Organics Recycling Industry Needs Assessment

1. Organics Recycling Industry Needs Assessment

An important goal of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is to unify a vision for the Florida organics recycling industry and to promote statewide organics recycling in Florida through the enhancement of organics waste reduction, collection, processing, research, marketing, education and utilization.

To accomplish this purpose, a clear understanding of current industry needs is essential. Your responses will assist in the determination of discussion topics at the RFT 2017 Winter Summit.

Do your job responsibilities include organics recovery and recycling? If they do not, please forward this email to the appropriate person in your company/organization. If they do, please continue with the survey.

Thank you in advance for your input!

Question Title

1. Which sector best describes you?
(Please choose one) (Required.)

Government sector

Private sector

Nonprofit sector

Other (please specify)

Question Title

2. Which part of Florida are you located or operate in?
(Please choose all that apply) (Required.)

Northwest

Northeast

Central

Southwest

Southeast

South Florida

Not Applicable

Question Title

3. What do you consider are the greatest organics recycling production concerns that your facility faces?
(Please rank 1 to 9 with 1= most important – 9 = least important) (Required.)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Feedstock contamination	Feedstock contamination 1	Feedstock contamination 2	Feedstock contamination 3	Feedstock contamination 4	Feedstock contamination 5	Feedstock contamination 6	Feedstock contamination 7	Feedstock contamination 8	Feedstock contamination 9
Maintaining target pile temperatures	Maintaining target pile temperatures 1	Maintaining target pile temperatures 2	Maintaining target pile temperatures 3	Maintaining target pile temperatures 4	Maintaining target pile temperatures 5	Maintaining target pile temperatures 6	Maintaining target pile temperatures 7	Maintaining target pile temperatures 8	Maintaining target pile temperatures 9
Creating a consistent end-product	Creating a consistent end-product 1	Creating a consistent end-product 2	Creating a consistent end-product 3	Creating a consistent end-product 4	Creating a consistent end-product 5	Creating a consistent end-product 6	Creating a consistent end-product 7	Creating a consistent end-product 8	Creating a consistent end-product 9
Lack of adequate space for production	Lack of adequate space for production 1	Lack of adequate space for production 2	Lack of adequate space for production 3	Lack of adequate space for production 4	Lack of adequate space for production 5	Lack of adequate space for production 6	Lack of adequate space for production 7	Lack of adequate space for production 8	Lack of adequate space for production 9
Dust control	Dust control 1	Dust control 2	Dust control 3	Dust control 4	Dust control 5	Dust control 6	Dust control 7	Dust control 8	Dust control 9
Odor control	Odor control 1	Odor control 2	Odor control 3	Odor control 4	Odor control 5	Odor control 6	Odor control 7	Odor control 8	Odor control 9
Lack of efficient equipment	Lack of efficient equipment 1	Lack of efficient equipment 2	Lack of efficient equipment 3	Lack of efficient equipment 4	Lack of efficient equipment 5	Lack of efficient equipment 6	Lack of efficient equipment 7	Lack of efficient equipment 8	Lack of efficient equipment 9
Production cost	Production cost 1	Production cost 2	Production cost 3	Production cost 4	Production cost 5	Production cost 6	Production cost 7	Production cost 8	Production cost 9
Regulatory compliance	Regulatory compliance 1	Regulatory compliance 2	Regulatory compliance 3	Regulatory compliance 4	Regulatory compliance 5	Regulatory compliance 6	Regulatory compliance 7	Regulatory compliance 8	Regulatory compliance 9

Other (Please specify concern and importance)

Question Title

4. What do you consider to be the greatest end-use concerns that organics recycling facilities currently face?
(Please rank 1 to 4 with 1= most important – 4 = least important) (Required.)

