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Green Team: compost program has diverted about 132.5 tons since 2020, seeks second pickup site
Summary
Danielle Wolf told the council the Hutchins Park compost enclosure has collected about 265,000 pounds (132.5 tons) of food waste since 2020, runs at a $3,600 annual cost for five bins, and the group is seeking a second site and continued DPW support.
Danielle Wolf, president of the Green Team, updated the Havre de Grace City Council on two community sustainability programs on July 6: the Hutchins Park compost program and the Todd Park Food Forest.
Wolf said the compost program opened in June 2020 and currently operates five bins at the Hutchins Park enclosure (open daily 7 a.m.–7 p.m.), with Veteran Compost providing weekly pickups. She reported that since the program began the enclosure has kept more than 265,000 pounds (about 132.5 tons) of food waste out of the landfill and that for the current goal year the program is on pace: "the enclosure has collected 23,310 pounds of food scraps" for January–May.
The Green Team pays about $3,600 annually for five bins; Wolf said avoided tipping fees at $117 per ton equated to a modest net difference when accounting for landfill costs. Volunteers monitor the site between pickups and the Green Team requests continued DPW support for clearing access after storms and occasional emergency pickups when bins fill early.
Wolf also reported on the Todd Park Food Forest, which began in 2016 with a $1,500 Department of Natural Resources urban forestry grant and later funding including $5,000 from Chesapeake Bay Trust for permaculture beds. The food forest now includes roughly 36 trees and bushes, permaculture beds for berries and perennials and an adopter/volunteer model for maintenance. Wolf announced open houses July 11 (7:30–9:30 a.m.) and July 14 (6–8 p.m.) for volunteers.
Council members asked about user counts for the compost program; Wolf said the enclosure is open and the group does not track unique household users to avoid barriers to participation, but monthly tonnages average about 4,400–5,500 pounds. The mayor and council praised the program as a cost-effective environmental benefit and encouraged outreach.
Wolf said the Green Team is in active discussions with Weiss Markets about a second composting site and welcomes any public contacts who can help facilitate location approval.
