Request for Interest Increasing Composting Capacity in Southwest Ohio

Location:	Ohio
Posted:	Mar 3, 2026
Due:	Apr 30, 2026
Agency:	Hamilton County Resource
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	X - Lease or Rental of Facilities
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Request for Interest (RFI): Building Composting Capacity in Southwest Ohio

Hamilton County ReSource, Department of Environmental Services

Cincinnati, Ohio

Important Dates

• RFI Released

• Virtual Information Session

• Questions Due

• Answers Due

• Expressions of Interest Due

March 3, 2026

April 1, 2026, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

April 9, 2026, 4 p.m. EST

April 16, 2026

April 30, 2026, 4 p.m. EST

Introduction and Intent

Hamilton County ReSource seeks to increase food scrap and other organics processing

capacity with composting facilities that create a valuable soil amendment and act as an

asset to the surrounding community. ReSource issued this RFI to identify partners that can

expand existing composting capacity or build new composting capacity in the region.

This RFI seeks to identify:

1. Partners with a minimum site size of six acres of land that could host a food scrap

composting facility (approximately four acres for composting activity and two acres

for vegetative buffer). This could include existing composting or mulching

operations or sites suitable for building a composting operation.

2. Operators for a composting facility. Operators could own a site or just have interest

in operating a compost site.

Hamilton County has potential funding to support one or both aspects of a composting

operation and through this RFI, seeks to determine the ﬁnancial investment needed to

expand food scrap processing capacity. Information from this RFI will determine if

sufficient interest exists to move forward on a public-private partnership and approximately

how much investment a project will require from Hamilton County. Once the project has

been determined, Hamilton County will issue a formal Request for Proposals.

Background and Overview

During the last Hamilton County Solid Waste Plan Update (2024-2028) Hamilton County

identiﬁed a need for more food scrap composting capacity. To determine the best practices

and criteria for building that processing capacity, Hamilton County commissioned the

Organics Processing Feasibility Study (study). Following one of the recommendations from

this study, ReSource is issuing this RFI seeking partners in a potential public-private

partnership to build food scrap processing capacity.

The Organics Processing Feasibility Study estimated the amount of food scraps and

carbon-rich sources available and the needed capacity for Hamilton County. This study

also sought stakeholder input and found that a decentralized model of composting was

preferred over one large composting facility. Consultants determined that three medium-

scaled facilities each accepting 18,000 tons of organics (including 5,000 tons of food

scraps) would adequately process the modeled volume of organics for Hamilton County.

Consultants also evaluated which methods of composting would provide fast processing

of food scraps, generate minimal odors, and allow for a smaller footprint of processing

area. Aerated Static Pile (ASP) systems seem to provide the highest beneﬁts at the lowest

cost, ideal for more densely populated areas like Hamilton County. This RFI heavily favors

projects focusing on ASP systems but will consider alternatives if proposed.

Hamilton County strongly recommends that anyone responding to this RFI, refer to the

Organics Processing Feasibility Study for more detailed data and ﬁndings including

suggested composting recipes, case studies, and compost markets and applications.

1. Composting Sites

Potential composting sites should adhere to the following parameters (from OAC rule 3745-

560-200):

• 250 feet or more from occupied dwellings

• 200 feet or more from surface waters of the state

• 300 feet or more from drainage wells/sinkholes

• 500 feet or more from the 100-year ﬂoodplain

• 500 feet or more from state/national wildlife areas, scenic waterways, nature preserves,

state parks/forests, national parks/forests, and state resource waters

All sites should be within 50 miles of the center of Hamilton County.

A. Organizations with existing compost operations should have a site with a minimum of

six acres and a willingness to incorporate food scraps into the operation. This could

include current Class IV yard trimmings composting operations.

Facilities with existing operations should include the following information in their

Expression of Interest:

• Address(es) of site(s)

• Description of current operation.

• Description of site, surrounding area, size, zoning information, township or

municipality. Include owner of site and if the site is a land trust, private owner, or

other arrangement.

• Estimate of infrastructure needed to add food scraps to operation and associated

costs (e.g. aeration equipment, in-vessel composting equipment, contamination

removal equipment, etc.).

• Increased costs associated with adding food scraps to your operations.

• If you would operate with your staff or want to have an outside contractor operate.

• Anticipated roles, responsibilities, and ﬁnancial investment of Hamilton County and

partner.

Note: part of this RFI seeks interest from certiﬁed composting operators that wish to

operate facilities. Should a partner wish for an outside operator, Hamilton County can work

with the partner to ﬁnd the right operator for your site.

B. Partners with available land for composting but with no current composting operation

should include the following information in their Expression of Interest:

• Address(es) of site(s)

• Description of site, including current use, surrounding area, size, zoning

information, township or municipality.

• If you intend to operate the composting facility or have an outside contractor

operate.

• Restriction on site use for composting if any.

• If partner has use for end compost product.

• If partner desires to sell or lease site.

• Anticipated roles, responsibilities, and ﬁnancial investment of Hamilton County and

partner.

2. Compost Operators

Businesses or individuals with certiﬁed compost operator training can also express their

interest in participating. Compost operator partners do not need an existing or potential

site to express your interest in operating a compost site. Partners should include the

following information in their Expression of Interest:

• Name of business (if applicable)

• Contact name and information

• Certiﬁed compost operator training received

• Composting experience (including number of years composting)

• Preferred methods of composting

• Costs associated with your service or how you would generate revenue (e.g. tipping

fee or sale of ﬁnished compost)

Hamilton County Partnership for On-Farm Composting

Please note, this RFI is separate from the Hamilton County Partnership for On-Farm

Composting. More information on the Hamilton County Partnership for On-Farm

Composting can be found here.

Information Session and Questions

Hamilton County ReSource will hold a virtual information session for this RFI on April 1,

2026 at 12 p.m. Interested parties can register here.

All questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted via email. Questions regarding this RFI

can be addressed to ReSource@hamiltoncountyohio.gov and should be sent by April 9,

2026, 4 p.m. EST. Should interested parties wish to receive all asked questions and their

corresponding answers, please request to sign up to this email list by emailing

ReSource@hamiltoncountyohio.gov.

All responses to this RFI are due by April 30, 2026 at 4 p.m. Interested parties can submit

responses by emailing ReSource@hamiltoncountyohio.gov or ﬁlling out the Online Form.

Online Form to Express

Interest

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Request for Interest Increasing Composting Capacity in Southwest Ohio

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See also