A Town Composting Program for New Castle It can be done!

Why a composting program?

Why compost in New Castle? We generate 150 tons of garbage per year 15-20% of this is food waste Potential for saving 30 tons of food from being incinerated We would be joining a group of towns that will lead the way towards convincing the County to build a composting facility

NYS Beyond Waste Plan “The quantitative goal of this Plan is to reduce the amount of waste New Yorkers dispose…Currently, New Yorkers send 4.1 pounds of municipal solid waste (MSW) per person per day, or 0.75 tons per person per year, to disposal facilities. The Plan seeks a progressive reduction in the amount of MSW destined for disposal to reach the goal of reducing disposal to 0.6 pounds per person per day by 2030.”

How It Works Voluntary – residents sign up and purchase a kit for $20 from the Town Kit includes a 1-gallon kitchen pail + bags, a 6-gallon transport pail + bags, and user instructions Residents bring food scraps to recycling center, drop bag into lined 64-gallon tote Sani-Pro picks up scraps weekly and transports to composting facility

Scarsdale has a successful program Started in January- 1,000 families participating No mess at the recycling center Requires very little additional work from recycling center staff (per Scarsdale foreman)

Implementation Plan Phase 1: approval (May and June) Craft proposal, including cost estimates from Sani-Pro Present to Town for approval Phase 2: preparations (June and July) Prepare/print User instructions Order Starter Kit materials (300) Assemble Starter kits Order signage for Recycling Center Explanations in Town eNewsletter and on Town and SAB websites

Implementation Plan Phase 3: pilot (July and August) Sale of kits at Farmers Market – we will have a booth Kits are for sale at Recycling Center Kits are for sale through Ambassador (SAB Member) home visits For sale at Greeley and Millwood Hardware? They can sell replacement bags too

Implementation Plan Phase 4: Town-wide roll-out Education and sale of kits at Community Day Possible involvement of the Public and Nursery schools Speeches by SAB Members at: PTA meetings Fire and Ambulance Houses of Worship Rotary, etc.

Costs Cost for kits and totes: $5,000 Cost of Buckets and Pails reimbursed as kits are sold Costs for labels and signage - $1,000 Cost for hauling - $400/month Cost is paid for by reduced garbage tipping fees Total cost to Town: about $2,000

Financial Justification Average household generates 11lbs of food scraps per week (NYS-DEP) New Castle has 5,600 households; 5% = 280 280 X 11 lbs = 3,080 lbs/week or 6.6 tons per month Tipping fee for trash is now = $63.55/ton If we compost 6.6 tons a month, $63.55 X 6.6 = $419/month savings $400 monthly hauling cost – the Town saves $19/month or $228/year. As more households participate there will be a bigger savings- our goal is 10% of households

Conclusion: Why a Compost program for New Castle? Reduces waste being incinerated and associated greenhouse gases Helps return nutrients to the environment Saves the Town money Does not burden Town employees Further enhances our “Green” reputation