When your bananas turn brown or your bread goes moldy, you might not think twice about dropping them in the trash, but the San Diego City Council on Tuesday will give a second thought about where a local nonprofit puts its food scraps.
The nine council members are expected to give final approval for the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to construct an on-site organic composting facility at its Mira Mesa warehouse. The council must rezone the property for the project to move forward.
The nonprofit claims composting will cut its annual waste by 473,000 pounds — which would normally end up at local landfills.
Councilman Chris Cate, whose district includes Mira Mesa, said the food bank plans to use donated products that are past their expiration date or can't be repurposed.
"Using it for composting just provides a great benefit and offset to what we're sending to our landfill," Cate said in a phone interview.
The freshman councilman said the project’s benefits include more than just reducing food scraps.
“Potentially using that composting and selling it at a rate to members of the community, people around the Mira Mesa area and others and having those dollars go back into the food bank," he said.
A representative from the food bank was not available to comment.
According to a report from city staff, the plans "have not been finalized yet, but the Food Bank anticipates that it will sell the compost to prospective buyers."
The organic material is also beneficial in drought conditions because it helps lawns and gardens retain moisture.
San Diegans can purchase compost and mulch from the Miramar Landfill. Spokesman Jose Ysea said the product is in demand.
"There are occasions where we do run out of the compost that’s readily available," Ysea said.
The Mira Mesa Community Planning Group approved the food bank's composting facility in September.
Tuesday will be the City Council's second vote on the item. It unanimously passed earlier this month, with Councilwoman Marti Emerald absent.