	1	2	3	4
Transportation costs to deliver to end-user	Transportation costs to deliver to end-user 1	Transportation costs to deliver to end-user 2	Transportation costs to deliver to end-user 3	Transportation costs to deliver to end-user 4
Lack of research data or endorsements to support use by a specific industry	Lack of research data or endorsements to support use by a specific industry 1	Lack of research data or endorsements to support use by a specific industry 2	Lack of research data or endorsements to support use by a specific industry 3	Lack of research data or endorsements to support use by a specific industry 4
Marketing end-use	Marketing end-use 1	Marketing end-use 2	Marketing end-use 3	Marketing end-use 4
Link between producers and potential end-users	Link between producers and potential end-users 1	Link between producers and potential end-users 2	Link between producers and potential end-users 3	Link between producers and potential end-users 4

Other (Please describe limit and importance)

Question Title

5. What types of organics recycling information/support do you feel Florida needs?
(Please rank 1 to 11 with 1= most important – 11 = least important) (Required.)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Legislation and regulation	Legislation and regulation 1	Legislation and regulation 2	Legislation and regulation 3	Legislation and regulation 4	Legislation and regulation 5	Legislation and regulation 6	Legislation and regulation 7	Legislation and regulation 8	Legislation and regulation 9	Legislation and regulation 10	Legislation and regulation 11
Collection equipment and innovation	Collection equipment and innovation 1	Collection equipment and innovation 2	Collection equipment and innovation 3	Collection equipment and innovation 4	Collection equipment and innovation 5	Collection equipment and innovation 6	Collection equipment and innovation 7	Collection equipment and innovation 8	Collection equipment and innovation 9	Collection equipment and innovation 10	Collection equipment and innovation 11
Processing equipment and technology	Processing equipment and technology 1	Processing equipment and technology 2	Processing equipment and technology 3	Processing equipment and technology 4	Processing equipment and technology 5	Processing equipment and technology 6	Processing equipment and technology 7	Processing equipment and technology 8	Processing equipment and technology 9	Processing equipment and technology 10	Processing equipment and technology 11
Market development for compost	Market development for compost 1	Market development for compost 2	Market development for compost 3	Market development for compost 4	Market development for compost 5	Market development for compost 6	Market development for compost 7	Market development for compost 8	Market development for compost 9	Market development for compost 10	Market development for compost 11
Best Management Guidelines	Best Management Guidelines 1	Best Management Guidelines 2	Best Management Guidelines 3	Best Management Guidelines 4	Best Management Guidelines 5	Best Management Guidelines 6	Best Management Guidelines 7	Best Management Guidelines 8	Best Management Guidelines 9	Best Management Guidelines 10	Best Management Guidelines 11
Safety and health issues	Safety and health issues 1	Safety and health issues 2	Safety and health issues 3	Safety and health issues 4	Safety and health issues 5	Safety and health issues 6	Safety and health issues 7	Safety and health issues 8	Safety and health issues 9	Safety and health issues 10	Safety and health issues 11
Monitoring and quality assurance	Monitoring and quality assurance 1	Monitoring and quality assurance 2	Monitoring and quality assurance 3	Monitoring and quality assurance 4	Monitoring and quality assurance 5	Monitoring and quality assurance 6	Monitoring and quality assurance 7	Monitoring and quality assurance 8	Monitoring and quality assurance 9	Monitoring and quality assurance 10	Monitoring and quality assurance 11
Financial management	Financial management 1	Financial management 2	Financial management 3	Financial management 4	Financial management 5	Financial management 6	Financial management 7	Financial management 8	Financial management 9	Financial management 10	Financial management 11
Production problems	Production problems 1	Production problems 2	Production problems 3	Production problems 4	Production problems 5	Production problems 6	Production problems 7	Production problems 8	Production problems 9	Production problems 10	Production problems 11
Training for Florida specific organics production	Training for Florida specific organics production 1	Training for Florida specific organics production 2	Training for Florida specific organics production 3	Training for Florida specific organics production 4	Training for Florida specific organics production 5	Training for Florida specific organics production 6	Training for Florida specific organics production 7	Training for Florida specific organics production 8	Training for Florida specific organics production 9	Training for Florida specific organics production 10	Training for Florida specific organics production 11
Helpful resource and education information online (website)	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 1	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 2	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 3	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 4	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 5	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 6	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 7	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 8	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 9	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 10	Helpful resource and education information online (website) 11

Other (Please specify needs and importance)

