* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmembers Henry and Clarke
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Municipal Composting
FOR the purpose of requesting the Director of Public Works, and the Chief, Bureau of Solid Waste to report to the Council on the Department’s progress toward creating a comprehensive Municipal Composting Program; to provide a fiscal impact statement of creating the program, and; an estimated time line for citywide implementation of municipal composting.
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Recitals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 27% of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream – a lot of waste to send to landfills when it could become useful and environmentally beneficial compost instead. Compost offers the obvious benefits of resource efficiency and creating a useful product from organic waste that would otherwise have been landfilled.
The EPA defines compost as organic material that can be used as a soil amendment or as a medium to grow plants. Mature compost is a stable material with a content call humus that is dark brown or black and has a soil-like, earthy smell. It is created by: combining organic wastes (e.g., yard trimmings, food wastes, manures) in proper ratios into piles, rows, or vessels; adding bulking agents (e.g., wood chips) as necessary to accelerate the breakdo...
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