County launches 'Green the Scene' grant as fair organics diversion, food-waste enforcement debated

Deputy Executive LaValle told the committee on June 3 that the County has launched a new grant program, "Green the Scene," funded by a $25,000 budget amendment to help local fairs and festivals reduce waste and model sustainability.

LaValle said the Department of the Environment will administer the short grant to support event organizers with guidance and resources; program information is available on Participate Ulster. "We launched a grant program ... called Green the Scene. It's to support 0 waste events in Ulster County," LaValle said.

Why it matters: large county events can generate sizable volumes of organic waste and offer opportunities for outreach and demonstration. Committee members used the discussion to press staff about the Ulster County Fair, the agriculture society license, and gaps in enforcement and education under the county's food-waste law.

Key points from the committee discussion

- Funding and program: LaValle said the $25,000 added in last year's budget will support the new grant to help fairs and festivals implement zero-waste practices and that the county will provide program materials and technical support.

- Ulster County Fair and Ag Society: LaValle said the Agricultural Society holds a five-year license agreement to operate on county property that runs through the end of 2025, and that county staff have been discussing what is working and what is not, including organics diversion and food rescue efforts the Ag Society conducted this year.

- Staffing and enforcement gap: multiple legislators noted that many restaurants and small generators fall below the county's current enforcement threshold. LaValle and Director Ryder said effective enforcement and outreach require dedicated staff at the Resource Recovery Agency (UCRA). "Where there is staffing at Accra to do enforcement and education that properly supports this program" is where success will lie, LaValle said.

- Thresholds and state law timetable: LaValle explained the county law phases down to a half-ton threshold and said the state law is phasing down as well; he told the committee that the state threshold will drop to 1 ton next year and eventually to a half-ton in future years, aligning with the county standard.

- Festival practices and models: committee members pointed to the Garlic Festival (which LaValle and others called a local gold standard, reporting about 45,000 attendees) and to vendor or contractor models used at other events. Director Ryder noted private consulting groups such as Greenway have been contracted by festivals in the past to achieve high diversion rates and offered that the agency receives waste from festivals the week after the events.

Ending

The committee did not take formal action beyond acknowledging the grant launch and continuing discussions; legislators urged more outreach to the Ag Society, exploration of volunteer and vendor models to staff diversion efforts and coordination with the Department of Health and UCRA to increase education and enforcement capacity.