Delaware County has set a goal in the new year of working toward zero solid waste, writes Kenny Cooper for WYYY.

To get there, it’s hired Zero Waste Associates to come up with a way to keep trash out of landfills and incinerators.

Its report is due out in early 2023.

At the moment, Delaware County has one of the largest incinerators in the country.

“There are a lot of ways to skin this onion,” said Delaware County Councilmember Elaine Schaefer. “It’s all about conserving our resources, reducing what we’re throwing out, increasing the recycling of what we do have to throw out, and then managing waste that can’t be recycled in environmentally smart ways.”

Delaware County’s current plan has waste going to transfer stations, then burned at the Covanta incinerator in Chester, or sent to a landfill.

The Delaware County Solid Waste Authority recently approved a new three-year contract with Covanta.

The county is trying to move away from incineration, but hauling trash to a landfill is expensive, Schaeffer said.

It has applied for a $4 million federal grant to create a composting facility at a transfer station and is looking to invest in its waste transportation infrastructure.

Read more about Delaware County’s zero waste goals at WHYY.

Visit a zero-waste grocery store.