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Sullivan County Kicks Off Organics Management Initiative

Organics Management Initiative group

Attending the inaugural November 29 Organics Management Initiative meeting were, from the left, Sullivan County Sustainability Coordinator Heather Brown, Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jaime Schmeiser, Sullivan Renaissance Project Coordinator Colleen Emery, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County Executive Director Colleen Monaghan, Sullivan County Recycling Coordinator Bill Cutler, Sullivan County Solid Waste & Recycling Director Donna Egan, Sullivan County BOCES District Superintendent Robert Dufour, Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless Executive Director Kathy Kreiter, New Hope Community Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Tariq Iqbal, District 9 Sullivan County Legislator Alan Sorensen, District 7 Sullivan County Legislator Joe Perrello and SCS Engineers Vice President Gregory McCarron.

Monticello, NY – The Sullivan County Department of Solid Waste and Recycling is proud to announce the official kickoff of a Countywide organics management program. Stakeholders from several sectors were included in the initial meeting held November 29 at the Government Center. 

Joseph Perrello, chairman of the Legislature’s Public Works Committee, began by thanking the stakeholder group of volunteers: “Under the leadership of this Legislature and our Solid Waste and Recycling Department, Sullivan County is committed to environmental stewardship and best practices. As a businessman and taxpayer myself, it’s important to me that we manage our garbage in a responsible and cost-effective way. I’m also excited to say that we’re aiming for innovation in what we do – to be a leader, not a follower. And by being here today, you are part of that effort.”

The study, funded in part by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Climate Smart Communities Grant Program, will evaluate the feasibility, volumes, methods and means for managing organics (biodegradable material like food and plant debris) within Sullivan County.

“By managing the organic component of our garbage within the County, we can potentially save over $1 million in tipping fees that exit the County economy and reduce over 800 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The result will be a product that can be used to enhance our local soils. This project is the ultimate ‘all-win’ for Sullivan County residents and taxpayers,” said William Cutler, Sullivan County’s Recycling Coordinator.

For additional information about this program, including how you can become more involved, please contact Solid Waste & Recycling Director Donna Egan at 845-807-0294.