THE PROBLEM:

The City and Borough of Juneau is poised to receive $2.5 million to build a compost facility even though the community already has a privately owned  facility. Juneau Composts has been serving the community with curbside compost collection, drop off service, and by creating bagged and bulk soil amendments for seven years. The city is going to build a new compost facility a few hundred yards from Juneau Composts's fully operational facility, and it is expected to be operational in 2027 at the earliest. JC is now in a state of uncertainty for their future because the city intends to issue an RFP for a contractor to run the facility only after it is designed and built, not now.  Since Juneau Composts does not know if they will be the selected contractor or if they will be put out of business instead, they cannot continue to invest in equipment and expand composting services for the community. Juneau stands to lose a long-standing local business that has been the sole organics recycler and soil amendments producer in town. 

Juneau Composts has requested clarity but CBJ has been unable or unwilling to provide it, while repeatedly telling the public that they and JC  "are working together." That is not the case. They have said that JC is not doing enough landfill diversion, yet JC has never turned a potential customer away due to the inability to handle their material. 

THE SOLUTION

Juneau Composts has not asked the city for a partnership outside the parameters of city code. JC is requesting a path forward that is good for city staff, good for local businesses, and good for Juneau's citizens. It could be as follows:

The city issues a non-monetary RFP to establish a compost partner now (not in 2027 after their facility is constructed like they are saying.) The compost partner (hopefully JC) and CBJ design the facility together with engineers. 

The parameters of the contract to run the facility: the contractor meets certain goals of landfill diversion. (Ex 1 million pounds in year two, 5 million pounds in year five) and remains in compliance with DEC regulations. 

That’s it. CBJ is not required to design a collection or processing program, which is outside their expertise. They don't have to carve out a budget to fund operational expenses. The compost program is user fee funded and completely run by the contractor. Contractor pays a fee to lease the facility. If the contractor does not increase landfill diversion rates year over year, an RFP can be issued for a new contractor. If CBJ wants to further increase composting they could do that with education campaigns or policy, which is the realm of what government actually does.

In this scenario city staff is relieved from the task of becoming experts in composting, citizens's are not required to fund a compost program with their tax dollars, and an established compost business with over a decade of expertise gets to continue providing its reliable service while growing to serve more of the community. 

Please sign this petition requesting that CBJ issue an RFP for an experienced compost partner NOW, so that Juneau can have a stable and vibrant compost future.