NAHANT — The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to allocate $15,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funding to the town’s composting pilot program, which is called Island Gold.
In August 2023, the town partnered with Black Earth Compost to offer curbside compost pickup. An ARPA allocation of $25,000 was used to help the launch of the program. According to its co-founder, Conor Miller, Black Earth is the largest organic composting organization in New England. Founded more than a decade ago, the company was originally in commercial composting before transitioning to residential.
The program currently has 151 residents signed up, and Town Administrator Tony Barletta said he hopes the new funding can help it reach a milestone of 200 residents.
“The many goals of this program include environmental benefits and positive financial impacts to the cost of waste service to our community,” Barletta said. “It’s been very successful so far.”
Barletta explained how the amount of participants in the program directly affects its yearly fee, which becomes less expensive as more residents participate. When the initiative first launched, it cost $229.99 and $39.50 for the “starter kit,” which includes storage for the compost. When the program reached 100 participants, the annual fee was reduced to $159.99.
“If we get to 200 or more signed up, the cost will be reduced to $139.99 per year,” Barletta said.
One benefit of being a member of the program is a $20 tax abatement on the yearly trash rate.
“It’s a great program. I’m so proud of the town that we’re doing this,” Island Gold member and resident Leslie Smith Rosen said.
According to Smith Rosen, Johnson Elementary School is planning on participating in the program in the upcoming school year.
