Southbury task force weighs on-site EcoRidge composter, grant options to process local food scraps

The Sustainable Southbury task force on Monday reviewed a proposal to install an on-site EcoRidge in-vessel composter at the town transfer station and discussed grant strategies to cover purchase and installation costs.

The task force's presenter, who leads the nonprofit Sustainable Pathway, said the town's voluntary food-scrap collection currently diverts about 40 tons a year and that the group recommended an EcoRidge machine to avoid hauling organics 30 miles to a commercial composter. The presenter said the nonprofit lacks funds to buy and install a unit on its own and asked vendors and a grant writer to outline options.

Manish, introduced in the meeting as associated with EcoRidge, described the company's experience across several states and explained that EcoRidge machines come in sizes from about 300 pounds per day (rental option) up to multi-ton-per-day units for purchase. He said rented units are limited to smaller sizes and that larger-capacity machines require greater electrical service and higher installation costs.

Max Lerner, a grant writer invited by the task force, said grants for sustainable materials management and organics projects exist at local, state and federal levels and that the project could be a strong candidate because it is a one-time capital purchase with clear deliverables. Lerner advised the group to consider a short rental pilot or trial to collect real-use data before committing to a purchase and offered to research grant opportunities and help prepare applications.

Members pressed for clearer measures of scale. Speakers noted the town population is roughly 20,000 and that current drop-off participation is voluntary; the task force does not have reliable data on how many households use the transfer-station food-scrap program. One member said that participation commonly increases if the town adopts pay-to-throw fees for general trash, which would create an incentive to divert food waste.

Participants discussed rough cost estimates and operating math. The presenter said prior installation quotes and contractor estimates put a machine-and-installation package in the neighborhood of $100,000 to $150,000, though numbers may have changed and would need updated bids. EcoRidge representatives said rental options reduce upfront cost but are typically limited to ~300 pounds/day capacity; a 500-pound purchase unit could cover current volumes if participation stays near existing levels but would be insufficient if participation doubled or tripled.

The task force reviewed results from an RFP for hauling services. One vendor's bid had a high per-ton figure partly because the RFP required a dedicated Southbury-only route; an alternative bid priced pickups that could be folded into regular routes at a lower per-pickup cost. Members noted Sustainable Pathway's current per-ton expense was roughly comparable to municipal hauling rates and that moving to town ownership or a new hauling contract could change the economics.

Several members raised implementation concerns: machine life expectancy and maintenance (vendors described routine annual maintenance), contamination of incoming feedstock, requirements that only a few trained people handle machine loading (to avoid warranty issues), and the power-supply and building footprint needs for larger machines. The group also discussed whether the machine's output is finished compost (it is a soil amendment that may need further processing) and how any product would be distributed or used locally.

Because the town lacks a baseline of participation, members recommended short-term data collection at the transfer station (options included staffed counts, voluntary QR-code sign-ins, or a sign-in sheet) to estimate current program penetration and to observe nonresident or unauthorized use of the transfer station. Several members argued the town should first audit and reduce nonresident dumping, which they say inflates facility costs, before committing to a large capital expenditure.

Next steps: EcoRidge agreed to provide written pricing and installation quotes for several machine sizes and rental terms; the grant writer agreed to research grant opportunities and potential timelines; and the task force agreed to run a participation audit or pilot event to better estimate demand. The group did not take formal action or vote; further analysis and pricing will be considered before any procurement or RFP decision.

The task force adjourned after assigning those follow-ups and will reconvene when pricing and participation data are available.