Question Title

6. What are your preferred methods of obtaining educational information?
(Please rank 1 to 8 with 1= most preferred – 8 = least preferred method) (Required.)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Florida specific organics newsletter	Florida specific organics newsletter 1	Florida specific organics newsletter 2	Florida specific organics newsletter 3	Florida specific organics newsletter 4	Florida specific organics newsletter 5	Florida specific organics newsletter 6	Florida specific organics newsletter 7	Florida specific organics newsletter 8
Workshops or conferences	Workshops or conferences 1	Workshops or conferences 2	Workshops or conferences 3	Workshops or conferences 4	Workshops or conferences 5	Workshops or conferences 6	Workshops or conferences 7	Workshops or conferences 8
National professional journals/magazines	National professional journals/magazines 1	National professional journals/magazines 2	National professional journals/magazines 3	National professional journals/magazines 4	National professional journals/magazines 5	National professional journals/magazines 6	National professional journals/magazines 7	National professional journals/magazines 8
Fact sheets, printed manuals	Fact sheets, printed manuals 1	Fact sheets, printed manuals 2	Fact sheets, printed manuals 3	Fact sheets, printed manuals 4	Fact sheets, printed manuals 5	Fact sheets, printed manuals 6	Fact sheets, printed manuals 7	Fact sheets, printed manuals 8
Field trips, tours of demonstration site(s)	Field trips, tours of demonstration site(s) 1	Field trips, tours of demonstration site(s) 2	Field trips, tours of demonstration site(s) 3	Field trips, tours of demonstration site(s) 4	Field trips, tours of demonstration site(s) 5	Field trips, tours of demonstration site(s) 6	Field trips, tours of demonstration site(s) 7	Field trips, tours of demonstration site(s) 8
Equipment demonstrations	Equipment demonstrations 1	Equipment demonstrations 2	Equipment demonstrations 3	Equipment demonstrations 4	Equipment demonstrations 5	Equipment demonstrations 6	Equipment demonstrations 7	Equipment demonstrations 8
Web based, internet information (RFT, SWANA, USCC)	Web based, internet information (RFT, SWANA, USCC) 1	Web based, internet information (RFT, SWANA, USCC) 2	Web based, internet information (RFT, SWANA, USCC) 3	Web based, internet information (RFT, SWANA, USCC) 4	Web based, internet information (RFT, SWANA, USCC) 5	Web based, internet information (RFT, SWANA, USCC) 6	Web based, internet information (RFT, SWANA, USCC) 7	Web based, internet information (RFT, SWANA, USCC) 8
RFT Education's Learning Series (ELS)	RFT Education's Learning Series (ELS) 1	RFT Education's Learning Series (ELS) 2	RFT Education's Learning Series (ELS) 3	RFT Education's Learning Series (ELS) 4	RFT Education's Learning Series (ELS) 5	RFT Education's Learning Series (ELS) 6	RFT Education's Learning Series (ELS) 7	RFT Education's Learning Series (ELS) 8

Other (Please specify methods and importance)

Question Title

7. What category best describes your involvement with the organics recycling industry?
(Please choose all that apply) (Required.)

Generator of recycled organic materials

Processor of recycled organic materials

Product end-user

Product marketer or broker

Regulator

Educator or researcher

Consultant or engineer

Other (please specify)

Question Title

8. How would you best describe the organic feedstock you are recycling?
(Please choose all that apply) (Required.)

Yard trimmings

Community biosolids

Animal biosolids (chicken, horse, cattle, dairy, etc.)

Food waste (pre-consumer)

Food waste (post-consumer)

Dead animal remains

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

Question Title

9. Would your organization benefit from receiving educational information about Florida’s organics industry?
(Please choose one) (Required.)

Yes

Not applicable

Question Title

10. Would your organization benefit from attending a Florida organics training day?
(Please choose one) (Required.)

Yes

Not applicable

Question Title

11. Which areas of organics recycling would you like to be involved with? (Please choose all that apply.) (Required.)

Food waste

Education and advocacy, connecting people

Biosolids understanding, trends across the country

Food waste composting, AD / Biomass

Source separation programs

New organics programs or facilities

Economics of composting at the municipal level

Expand marketing and the use of mulch, compost, offsetting pesticides and fertilizers naturally

Developing infrastructure

Facilitating education and involvement of all economic sectors important to organics recycling (e.g. agriculture, hospitality, etc.)

