Title
Environmental Protection Agency Grant Opportunity to Support Anaerobic Digestion in Communities for Fiscal Year 2021 (Ordinance S-47984)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, accept, and enter into an agreement, and disburse grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Sustainable Materials Management 2021 Anaerobic Digestion Funding Opportunity to support diversion of food and organic waste from the landfill through development of new, or enhance/increase existing, anaerobic digestion capacity and infrastructure in the United States. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item. No matching funds are required under this competition.
Report
Summary
According to Phoenix's 2018 waste characterization study, approximately 14 percent (59,516 tons) of the City's residential trash is composed of food waste; thus, the Public Works Department has been looking for innovative ways to reduce food and organic waste sent to landfill thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In partnership with the Water Services Department and the Office of Environmental Programs, Public Works would like to use grant funds to study the feasibility of a new anaerobic digester, or adding capacity to an existing digester, at one of Phoenix's Wastewater Treatment Plants. Anaerobic digesters process organic material into biogas which can be used for energy. The analysis will determine whether 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant or 23rd Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant would be better suited to incorporate food and organic waste into a future anaerobic digestion system. The study will also help determine all associated costs to realize either of the two digester projects. The EPA will accept applications until Oct. 7, 2021.
Financial Impact
The amount requested for this proposal is $150,000. If grant funds are awarded in full, Phoenix would not need to match funds.
Location
91st Avenue and 23rd Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plants
Council District: 7
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Public Works and Water Services departments.