Virginia’s Prince William County, Freestate to Start Organics Recycling Unit

Virginia’s Prince William County is partnering with agricultural firm Freestate Farms LLC to establish an organics waste operation at the county’s composting facility.

The facility, at the county’s Balls Ford Road operation, will recycle more than 80,000 tons per year of yard waste, food scraps and wood waste with its scheduled opening July 2017. Freestate will build and operate the plant, and also will provide organics waste management services at the site and the county landfill, according to a news release.

The new facility will turn the organic waste into high-value compost, soil products and non-synthetic fertilizers. It also will generate some renewable energy.

Freestate, along with its technology partners, will double the throughput capacity at the facility. It will add new processes and operations, including advanced aerobic composting of yard waste; anaerobic digestion of food waste; combined heat and power production through biogas; and a greenhouse operation to grow fresh local produce.

The new facility will divert waste from the landfill, increase the county’s recycling rate and add 20-25 new jobs.

Freestate will process organic material currently coming into the site using existing processes beginning July 1 of this year. The initial agreement between the county and Freestate is for 20 years.