Author: Eric Palmer

Most people know that batteries are bad for the environment. What many don’t know is that discarded batteries are a growing cause of potentially fatal fires.
Lithium-ion batteries are especially risky. Because they’re so efficient, they’re used in countless rechargeable products, including smart phones, power tools, electric toothbrushes, and even robotic vacuums. But if they’re not disposed of properly, they can suddenly burst into flames — and they frequently do, endangering everyone nearby.

Fires in waste-processing facilities are on the rise and breaking records. In 2021, 367 fires were reported by US and Canada waste-processing facilities. But since many fires go unreported, the real number may have been as high as 2,200, according to Fire Rover, a maker of fire safety equipment. Two people were reported killed and 37 injured.

ReGen Monterey experiences a fire a week at our landfill and recycling plant. Recycling-sorting machinery at its Monterey County facility have burst into flames because of a lithium battery in the stream. Employees close to the machinery were unharmed, but such fires are happening more and more often and are a constant concern.

A similar fire in San Carlos in 2016 caused millions of dollars in property damage and revenue loss.

In addition to being toxic, lithium is extremely flammable. ReGen Monterey employees watch out for batteries vigilantly and take precautions, but we are recovering 5,000 POUNDS of batteries in our recycling plant each month, and need members of the public to help protect them too.

A lithium-ion battery can ignite simply by being broken, exposing the lithium to air. Other causes include vibration, overheating, and short circuits, among others.

It’s easy to imagine how often such things can happen in a waste facility or vehicle, where batteries may be dropped onto hard surfaces, driven over, banged, or compressed and shredded inside machines.

In addition to fire, there’s a serious associated risk from the release of toxic chemicals such as fluoride gases, as described in a 2017 article in the journal Nature.

What can be done? Luckily, one high-impact measure is now easy and free: local residents can simply put their used batteries in a plastic bag and place them on top of their recycling bin for pick-up on collection day. Batteries should never go inside the bin, though, since even regular ones contain poisonous compounds that can leak into the environment and threaten health.

Sitos Group, a California-based startup, will unveil advanced carbon removal technology with ReGen Monterey on Friday, July 21 at 12:30 p.m. The public is invited to tour a groundbreaking pyrolysis pilot study facility located at ReGen Monterey, 14201 Del Monte Blvd. (1.5 miles north of Marina off Highway 1).

A pilot biochar production plant will heat wood byproducts in a low-oxygen environment, creating a charcoal-like substance that can sequester carbon and improve soil health for local farms. When biochar is mixed with compost and applied to farmland, it mimics coral reefs, acting as a reservoir for essential nutrients, microorganisms, and water—a crucial resource in drought-stricken California. The highly porous nature of biochar offers an ideal habitat for a diverse range of beneficial soil microorganisms, thereby promoting optimal soil and plant health, according to the USDA.

Sitos Group’s pilot project is opportunely located at ReGen Monterey’s facility, which is surrounded by Monterey County’s famed and expansive agriculture industry, along with access to excess forestry byproducts to produce the biochar.

“ReGen Monterey is proud to partner with the Sitos Group on this exciting opportunity to study new waste management innovations, support local farms and fight climate change,” said Felipe Melchor, general manager of ReGen Monterey. “We look forward to sharing this technology and promoting its benefits to the community and the environment.”

The launch ceremony will include a live demonstration of how Sitos Group repurposes local wood byproducts to manufacture high-quality, durable biochar, a Q&A on the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the process, and an educational overview on the background and benefits of biochar and regenerative agriculture. As a final component of the ceremony, Sitos Group will sequester their first lot of carbon, signifying the beginning of their efforts to remove 1,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2030.

“We believe that we have the potential to make a significant impact on the environment and economy in Monterey and beyond,” said Mayo Ryan, CEO of the Sitos Group. “Biochar-enriched soil will not only rehabilitate and improve farmland but can sequester harmful greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change.”

