Barrington is making a second attempt at starting a curbside composting pilot program.

In July 2024, the town council voted unanimously to apply for a US Department of Agriculture grant that would bring a curbside composting program to Barrington. 

At the council meeting on Monday, April 7, officials announced that the town had failed to secure the USDA grant last year, but was poised to try again. This time, Barrington is partnering with 11th Hour Racing, an environmental organization and professional offshore sailing team. 

Barrington Director of Planning, Building and Resilience Herb Durfee told councilors that the town, with support from the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, could run the same program as previously planned — servicing 500 households in Barrington.

The town has secured a $13,000 commitment from 11th Hour Racing. Durfee said Barrington needed to match that amount of funding — officials suggested the town use $7,000 from the Climate Mitigation Capital Reserve account and $6,000 from the Council Contingency account. The pilot program would run for at least two years. 

Councilor Liana Cassar asked Durfee if Black Earth was a Rhode Island company. (Black Earth is expected to run the curbside composting program.” Durfee was not sure where Black Earth was based, but councilor Jordan Jancosek quickly looked them up on her laptop and announced that they were based in Gloucester, Mass. Cassar said there were some Rhode Island companies that are doing the same work. 

It was later mentioned that Eastern RI Conservation District and 11th Hour Racing had selected Black Earth. 

Council president Braxton Cloutier asked to the group of councilors and town officials what balance remained in the Council Contingency fund. Officials scrambled to locate an answer, but were not immediately able to do so. 

Councilor Kate Berard saved the day, reminding everyone that funding for the curbside composting program had already been allocated in 2024, when Barrington approved the initial effort.

Cloutier then made a motion to approve the funding for the partnership with 11th Hour Racing. The motion passed 5-0.