Question Title

12. How would you recommend expanding organics recycling in Florida?
(Please choose all that apply.) (Required.)

Education and marketing of advantages of composting to offset fertilizers and pesticides naturally

Work more closely with school boards and the educational facilities

Two pronged, residential and commercial to normalize source-separated organics (SSO) for food waste

Help with issues of budget limits and business models

Promote landfill levy to pay for SSO (source-separated organics) programs

Conference sessions

Facilitating education and involvement

Landfill bans, mapping of waste generators, help/resources for implementing recycling programs

Education, partner with political representatives

Promotion – State fuels AD project

It has to be economically viable to both generators and processors. If we can prove that then it should be easy to ‘sell’

Promoting and sharing information on commercial and institutional separation, collection and processing of food waste

Developing infrastructure, facilitating education and involvement of all economic sectors important to organics recycling (e.g. agriculture, hospitality, etc.)

Question Title

13. What other organizations should we be working with to expand organics recycling in Florida?
(Please choose all that apply.) (Required.)

Food services industry

Nursery, sod industry, agriculture

US Composting Council

Partner with more businesses that produce large volumes of organic waste

Florida restaurant and lodging (hospitality industry)

Extension offices

Military bases, hospital, prisons, schools (institutions)

Free workshops for public education, maybe through counties / cities, hardware stores, etc.

Building industry

FDOT

FDACS

Other (Please specify)

Question Title

14. What issues are most important for increasing and growing food waste composting in Florida?
(Please rank 1 to 10 with 1 = most important - 9 = least important) (Required.)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Collection and transport infrastructure	Collection and transport infrastructure 1	Collection and transport infrastructure 2	Collection and transport infrastructure 3	Collection and transport infrastructure 4	Collection and transport infrastructure 5	Collection and transport infrastructure 6	Collection and transport infrastructure 7	Collection and transport infrastructure 8	Collection and transport infrastructure 9	Collection and transport infrastructure 10
End-use marketing strategies	End-use marketing strategies 1	End-use marketing strategies 2	End-use marketing strategies 3	End-use marketing strategies 4	End-use marketing strategies 5	End-use marketing strategies 6	End-use marketing strategies 7	End-use marketing strategies 8	End-use marketing strategies 9	End-use marketing strategies 10
Pricing compost (bulk or bagged)	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 1	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 2	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 3	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 4	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 5	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 6	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 7	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 8	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 9	Pricing compost (bulk or bagged) 10
Compost processing fees	Compost processing fees 1	Compost processing fees 2	Compost processing fees 3	Compost processing fees 4	Compost processing fees 5	Compost processing fees 6	Compost processing fees 7	Compost processing fees 8	Compost processing fees 9	Compost processing fees 10
Additional FDEP education and support	Additional FDEP education and support 1	Additional FDEP education and support 2	Additional FDEP education and support 3	Additional FDEP education and support 4	Additional FDEP education and support 5	Additional FDEP education and support 6	Additional FDEP education and support 7	Additional FDEP education and support 8	Additional FDEP education and support 9	Additional FDEP education and support 10
DACS education and connection	DACS education and connection 1	DACS education and connection 2	DACS education and connection 3	DACS education and connection 4	DACS education and connection 5	DACS education and connection 6	DACS education and connection 7	DACS education and connection 8	DACS education and connection 9	DACS education and connection 10
Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 1	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 2	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 3	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 4	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 5	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 6	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 7	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 8	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 9	Public-private sector education and outreach partnerships 10
Compost regulatory and permit training	Compost regulatory and permit training 1	Compost regulatory and permit training 2	Compost regulatory and permit training 3	Compost regulatory and permit training 4	Compost regulatory and permit training 5	Compost regulatory and permit training 6	Compost regulatory and permit training 7	Compost regulatory and permit training 8	Compost regulatory and permit training 9	Compost regulatory and permit training 10
Compost production	Compost production 1	Compost production 2	Compost production 3	Compost production 4	Compost production 5	Compost production 6	Compost production 7	Compost production 8	Compost production 9	Compost production 10
Site planning / permitting (local)	Site planning / permitting (local) 1	Site planning / permitting (local) 2	Site planning / permitting (local) 3	Site planning / permitting (local) 4	Site planning / permitting (local) 5	Site planning / permitting (local) 6	Site planning / permitting (local) 7	Site planning / permitting (local) 8	Site planning / permitting (local) 9	Site planning / permitting (local) 10

Other (Please specify issue and importance)

Question Title

15. Did you use the Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence (FORCE) website as a resource when it was active online?
(Please choose one) (Required.)

