At the June 1, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Environmental Stewardship Commission reported on the City’s commercial food scrap composting program, launched in 2023 with a 9000 Hamilton County grant and operated in partnership with GoZero. The program has expanded from 6 to 11 carts at Oak Park, costs about 6500 per year to operate, and by April 1 had diverted 65 tons of waste from landfills. ESC representatives outlined expansion options, including an additional drop‑off site, curbside collection, or, as their preferred path, a City-operated composting facility integrated with the existing yard waste program. GoZero has approached the City about partnering on a municipal composting operation combining food and yard waste. Startup equipment might be grant‑funded, but ongoing operating costs and staffing need further analysis. Council members asked for more detail on facility footprint, operating cost projections, revenue or savings potential, and examples from other communities, and expressed support for ESC to develop a more detailed proposal. This points to an emerging opportunity for firms experienced in organics processing, compost facility design, grant-funded equipment procurement, and operational modeling to help the City evaluate and implement a combined food/yard waste composting facility and expanded service model, potentially including restaurants, schools, and events.

Current program is sited at Oak Park and has had no contamination or pest issues; expansion could in...