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Council approves AirBuild partnership to convert local green waste into biochar
Summary
Green River approved a contract allowing AirBuild to collect organic waste and use a pyrolysis machine to produce biochar for local farmers; council discussed hours, materials accepted (organic only), and said the city’s existing organic dump will remain open.
The Green River City Council unanimously approved Aug. 12 a partnership agreement that allows AirBuild to collect organic waste from the city’s existing organic dump and operate a pyrolysis system at a site near the sewer lagoons to produce biochar for local farmers.
John of AirBuild (S8) described the company as “a technology startup that does utilities,” saying the firm will process agricultural and other organic waste inside an enclosed pyrolysis machine to produce biochar the company intends to distribute free to local farmers. “Just in case anybody hasn't met me yet, I'm John. I'm from AirBuild,” S8 told the council.
Council members questioned whether the city’s organic dump would be closed if AirBuild began collection; staff and S8 said the city's dump would remain open and AirBuild would be authorized to pull from it on a collection basis. S8 said initial on‑site staffing would be part time (about four hours a day) until operations scale. He also said AirBuild plans to provide signage at the existing dump to direct residents to the AirBuild drop‑off site and to incentivize direct delivery by offering free biochar worth an estimated $100–$200 per ton to participants.
Councilmember (S7) moved to approve the partnership; S1 seconded. The roll call produced unanimous approval.
Council members asked whether non‑organic items (couches, household debris) would be accepted; S8 said the system handles organic/agricultural waste only and not couches. On processing animal carcasses, S8 said pyrolysis can handle carcasses in principle but that the science team recommended further testing before routine acceptance.
The partnership allows AirBuild to operate on city land, subject to the terms of the agreement and any operational conditions staff will finalize during contract execution.
