SCRRRA Advancing CT Organics Recycling with Hybrid-ASP System
May 5, 2026: The Southeastern Connecticut Regional Resources Recovery Authority (SCRRRA) announced it will begin construction this month on the region’s first commercial-scale food waste composting facility. The facility will divert organics from the solid waste stream and convert them into nutrient-rich compost for local farms, gardens, and community projects.
The goal is to provide Southeastern Connecticut with the infrastructure to divert 13,000 tons of organics and food waste from the solid waste stream and process them into nutrient-rich compost for the local community. The new facility, with all its community and environmental benefits, is expected to be operational in December 2026.
Following pilot testing, permitting, and facility design, SCRRRA is now beginning construction of its composting facility on approximately eight acres in Preston, Connecticut. The facility uses a hybrid system that combines aerated static pile (ASP) processing with open windrows to create a cost-effective, scalable solution for receiving and processing food scraps mixed with ground yard waste from municipal transfer stations.
Project highlights:
- Diverts food scraps and other organics from incineration
- Builds large-scale organics recycling capacity for SCRRRA’s 12 member municipalities
- Provides a local source of compost and reduces reliance on fertilizers
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from disposal and long-haul trucking
- Expands access to compost for disadvantaged communities for gardens and beautification projects
- Works alongside an existing waste-to-energy plant
“Connecticut is facing a critical shortfall in solid waste disposal capacity. We are currently shipping 40% of our waste out of state at great cost both financially and environmentally. We are desperately short of disposal infrastructure. This facility will provide needed relief for the southeast region, recycling what would be waste into a valuable, environmentally friendly product that will benefit all our communities,” said SCRRRA Executive Director, David Aldridge.
SCRRRA continues to work in collaboration with local governments and public works departments in its 12 member municipalities, along with engineering consultant SCS Engineers, including Greg McCarron, PE (USCC Certified Composting Professional and SCS national expert on organics management projects).
The facility will be funded, in part, by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection through its inaugural Materials Management Infrastructure (MMI) Grant Program. Funding will also be provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) program.
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