Ulster County agency outlines path to ‘zero waste,’ backs Global Energy mixed‑waste proposal

Director Ryder, executive director of the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency, told the Energy, Environment, and Sustainability Committee on Feb. 4 that the agency plans to ‘‘divert 30% of our waste by 2030, 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050’’ as part of a 10‑year solid‑waste management roadmap.

Ryder walked members through current waste volumes, revenue pressures and pilot projects. He said Ulster County currently landfills the majority of municipal solid waste, that transportation and disposal costs rose from about $68 a ton to $96 a ton in two years, and that 98% of agency revenue is generated by tipping fees.

Ryder described several near‑term projects. Mattress recycling has begun under contract with a Long Island firm that recovers metals, wood and fiber for insulation. The agency is expanding composting capacity — permitted to 7,500 tons with an internal goal to reach 10,000 tons — and plans source‑separated organics at town transfer stations.

On larger infrastructure, Ryder said the Board awarded an RFP in December to Global Energy to establish a mixed‑waste processing facility that would mechanically separate recyclables and use thermal hydrolysis followed by anaerobic digestion on residuals. ‘‘The Board just awarded it in December to a company called Global Energy,’’ Ryder said. He told the committee the company would construct the facility and the county would sign a long‑term feedstock agreement committing most or all county solid waste to the system.

Ryder gave a preliminary range for capital cost estimates the agency has seen of roughly $100 million to $150 million, and said the company would shoulder construction costs while the county would negotiate a per‑ton fee under a feedstock agreement. He said the proposal could divert a substantial share of municipal solid waste: ‘‘We really feel like it has the possibility to divert up to 70% of the MSW,’’ Ryder said, adding that process changes could account for about half of the county’s total waste stream.

Committee members asked whether the anaerobic digester would accept food scraps, contaminated cardboard and sewage sludge; Ryder said the system would be designed to take organics and that current county composting handled roughly 5,000 tons of food scraps last year. On sewage sludge, Ryder said the firm must clarify whether sludge is included in its proposal and that the county currently ships about 3,000 tons of sludge out of county for processing.

Ryder said the Global Energy award initiates six months of due diligence, contract negotiation, and public stakeholder feedback. He emphasized that some diversion goals could be accelerated by the project but that improved data reporting is also needed to confirm current diversion levels.

The presentation closed with Ryder offering staff follow‑up and impact reports the committee can review as negotiations and public outreach proceed.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the Global Energy proposal during the meeting; Ryder said the award had been made by the agency board and the next steps include due diligence, contract negotiations and public feedback sessions.