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Havre de Grace Green Team reports five-year composting success, council asks administration to explore second compost site
Summary
The Havre de Grace Green Team told the council its compost program has diverted roughly 116 tons of food waste since 2020; volunteers and council members urged expansion and the council asked the mayor and administration to work with the group on a second site and return with funding recommendations.
Havre de Grace94The Havre de Grace Green Team presented its annual update on June 16, reporting sustained public use of a downtown compost enclosure and progress on the Todd Park food forest, and the council asked the administration to explore a second composting location.
Danielle Wolfe, president of the Havre de Grace Green Team, told the council the compost enclosure opened in June 2020 at Hutchins Park (sometimes referenced as Hutchins/Hutchins Park in materials) and now has five bins. Volunteers and a contractor haul material weekly. Wolfe said since June 2020 the program has kept "over 233,000 pounds or 116 tons of food waste out of the landfill," with recent monthly deliveries averaging 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. She said hauling costs are about $60 per bin per month (five bins = $300/month; $3,600/year) and presented tipping-fee comparisons showing avoided landfill fees in the $3,200 range for the cited year.
Wolfe described contamination challenges (plastic bags, coated containers) and volunteer outreach efforts including school presentations and signage. She asked the council to continue hauling support and proposed expanding to a second location "on the hill" to serve residents not downtown.
On the food-forest program at Todd Park, Wolfe reported 36 trees, permaculture beds, volunteers called "tree adopters," and grants and donations that supported plantings and interpretive signage. She thanked outgoing project leader Carol Zimmerman and noted a leadership transition to Kim Billinger later in 2025.
Councilmember Boyer moved, and councilmember Shanegas seconded, a motion that the mayor and administration work with the Green Team to establish a second compost location and to return to council with a recommendation about potential funding sources. Councilmember Boyer initially proposed funding the second site from waste disposal/tipping fees; after discussion about restrictions on fee use the motion was amended so staff would return with a funding recommendation. The motion passed 6-0.
Why it matters: The compost program reduces landfill methane and extends landfill capacity while providing soil resources and community education. The council99s request for a funding recommendation begins a staff review of where expansion money could come from.
What happens next: Mayor and administration will examine funding options and locations and report back to council with recommendations; the Green Team asked for continued hauling support at current enclosure.
Ending: The council praised volunteers and staff support; the Green Team99s request for a second site and data on diversion will inform follow-up work this summer.
