Missouri Organic Recycling of Kansas City, MO

Article: Missouri Organic Recycling Earns Project Grants

"Waste Handling Equipment News (WHEN) Magazine

http://www.wastehandling.com/ September 2001, Volume 9, No.11 – Reprinted with Permission – Author: Diana Barnum First seen and published by Waste Handling Equipment News"

Full Article: Missouri Organic Recycling Earns Project Grants

When it comes to finding funding for organic recycling projects, officials at Missouri Organic Recycling (MOR) know the value of having a good project proposal and a good grant writer.

Major dollars are available for organic recycling funding if proposals are well prepared and delivered in a timely manner to the appropriate sources. But this process isn’t always easy. Operators at MOR applied several times for grant money, but were unsuccessful until they hired a grant writer.

He just walked in the door one day,” said Kevin Anderson, Vice President of MOR,” and announced himself. Then it took several months, but he did it.”

MOR was awarded an $85,000 grant from Kansas City, MO’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The award is for conducting compost turner studies with food, and construction and demolition (C&D) wastes (like dry-wall).

The grant writer’s fee was $3,000, paid up front regardless of whether or not they received the grant. “But it definitely paid off,” said Anderson. “We targeted grant money for certain wastes like food and C&D that are more management intensive, not labor intensive.”

A pilot project is underway with Ready Cut Foods, producer of bagged lettuce. Year long lettuce debris contributes to full-time work for employees. During winter months, employees work stockpiles and move food and industrial waste.

MOR, Kansas City’s largest state-permitted, organic recycling facility, tries to maintain a level staff count throughout the year to avoid layoffs and advertises in local papers for seasonal help.

Operations started in 1992 by owner Dave Anderson and his sons, Kevin and Jason, in response to Section Law 260.250 banning yard waste from landfills.

They started with two acres mainly used for firewood (brush) and selling cords until the new law went into effect. Now at just under five acres and with nine employees, there is no room to expand. “We’re looking at purchasing 35 acres about a mile away,” said Kevin.

Working hand-in-hand with the DNR, the Andersons help develop regulations. They work with product testing in areas of nutrient analysis, feedstock analysis and waste-water requirements. AgriEnergy Resources in Princeton, IL, tests their samples in about a week and report their findings.

What type of equipment is used? For a compost turner, MOR turns to Frontier Industrial Corporation in Woodburn, OR, for an F Series self-propelled 16’ strattle-type windrow for odor control. John Deere is the choice for loaders, 624H loaders that is. And a HogZilla HC1462P is the tub grinder.

“Dave’s (Anderson) a good guy,” said Tim Wenger, sales manager at CW Manufacturing, maker of the HogZilla. “We’ve been with them a couple of years. He’s (MORs) been growing.”

Wenger said Dave started out with a small grinder, but wanted to grow into one with a loader. MOR has been a test site for CW Manufacturing. “We fly customers down to Dave’s to demo models,” said Wenger.

The HC1462P has a torque converter as opposed to using a clutch. It’s a mid-to-upper-size machine with a loader, and boasts a standard 860 HP Caterpillar or optional 750 HP Cummins engine. While a dry clutch often fails mid job, this hog operates long term to meet production needs. And production needs are increasing.

“We gear our products to organic farming,” said Kevin Anderson. “Chemical free. There’s been a huge amount of growth with organic farmers. Business almost doubles every year.”

Only green waste is accepted at MOR. Grass, leaves, tree trimmings, garden debris, wood chips, root balls and big wood cut into five-foot sections, or less, are accepted. Products available in return include organically enriched topsoil, premium cedar and erosion control mulches and Nature Wise Compost made of 100% natural ingredients.

MOR tries to stay one step ahead by monitoring activity along the west and east coasts by participating in lawn and garden shows, reading garden magazines and through participation in community groups. Giving back to the community is also priority. They donate compost to schools and community urban gardens for raised beds.

If you’d like to grow with your community too, but a grant writer hasn’t walked through your door yet, look around, suggests Anderson. A visit or call to your public library can turn up plenty of information about grant writers. Many libraries offer workshops and other resources to help you complete your own paperwork.

For more information about MOR and how they did it, contact Missouri Organic Recycling, 7800 E 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64126. Phone: (816) 483-0908, Fax: (816) 455-6526.