San
Francisco EPA Employee Nominated
For Prestigious National Award
Following her Efforts to Turn Bay Area Food Waste into Energy
28-year-old Sonoma County Native honored this week
SAN
FRANCISCO - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency employee
and Bay Area resident Cara Peck has been nominated for the celebrated
2009 Service to America Medal by the Partnership for Public
Service. Peck is a life scientist in EPA's San Francisco office
- she is one of three EPA employees who have been nominated
for the prestigious award.
"I'm proud that among the many agencies and public servants
across the country, our EPA team members are being recognized
for their exceptional service and dedication," said EPA
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "This is a well-deserved
honor for individuals who work so hard to improve the lives
of the American people."
Cara Peck was recognized for helping urban areas improve food
waste processing, promote new efficiencies and use refuse as
a source of renewable energy. Peck worked in partnership with
the East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) to spearhead
an effort to reuse food waste that would normally end up in
landfills.
The initiative was the first high-volume post-consumer food
waste anaerobic digestion project in the United States. The
project captures the energy potential of food waste and the
remaining solids can be further processed into compost, which
can be put back into the soil to replenish and grow crops. The
project generates renewable energy, a valuable compost material,
and economic savings. With about 30 million tons of food waste
discarded into landfills each year, this is an innovative and
broadly applicable approach that can be carried out at most
wastewater treatment facilities in the country.
Anaerobic Digestion - Fast Facts for California:
· Many communities in California have Zero Waste goals.
The state of California also has tough waste diversion goals.
·
Anaerobic digestion breaks down the food waste, producing biogas
which can be used as an energy source. The volume of the food
waste is reduced, creating a byproduct that can be further processed
at a composting facility. The digesters also capture methane,
a potent greenhouse gas that would otherwise be emitted to the
atmosphere.
·
Anaerobic digesters currently exist at many wastewater treatment
facilities, making it possible to capture and process food waste
in a dense, urban area without building new infrastructure.
The Service to America Medal pays tribute to the best in the
federal workforce and inspires a new generation to join in service.
The medals honor federal employees who have shown a strong commitment
to public service and have made significant contribution in
their field of government that is innovative, high-impact and
critical for the nation.
The winners of the 2009 Awards will be announced and honored
at the Partnership's Awards Ceremony on September 23 in Washington,
D.C.More information on the Service to America Medals: http://www.ourpublicservice.org/OPS