Local man turns leftovers into compost

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - Turning table scraps and other food waste into fertilizer is a process developer David Darlington wants to bring to southern New England. The new converted Organics Rhode Island facility would go in the empty lot near the landfill in Johnston.

"Food waste is now about 20 to 25 percent of waste that goes into the landfill," said Darlington.

His partner company in New Jersey is already up and running with this latest food recycling technology. Solid and liquid food waste is loaded into large tanks and then converted into fertilizer, which is available at places like the Home Depot.

Like his partner company, Darlington will collect the leftovers from food processing plants and other places that need to get rid of food waste.

"We'll also get if from supermarkets, we'll get it from restaurants, we'll get it from convention centers, universities."

Since food needs to be separate from the rest of the waste for the process to work, Darlington will give haulers a discount to keep regular trash away from the food.

"If we're only charging say 25 dollars for that tipping fee, then they're incentivized to separate out that food waste."

Darlington is still awaiting authorization from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation for bonds to fund the 17.5 million dollar facility. He plans to be up and running this fall.