Stanford eyes $20,000 grant for municipal compost program

STANFORD — Landfills and incinerators in the United States process enough organic material annually to fill a line of fully-loaded 18-wheelers stretching from New York City to Los Angeles, 10 times, according to a report by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund.

In response, the number of communities with composting programs nationwide has increased 65% in the last five years, and the town of Stanford is considering joining that movement.

The Stanfordville Climate Smart Communities (CSC) board is seeking feedback from residents via an online survey on their level of interest in participating in a composting program in their community if one were to be established.

Wendy Burton, Town of Stanford Supervisor, said there is a grant opportunity from Dutchess County for up to $20,000 to fund a composting project for the initial start-up costs for a food waste drop-off program.

Burton noted that the town Transfer Station is under consideration as the site for a municipal composting project.

“The survey is to test the waters on community interest, and we are also going to speak to our local restaurants and Big Rock,” as well as the local school district, to see if they would be interested in participating, the town supervisor said.

The brief survey asks residents to estimate how much compostable waste they think their household produces weekly, whether they would be interested in education about home composting, community composting, with potential drop off options around town, or a composting pick-up service, age range and number of people in the household.

The Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management recently launched the expanded grant program for municipalities and schools aimed at reducing food and organic waste through composting and at the same time provide convenient composting opportunities to residents.

Composting is a process where organic materials, like kitchen scraps and yard waste, are broken down naturally by microorganisms. These tiny creatures use oxygen, water and the carbon and nitrogen in the materials to create a nutrient-rich soil called compost, which is akin to turning trash into treasure for gardens.

The survey is currently being circulated via the Town of Stanford mailing list. For more information, email wburton@townofstanford.org.