Barnstable County presents proof‑of‑concept plan for Upper Cape composting facility with Joint Base Cape Cod

Barnstable County officials and consultants on March 26 presented a final draft feasibility study for a coastal community composting facility intended to accept food scraps from the Upper Cape, including Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee and Sandwich, and material from Joint Base Cape Cod.

The study, prepared by SES Engineers and presented by Greg McCarron, estimates a core capacity of about 5,000 tons of food scraps per year mixed with roughly 7,000 tons of woody materials for a total of about 12,000 tons per year and sizes the site footprint at roughly 4–5 acres for initial operations. “We were hired by the county to prepare the feasibility study for the coastal community compost facility,” McCarron said during the presentation.

Why it matters: Cape Cod currently lacks large local compost capacity for residential and commercial food waste. County staff and local towns said that diverting organics could reduce solid‑waste disposal costs and keep valuable soil amendments on the Cape rather than shipping them long distances.

Study highlights and costs McCarron said the study evaluated several composting technologies and recommends an aerated static pile approach using Gore covers for the active composting phase. Under that approach incoming material is mixed with a carbon source (wood chips or leaves), placed under a cover with forced aeration for about six weeks total in two three‑week phases, and then cured outdoors in windrows before screening and sale. The study notes the operator would contain and recycle contact water (leachate) from active piles into the process.

The draft sizes the facility for an initial “proof‑of‑concept” layout and presents two capital scenarios: a lower‑cost, less‑permanent proof‑of‑concept estimated at about $3,000,000 and a more permanent facility using cast‑in‑place concrete and asphalt at about $4,000,000. The consultants did not include state or federal grants in those base estimates; the presentation said MassDEP and USDA programs have funded similar projects elsewhere.

Site, ownership and permitting County staff described two parcels on Joint Base Cape Cod under Commonwealth underlying ownership that are being evaluated as potential locations. One “preferred” parcel is about 20 acres (the county would need 4–5 acres for the physical facility and the remainder for future expansion); an alternative parcel discussed is roughly 7 acres. The base’s planning team and Joint Base representatives warned the county they must manage aviation and wildlife risks, noting that composting operations should not attract birds near airfields.

County and base officials said ownership and leasing arrangements are still under discussion; state agencies such as MassDevelopment and DCAM may be involved if the Commonwealth divests parcels. The presenters said permitting under the MassDEP program could take about 24 months or more and will determine whether the project can expand beyond the mass general permit thresholds.

Operations and local benefits The study’s pro forma considered tipping fees and compost sales revenue and projected potential savings to participating towns. Consultants modeled residential tip fees in the mid‑$60s per ton range for the facility compared with many towns paying $100 or more per ton elsewhere because of transport. The report also described partnership models that include public‑private leases (Manchester/Black Earth model) and publicly owned, contractor‑operated facilities (Southeast Connecticut model).

Presenters said Joint Base Cape Cod staff expect to supply much of the wood chip feedstock from base tree work, and several towns indicated interest in using and purchasing the finished compost for municipal and agricultural use.

Next steps and caveats County staff said the next stage is to reach RFQ/RFP readiness and identify a proponent—either the county or a private partner—to carry the project into design and permitting. County staff and the consultants recommended using the 24‑month permitting window to secure additional funding, refine legal agreements and evaluate operational models.

No formal decision or vote to approve construction funding or a procurement approach was taken at the meeting. County staff said they will seek public comment on the final report and return with grant options and recommended next steps.

Ending County and Joint Base leaders said the project remains a proof of concept and could take two to five years to determine a permanent home. Presenters asked commissioners to consider continued technical support and potential county leadership as the project moves toward RFQ/RFP stages.