Warren County outlines composting and cardboard-baling pilot to reduce waste costs

County solid-waste staff and local partners presented a multi-step plan to reduce costs and increase local control over waste streams. Scott Royal, Warren County solid waste, recycling and compliance coordinator, and Barbara Joudry, chair of the Adirondack Compost Education Council, said a county waste characterization study found food scraps make up roughly 29% of the trash stream — about 1,000 tons per year — and that removing that material for local composting could save the county approximately $87,000 annually.

Royal framed the broader recycling challenge: the county currently pays about $95 per ton to recycle material while landfill or incineration costs run about $66.50 per ton, creating an incentive mismatch. He and Joudry recommended a phased pilot that would begin with cardboard baling because cardboard is already source-separated and relatively clean. Presenters estimated a conservative annual cardboard supply of about 400 tons, valuing the material at roughly $70–$80 per ton for an estimated $34,000 in commodity value plus avoided hauling and processing costs.

The pilot approach would start with leased space (staff cited a potential Dix Avenue site) rather than building new facilities immediately. Presenters estimated lease costs around $25,000 per year, a baler purchase cost referenced near $30,000 (with leases sometimes available for about $5,000 per year), and recommended using intermunicipal staffing agreements and existing transfer-station staff where possible to minimize labor costs. They also noted experience from North Elba/Lake Placid operators that small, well-run baling operations can operate sustainably and move material through broker networks.

Committee members asked about capital costs, staffing, and market volatility; presenters said they would refine capital and operating numbers and return with a final business case in time for the November 2027 budget process. Royal said the team expects to have more definitive cost numbers by the committee's next meeting in August to support budget discussions.