The launch ceremony will take place on Friday, July 21, 2023, from 12:30 to 2:30 PM at ReGen Monterey, 14201 Del Monte Blvd. (1.5 miles north of Marina off Highway 1 at exit 412). The event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

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The ReGen Monterey Board of Directors have approved a disposal fee increase on select materials, effective July 1, 2023. Single Stream Recycling Rates will remain at $40 per ton for all member agencies. Please see the ReGen Monterey Disposal Fee Brochure for details.

Workshops: New Recycling and Food Scrap Laws in Apartments, Tuesday, June 13 and Thursday, June 22

Attention multi-family property owners and property management companies:

Register for a FREE training and learn how to implement recycling and food scrap collection programs in your apartments.

California Laws AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383 require businesses and multifamily complexes to implement recycling programs for solid waste and organic waste – now including food scraps. These laws are put in place to reduce the amount of solid waste that enters our local landfills and to combat climate change. To avoid penalties and to do your part in protecting the environment, it is important to implement these recycling programs at your apartment complex or condominiums.

Virtual training for property owners and managers to understand mandatory food scrap recycling will take place on Tuesday, June 13th at 10 a.m. and Thursday, June 22 at 12 p.m.

Register at https://svswa.org/commercial/multifamily-recycling/

Jesse Villarruel, a Visual and Public Art (VPA) senior at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), has been selected to be the 2023 Artist in Residence (AIR) at ReGen Monterey. The AIR Program is a partnership between ReGen Monterey, CSUMB and Last Chance Mercantile. Since 2016, student artists from CSUMB are selected for a fellowship at ReGen Monterey. The artists work in a recycled truck trailer, repurposed into an art studio, at Last Chance Mercantile, where they salvage for discarded materials and upcycle them into art. Villarruel also discovered materials from ReGen Monterey’s recycling plant, the Materials Recovery Facility.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to make sustainable art from recycled and salvaged materials,” said Villarruel. “After learning about the roles ReGen Monterey and Last Chance Mercantile play in improving our community and environment, I wanted to be able to educate and inspire my audience to reduce and reuse their own excess materials in order to protect our environment.”

Visitors to Last Chance Mercantile have been able to observe Villarruel’s creative process and interact with the artist during store hours. The fellowship will culminate with an art installation titled “A Microcosm of Hope” from May 16-27, 2023, and a special reception on Thursday, May 18 at 2 p.m. at Last Chance Mercantile. The installation and reception are open to the public.

Jesse Villarruel is a multidisciplinary artist from San Diego, California, specializing in painting, drawing, sculpting and poetry, all of which he hopes to incorporate into his art installation. According to Villarruel, his art is “inspired by the people, environment and stories that surround us,” especially “stories of people who overcome great obstacles.” Recent artwork includes paintings and roadside murals of farmworkers in the Salinas Valley, along with a mural depicting scenes from Monterey County on a CSUMB building. Villarruel is currently at work in his Last Chance Mercantile studio painting scenes and workers from ReGen Monterey’s Materials Recovery Facility and the natural landscapes that surround the site. He will graduate with a B.A. in Visual and Public Art from CSU Monterey Bay in May.

“We are proud to continue this longstanding tradition and support of our local artist community,” said Felipe Melchor, general manager of ReGen Monterey. “Jesse has a special eye for illustrating the beauty of our region and the hard work of essential workers in Monterey County. He is an excellent choice for inspiring people to protect the environment and celebrate our community.”

The Artist in Residence program’s goal is to inspire creative reuse and educate our community about the importance of repurposing and recycling materials. Learn more about the program and previous artists in residence at regenmonterey.org/artist-in-residence/. Follow @regenmonterey on Instagram for updates about Villarruel’s work and @jessev_art to see more of his portfolio.

Last Chance Mercantile is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Feeding Hungry People and Not Landfills Reduces Climate Impacts

One in four people in Monterey County are hungry; the network of food pantries and food rescue organizations that serve those most vulnerable residents are mainly non-profits that rely on donations and volunteers.

