Organic Fertilizer - Converted Organics, Inc.

GARDNER— A company that makes organic fertilizer hopes to take over part of the former S. Bent & Bros. furniture factory land: vacant, city-owned property that city officials have been looking forward to putting back on the tax rolls.

Developers yesterday morning laid out conceptual plans for the property; 27 acres off Mill Street that the city acquired in the summer of 2006 after its original owners fell $250,000 behind in taxes.

Yesterday’s Development Review Committee meeting was the first time major plans for S. Bent have been presented to the public. Officials weren’t able to seriously entertain redevelopment offers until August, when the Environmental Protection Agency awarded Gardner a $200,000 brownfields grant to clean up the site.

The New Hampshire-based Norwood Group would like to buy the property, and Converted Organics would be the anchor of three commercial/industrial tenants. The developers also have plans for a carpet recycling plant and a trans-load facility, where trucks and containers, including Converted Organics’ materials, could be loaded on and off rail cars. Developers said they would need to rebuild part of the nearby railroad to make the trans-load station a reality.

With facilities in California and New Jersey, Converted Organics is a publicly traded Boston-based company that takes food-product waste and turns it into organic fertilizer that is sold primarily to farmers and golf courses. Bill Gildea, a representative of the company, said demand for his product has increased, along with interest in preserving the environment and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is an opportunity to divert food waste from schools and restaurants instead of putting it into a landfill and incinerating it,” Mr. Gildea said.

Converted Organics’ conceptual Gardner facility would process up to 250 tons a day of food waste from contracted suppliers. Mr. Gildea estimated up to 20 trucks per day would drop off organic waste, which composes 10 percent to 20 percent of the waste stream.

The plant’s processing operations would take place indoors and the production process would not release odors or pollution into the community, Mr. Gildea said.

Converted Organics epitomizes the “think globally, act locally,” mentality, Mr. Gildea said, by being environmentally friendly and reducing the amount of waste that goes into area landfills.

He said organic fertilizers, unlike their chemical counterparts, restore soil nutrients, creating healthy, sustainable agriculture.

Mr. Gildea’s presentation was the first of what city officials expect will be many meetings about the reuse of the former S. Bent property. Robert L. Hubbard, director of community development and planning, outlined the steps local boards and officials must take before the project reaches fruition.

“This project is worthy of further review and consideration,” Mr. Hubbard said, acknowledging the city is willing to consider a partnership with the developers.

The Development Review Committee will oversee at least three more detailed plans by May, and if the plans are approved, the mayor will enter into a draft development agreement, Mr. Hubbard explained. The Zoning Board, City Council, Conservation Commission and Board of Health will also likely be involved. A definitive site plan, if all goes according to schedule, could be developed by August.

Mr. Gildea said his company is also looking at possible locations near Boston.