By Rebecca Martin
The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRRA) Zero Waste Committee has selected four community representatives to help develop a Preliminary Zero Waste Implementation Plan: Shabazz Jackson, Manna Jo Greene, Claudia Joseph, and me, representing KingstonCitizens.org.
Chaired by Chris Hurlbert, the UCRRA Zero Waste Committee recently opened non-voting seats for community members interested in contributing to the planning process. The goal is to ensure that community voices are directly represented as recommendations are developed to move Ulster County toward a more credible, practical, and sustainable zero waste future. Interested residents were invited to apply, creating an opportunity for public participation in shaping the county’s waste reduction strategy.
As work on the Preliminary Zero Waste Implementation Plan gets underway, KingstonCitizens.org will document the process and provide updates, in coordination with our partners, to help community members follow the committee’s progress, understand the recommendations under consideration, and engage in opportunities for public participation.
One of the most rewarding outcomes of this work is always the new partnerships that are formed among individuals. Among them are Shabazz Jackson and Josephine Papagni of Greenway Environmental Services, who are certified compost facility operators and professional soil blenders helping to expand composting throughout Ulster County.
Today, Shabazz and Josephine installed a backyard composting system at our home. The system includes tools that allow us to track the amount of organic material being diverted from disposal, helping us better understand our contribution to waste reduction and resource recovery.
As Ulster County continues to explore zero waste strategies, composting remains one of the simplest and most effective actions residents can take to reduce the amount of material sent to landfills.
Community members interested in learning more about backyard composting can contact Greenway Environmental Services at (845) 656-6071 or visit Greenway Environmental Services.