Yes

I am not familiar with this website

Thank you for participating in the
Organics Recycling Needs Assessment!

Survey Prepared by:
Kessler Consulting, Inc.

100% of survey complete.

Question Title

* 1. Which sector best describes you?(Please choose one) (Required.)

Question Title

* 2. Which part of Florida are you located or operate in? (Please choose all that apply) (Required.)

Question Title

* 3. What do you consider are the greatest organics recycling production concerns that your facility faces?(Please rank 1 to 9 with 1= most important – 9 = least important) (Required.)

Question Title

* 4. What do you consider to be the greatest end-use concerns that organics recycling facilities currently face?(Please rank 1 to 4 with 1= most important – 4 = least important) (Required.)

Question Title

* 5. What types of organics recycling information/support do you feel Florida needs?(Please rank 1 to 11 with 1= most important – 11 = least important) (Required.)

Question Title

* 6. What are your preferred methods of obtaining educational information? (Please rank 1 to 8 with 1= most preferred – 8 = least preferred method) (Required.)

Question Title

* 7. What category best describes your involvement with the organics recycling industry?(Please choose all that apply) (Required.)

Question Title

* 8. How would you best describe the organic feedstock you are recycling? (Please choose all that apply) (Required.)

Question Title

* 9. Would your organization benefit from receiving educational information about Florida’s organics industry?(Please choose one) (Required.)

Question Title

* 10. Would your organization benefit from attending a Florida organics training day?(Please choose one) (Required.)

Question Title

* 11. Which areas of organics recycling would you like to be involved with? (Please choose all that apply.) (Required.)

Question Title

* 12. How would you recommend expanding organics recycling in Florida? (Please choose all that apply.) (Required.)

Question Title

* 13. What other organizations should we be working with to expand organics recycling in Florida? (Please choose all that apply.) (Required.)

Question Title

* 14. What issues are most important for increasing and growing food waste composting in Florida?(Please rank 1 to 10 with 1 = most important - 9 = least important) (Required.)

Question Title

* 15. Did you use the Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence (FORCE) website as a resource when it was active online?(Please choose one) (Required.)

1. Which sector best describes you?
(Please choose one) (Required.)

2. Which part of Florida are you located or operate in?
(Please choose all that apply) (Required.)

3. What do you consider are the greatest organics recycling production concerns that your facility faces?
(Please rank 1 to 9 with 1= most important – 9 = least important) (Required.)

4. What do you consider to be the greatest end-use concerns that organics recycling facilities currently face?
(Please rank 1 to 4 with 1= most important – 4 = least important) (Required.)

5. What types of organics recycling information/support do you feel Florida needs?
(Please rank 1 to 11 with 1= most important – 11 = least important) (Required.)

6. What are your preferred methods of obtaining educational information?
(Please rank 1 to 8 with 1= most preferred – 8 = least preferred method) (Required.)

7. What category best describes your involvement with the organics recycling industry?
(Please choose all that apply) (Required.)

8. How would you best describe the organic feedstock you are recycling?
(Please choose all that apply) (Required.)

9. Would your organization benefit from receiving educational information about Florida’s organics industry?
(Please choose one) (Required.)

10. Would your organization benefit from attending a Florida organics training day?
(Please choose one) (Required.)

11. Which areas of organics recycling would you like to be involved with? (Please choose all that apply.) (Required.)

12. How would you recommend expanding organics recycling in Florida?
(Please choose all that apply.) (Required.)

13. What other organizations should we be working with to expand organics recycling in Florida?
(Please choose all that apply.) (Required.)

14. What issues are most important for increasing and growing food waste composting in Florida?
(Please rank 1 to 10 with 1 = most important - 9 = least important) (Required.)

15. Did you use the Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence (FORCE) website as a resource when it was active online?
(Please choose one) (Required.)