Wednesday, April 23, 2014 • Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
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able materials breaking down in a process that uses oxygen, the system breaks down materials in the absence of oxygen. Waste that can’t be traditionally composted, such CONTINUED FROM 1 as manure, meat and other proteins, can be anaerobically composted. “We are the perfect petri dish to study this, and we need And while traditional composting releases carbon dioxto set an example on this 11,000-people scale,” said Gib ide, a greenhouse gas, an anaerobic system produces priDammann, an associate architect who is leading the effort. marily methane, a natural gas that can be captured and Group members say they’re still in the early stages of harvested as energy. researching whether such a system, called an anaerobic “Part of what got me excited about this project is that we digester, would be feasible on Vashon, and it’s likely a tradi- could become carbon neutral,” Lakey said. tional composing facility would be a first step. So far, howAnaerobic digesters have been widely used across Europe ever, the ambitious effort has garnered positive responses. for years. In Germany, thousands of the systems constructZero Waste Vashon is working with a Seattle firm that ed there have allowed the country to shut down 35 percent believes it can build a system to fit the island. GreenTech, of its landfills. a small but respected group that works “It’s pretty established science,” to foster environmentally sound busiDammann said. “We are the perfect petri dish ness, is involved. The company that King County, in fact, is currently collects trash and recycling on Vashon exploring the technology as well as to study this, and we need has indicated that it could pick up compart of a larger effort to study its waste to set an example on this post at the curb as well. And nearly 40 disposal processes and implement more 11,000-people scale.” islanders have volunteered to work on sustainable options. It recently adopted subcommittees in the group, including Gib Dammann a policy called Zero Waste by 2030, waste management experts, composting leader in Zero Waste Vashon hoping to eventually see that no materispecialists, lawyers, financial experts, als of value end up in a landfill. business owners, scientists and grant The county currently operates a large writers. landfill in Maple Valley and transports “There’s an incredible talent base of citizens here. It food waste and yard debris to a private composting facility. makes it really inspiring,” said Julia Lakey, a community Josh Marx, an official in the county’s Solid Waste activist who, along with Brundle, is now a vice president of Division, called anaerobic digestion “a fantastic concept,” Zero Waste Vashon. but not one without its share of challenges. To justify a Lakey said she’s long been frustrated to see trucks full of system on Vashon, he said, islanders would have to prove garbage — what amounts to about 150 tons a week, accord- there would be enough waste. King County hasn’t offered ing to King County — board the ferry headed for a landfill. curbside food and yard waste pickup on Vashon, Marx “That’s not what we want to spend our precious fossil said, because it doesn’t believe there’s enough demand. The fuel on, transporting our garbage,” she said. waste must also be very clean, he said, or free of materials At the same time, truck after truck of compost comes that don’t belong in the composting system, something that onto the island each year. In fact, Lakey said, she’s heard can be difficult to accomplish. from a good source that compost is so in demand on “There has to be a guarantee there’s material to maintain Vashon that some retailers simply can’t order as much as it. It you build it, you have to feed it,” he said. they need. An anaerobic digester, she said, would solve that Waste supply is exactly what Zero Waste Vashon is curissue and more. rently looking at, Brundle said. With what it believes are Anaerobic digestion is similar to conventional compost- firm numbers for residential waste, volunteers are now ing except for one crucial detail: Instead of the biodegrad- talking with local restaurants and other businesses about
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participating in community composting, and they will soon start a small case study at the Vashon Tea Shop. “Now we’re focusing on the big contributors,” she said. “Households are the low-hanging fruit.” Several years ago another group explored the idea of locating an anaerobic digester on Vashon, possibly at the K2 site, but that effort never gained traction. Dammann, who also started Vashon Solar LLC, a successful community solar project, said he believes this time is different. Many more people are involved in this effort, he said, science has moved forward, and climate change is a greater concern than ever. He believes a large contingent of Vashon business and residents are ready to put their compost at the curb. “All the way across the board, the need has increased,” he said. Brundle, who also works for the National Parks Conservation Association, said she also believes islanders will want to participate in community composting, but lots of outreach and education would be involved, and the group should begin with simple composting while researching more complex additions such as an anaerobic digester. “I think it needs to be rolled out in stages,” she said, adding that because of the island’s distinct boundaries and easy-to-measure waste stream, Vashon is a good place to pilot such a program. Marx at King County agreed, saying the county would be willing to partner with the island and consider locating a composting center at the transfer station at if the project proves feasible. A large composting facility could eventually operate off the profit it produces, but would likely require capital funds from grants and community fundraising to get off the ground. “I’d love to see it happen,” Marx said. “We just have to keep talking and keep studying and keep watching prices.” Zero Waste Vashon meets at 10 a.m. the second and fourth Saturday of each month downstairs at the Church of the Holy Spirit, and all are welcome to attend. For more information about the group, contact Gib Dammann at gibd@comcast.net.
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