City-Wide Food Waste Curbside Feasibility Study
City-Wide Food Waste Curbside Feasibility Study
Client
City of Bowie, MD
Industry
Food Waste & Organic Systems
Our Role
Evaluated Expansion of Food Waste Collection
The Challenge
Bowie sought a scalable solution to expand city-wide food waste collection, supporting its climate goals and ensuring effective community involvement throughout the process.
The City of Bowie, MD, faced the task of scaling its existing curbside food waste collection program to a city-wide initiative as part of its Climate Action Plan (CAP) to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030. With only 25% participation in the current program, serving seven neighborhoods, the City needed a comprehensive feasibility study to identify cost-effective strategies for expansion. The study required collecting baseline data, analyzing regional trends, and designing an implementation framework tailored to Bowie’s diverse, family-focused population. The challenge also included raising awareness among residents about food waste reduction, ensuring proper curbside disposal, and achieving targeted collection volumes by 2025.
Community Engagement and Awareness: Raise public awareness about food waste reduction and educate residents on proper curbside disposal practices.
Baseline Data and Regional Trends Analysis: Collect key data and evaluate regional practices to inform program expansion strategies.
Implementation Framework Development: Design a scalable, cost-effective program that aligns with Bowie's CAP emissions reduction goals.
Volume and Participation Targets: Achieve a 24% participation rate among eligible households for food waste composting while maintaining yard waste collection levels.
"The City of Bowie is taking a proactive approach to waste management, setting the stage for a more sustainable future through strategic planning and innovation."
-Kristen Wieland , RRS SENIOR CONSULTANT
Strategic Approach
Our data-driven methodology provided a comprehensive, actionable plan to expand Bowie’s food waste collection program in line with its Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals.
RRS employed a collaborative, data-driven approach to assess and design a scalable food waste collection program for Bowie. This involved close coordination with city staff, analysis of existing systems, and benchmarking regional best practices. We developed multiple cost and operational models that illustrated various rollout strategies, ranging from enhancing the current collection model to integrating more efficient and sophisticated vehicle systems. Additionally, we provided actionable recommendations and a tailored communications strategy to support community engagement and facilitate program growth.
Data Collection: Gathered data from Bowie's pilot program and benchmarked similar regional programs to create operational and cost models.
Verification & Analysis: Verified findings through interviews and analyzed three program scenarios to align with Bowie’s Climate Action Plan.
Data Compilation & Prioritization: Evaluated costs, savings, and emissions reductions to prioritize the most efficient collection model.
Program Design & Recommendations: Designed a co-collection program with a communications plan to drive participation and optimize city resources.
“For cities like Bowie, sustainable waste management means finding cost-effective ways to expand services, like curbside food waste collection, while reducing reliance on landfills and waste-to-energy. By leveraging data-driven metrics, we help communities transform food waste from a disposal challenge into a local resource, supporting long-term environmental and economic sustainability.”
-Kate MAGUIRE, RRS CONSULTANT
Outcomes
Supporting Bowie’s Climate Action Goals
RRS delivered a comprehensive plan to support Bowie, MD, in expanding its food waste collection program, directly contributing to the city's goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030. This data-driven approach included operational models, cost analyses, and targeted communications strategies to ensure a scalable and impactful rollout.
Operational & Cost Modeling: Developed three program scenarios, illustrating the impact of various collection strategies on staffing, equipment needs, operational efficiencies, and environmental outcomes.
Program Optimization: Identified opportunities to combine food and yard waste collection, leveraging the city's existing composting infrastructure for greater capacity without incurring significant additional costs for carts, equipment, or processing.
Community Engagement Strategy: Designed a detailed outreach plan to educate residents on the expanded program, emphasizing the proper use of the co-collection system to maximize participation and long-term success.
RRS provided Bowie with actionable insights that allowed for an informed decision on program expansion, positioning the city to enhance waste diversion, achieve its climate goals, and drive community engagement.
25%
Current Program Participation
600
MTCO2e Greenhouse Gas Savings
50%
Emissions Reduction Goal
The Team
A dedicated team from RRS collaborated closely with the City of Bowie to evaluate and enhance its waste management services.
This multidisciplinary team included data analysts, planners, strategists, and communications experts, each bringing specialized expertise to the project. Kate Maguire led the data and modeling efforts, analyzing waste collection scenarios to compare cost, efficiency, and environmental impact, while Samantha Kappalman developed a strategic communications plan to engage the community and support service expansion. Through in-depth research, cost modeling, and stakeholder engagement, the team provided the City of Bowie with a comprehensive evaluation of its waste system, delivering tailored recommendations designed to improve operational efficiency, enhance employee safety, and support the city’s long-term sustainability goals.
