Hamilton County Partnership for On-Farm Composting informational meeting

Hamilton County is seeking agricultural partners to improve food scrap composting in our region. Funding is available for infrastructure improvement, site design, compost consulting, and compost operator training. 

Hamilton County ReSource will hold an informational meeting Monday, March 16 at 12:00PM to answer questions and provide more detail on the program. Register here.

Partnership Program Information
Funding Available: $1,000,000 to partner with four farms averaging $200,000 each. Remaining funds will support smaller-scale on-farm composting projects. 

Eligibility:  

• Large agricultural producers and urban agricultural sites. 
• Farms located in Hamilton County, Ohio or the area of Sharonville in Butler County and the areas of Loveland in Warren and Clermont Counties.
• Must practice some form of agriculture or farming, growing and producing plants or caring for animals.
• Must own the land or have at least 15 years left on the lease.  

Program Goals:  

• Create a total of 2,500 tons of annual food scrap processing capacity throughout Hamilton County. 
• Create a valuable soil amendment that will add essential nutrients back to Hamilton County soils.
• Create a viable compost product that farmers can sell regionally.
• Follow best management practices and be an asset for their surrounding community. 

Types of Partnerships
1. Composting as Part of Farm Operations
The Farmer Partner owns and operates composting as part of existing operation and uses finished compost on farm or sells finished compost as a product.

Hamilton County will provide: 

• Funding to improve or create the composting site infrastructure
• Professional site design
• Guidance through any regulatory steps
• Professional compost operator training
• Connection with sources of clean, uncontaminated food scraps and bulking agent

2. Leasing Land to Support Compost Operation 
Farm Partner leases land to Hamilton County and third-party compost site operator. All operators will have certified compost operator training. Finished compost product is owned by operator. Farm partner can choose to purchase the finished compost for use in their operations.

Hamilton County will provide:

• Funding for professional site design and site infrastructure giving farm partner final approval on all phases of project  
• Guidance through any regulatory steps 

Please note, this program is separate from the Request For Interest (RFI) Increasing Composting Capacity in Southwest Ohio.