To assist in expanding food recovery capacity, ReGen Monterey and Salinas Valley Recycles are excited to announce the Edible Food Recovery Grant Program. As food insecurity has no boundaries, all jurisdictions in Monterey County are working collaboratively to contribute to these grant funds.  This annual funding opportunity intends to award a total of up to $100,000 to non-profit organizations, businesses, or public entities that collect, generate, and distribute food to those in need within the County.

The new grant program, developed and administered in coordination with Blue Strike Environmental, kicked-off in June and awarded $20,000 each to the first five recipients: Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes, serving north county areas, Dorothy’s Place, serving the Salinas area, Meals on Wheels of Salinas Valley, serving the entire Salinas Valley, Victory Mission, serving Salinas and Peninsula Cities, and Shoreline Church, which serves all of Monterey County and its cities.  Each organization is using the funds to purchase various items including walk-in freezers, refrigerators, shelving, insulated meal carriers, etc.

The current Edible Food Recovery Grant cycle awarded a total of approximately $76,000 to the following five organizations: Boys & Girls Club of Monterey County, Salvation Army (Salinas, Monterey Peninsula, and Monterey County), and St. George’s Episcopal Church in Salinas. The next funding cycle will be announced in Summer 2023.

“This generous grant funding truly makes a difference in the lives of the working low-income families, farmworkers, and elderly, disabled, and unsheltered residents of the Pajaro Valley,” says Ashley Bridges, Executive Director at Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes and grant recipient.

This new funding opportunity supports California Senate Bill (SB) 1383 – Short Lived Climate Pollutants, which mandates a 75% reduction in landfilled organic waste and a minimum of 20% of currently disposed of food recovered for human consumption. Ultimately, the aim is to reduce the amount of edible food that ends up in landfills while redirecting that food for the good of our local communities.

“Edible Food Recovery is a new program for solid waste and recycling agencies across the state, so we are eager to see how the funds benefit and expand the existing local food recovery network,” says Patrick Mathews, General Manager & CAO at Salinas Valley Recycles.”

The grant is intended to expand and enhance edible food recovery programs at food rescue organizations and services operating within the region to better accommodate state mandates and broaden community operations by:

• Increasing the capacity of local food rescue organizations and services operating within the County;
• Assisting in funding the purchase of equipment (i.e., commercial refrigerators and freezers), materials, and supplies that increase the total pounds of edible food an organization is able to recover and distribute to those in need;
• Improving the region’s ability to respond to and comply with SB 1383 mandates, enabling businesses to donate the maximum amount of edible or prepared food that would otherwise be disposed of; and
• Ensuring food safety as edible food recovery donations increase.

Working together locally on the Edible Food Recovery Grant Program are ReGen Monterey; Salinas Valley Recycles; and the cities of Carmel- by-the-Sea, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, Greenfield, King, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Sand City, Seaside, and Soledad; Monterey County; and Pebble Beach Community Services District.

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Additional Information

More about ReGen Monterey: ReGen Monterey is the public name of the Monterey Regional Waste Management District. We serve a population of approximately 170,000 in 853 square miles, including the cities of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Sand City, Seaside, and the unincorporated areas of Big Sur, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral De Tierra, Laguna Seca, Moss Landing, Pebble Beach, San Benancio, and Toro Park. Call 831-384-5313 for information or visit www.ReGenMonterey.org

More about Salinas Valley Recycles: The Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, a.k.a. Salinas Valley Recycles (SVR), is a joint powers agency made up of the following local governments: Monterey County (eastern half of the unincorporated county), and the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Salinas, and Soledad. SVR owns and operates the only active landfill in the Salinas Valley, along with a recycling center and Household Hazardous Waste Facility just outside of Salinas, and a Transfer Station outside of King City. For more information visit www.salinasvalleyrecycles.org