reused, recycled or
upcycled.
Chumash Zero Waste Program
history & future
Tribal Government Operations and Events
2010: program start, funded through EPA
2014: Tribal budget set aside for regular
ZW events4:
2015: +40 events, upgraded bins
2016: Integrated into regular events by
default, using new indoor/outdoor bins
to mixed success
2017-2018: Integrate Zero
Waste/Compost steam as default tribal
operations, ZW “Events” only for special
events
Zero Waste fundamentals
Starts with purchasing
Set expectations of
organizers
Plan accordingly. Big
events have a long
planning horizon.
Zero Waste fundamentals
Record data
Train, retrain, keep training
Learn from failures
ZW 2016 and Beyond
NEW FANCY BINS!
Pros:
Permanent
Sturdier
More professional looking
Cons
Heavy and harder to move
Not as easy to transition between 2 to 3 waste streams
More cross contamination
More frequent changing of bags
Can’t customize for events
GOALS
Incorporate compost as a regular waste stream for all tribal operations
No more zero waste “events” – everything is three streamed
Improve purchasing
Improve diversion rates
Continue educating – staff, employees, community
Zero Waste at
Chumash
Intertribal Pow
Wow
Pow Wow Video
https://youtu.be/AFRdbCc01Cw
3,000-6,000 attendees over two days
Chumash Intertribal Pow Wow
2009 – No waste services
2010 – Sorting provided by contractor, no vendor interaction, very little outreach
2011 – SYCEO run service, SYCEO booth at event
2012 – Spread the word about Zero Waste in fliers, SYCEO booth at event, CRV collected
2013 – Zero Waste announcement in flier, mailings, vendor rewards for involvement, SYCEO booth and signage, more stations
2014 – Introducing Styrofoam ban, Awards for compliance, compostable alternative brochure, partnership with WM.
2015 – Official Styrofoam ban for vendors, WM partnership continues, increase educational posters at event, watering stations 0
36
65 64
71
87.585
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
POW WOW DIVERSION
(PERCENTAGE)
Percentage Diversion
Chumash Intertribal Pow Wow
Support from Pow Wow
Committee
Early notifications to vendors
Partners
Volunteers
SY Chumash Intertribal Pow Wow
Pow Wow 2015
Pow Wow 2016…
Introducing dish rentals
Continue with camper education
Final day collection and sorting
Introduce team captains
Goal to be above 90% diversion
this year!!!!!
Waste
Diversion at
the
Chumash
Casino
Chumash Waste Diversion
Chumash Casino Resort
4 restaurants including buffet
2014 numbers:
Total Waste Stream
4,450,020lbs
Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
1,969,500 lbs
Materials Diversion
2,480,520 lbs
Casino expansion an opportunity for re-evaluation
CalRecycle Community Recycling Center – application review
Goals
Zero Waste by 2019
Assess the waste stream during construction and find new
markets for waste streams and improve current methods
Cigarette filters
Food waste
Styrofoam
FOG
Others
Cigarette Recycling
Started in 2014 using Cigarette Waste
Brigade - TerraCycle
Recycle plastic filters from cigarettes
Made into other plastic materials, such as
pallets
2014: 0.93 tons
2015: 1.74 tons
Styrofoam Recycling
New in 2016
Working with DART
Styrofoam is one of the biggest components of the waste stream by volume
Collecting, sorting pure Styrofoam
Densify/compress the polystyrene into blocks
Blocks are shipped to companies that use them in new products (picture frames)
Some implementation hiccups
Other non-traditional recycling
Carpet tiles - LA Fiber
Textiles - Salvation Army/T-Waste
Solutions
FOG – system upgrade (Frontline)
and Coastal Byproducts
Donating equipment/appliances
Food Waste
Local piggeries take pre-consumer
food waste
2013: 1.8 tons
2014: 80.46 tons
2015: 65.6 tons
Food waste diversion increase 7.4%
from 2012-2013
Other food waste gets composted at
local compost facility
Implemented smaller serving trays at
buffet (less food waste)
New options for food waste
Composting partnerships with local farms
Processing food waste on-site
Recognition
EPA Food Recovery Recognition
2008-2014 EPA WasteWise Certification
2015 & 2012 Waste Wise Tribal Partner of the Year
Takeaways
Casino uses its market size to influence vendors and
manufacturers to meet waste diversion goals
Staff training is essential – ex. Food sorting
If you have enough of something, there is probably an after
market for it
*****
For smaller or non-gaming tribes –
look for partnerships with other tribes to increase ability to bring waste
streams together to increase attractiveness of waste stream
Look for local solutions that can result in win-win situations
SYBCI Contacts
Check out our YouTube channel for a presentation by the Mark’s on their food waste diversion program!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz4Qpxb1_VI
Santa Ynez Chumash Casino Contacts:
Mark Joseph Wermiel, Executive Chef, [email protected]
Mark A Funkhouser, Custodial Services Manger, [email protected]
Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Department Contacts:
Kelly Ferguson, Environmental Director, [email protected]
Julio Carrillo, Environmental Specialist, [email protected]
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