Oneida County Solid Waste Committee approves School Trade Program policy, forwards LTE staffing request and discusses compost permit options

The Oneida County Solid Waste Committee approved an educational disposal policy for the School Trade Program, approved a 2027 LTE staffing request and discussed potential approaches and permit work to apply compost to the closed landfill hill.

Solid Waste Director Lisa Bauknecht said the department's policies and procedures had not been updated since 2009; revised procedures including safety updates will be forwarded to Jenny Lueneburg, Traci Hartman and Chad Lynch for review prior to final approval. Committee member Billy Fried said the School Trade Program policy "was well written" and the committee approved the policy; Chairman Ted Cushing requested updates as the program is used and the approved policy will be added to the Solid Waste Policies and Procedures.

On staffing, the committee approved one LTE with CDL (yard worker), one LTE without CDL (yard worker) and two seasonal LTE yard workers, and forwarded the request to the budget hearing (motion by Billy Fried, second by Kyle Kilbourn).

On composting, Timmons renewed questions about spreading compost on the landfill hill; Bauknecht said the department has not yet received definitive guidance. Kilbourn raised a thermal option (pyrolysis) and Timmons suggested using a manure spreader for application. Committee members recommended a Zoom meeting with appropriate parties and discussed preparing a permit application to spread compost onsite so leachate could flow through the planned pre‑filtration system.

Staff will continue follow up via email and prepare permit materials or coordinate meetings with stakeholders as appropriate.