Fiscal Responsibility a Profitable Bi-Product of Waste Management Agency's Use of Advanced Technology

Long recognized as a leading developer of accounting software for non-profit organizations, FundWare , enjoys another claim-to-fame: many local, state and federal government agencies are also highly satisfied customers. In fact, some 42 percent of the company's annual revenue is derived from government clients.

One such agency is the Middlesex County Utilities Authority (MCUA), a public utility based in Sayreville, New Jersey, that recently upgraded to FundWare 7.14, the newest version of FundWare.

The 185-person MCUA is charged with the management of the County's wastewater and solid waste services. Since 1950, when established by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the MCUA has preserved and protected central New Jersey's environmental resources by implementing environmentally sound waste management practices, and by providing the highest quality service to its customers.

Today, the MCUA has become a leader in the waste management industry by applying innovative techniques and technologies to responsible environmental resource management. The services provided by the MCUA have a direct impact on the quality-of-life for more than 750,000 residents and businesses in Middlesex, Union, and Somerset counties. The Authority serves to promote public health, protect environmental quality, and sustain the development and growth of Middlesex County by efficiently operating the Middlesex County Landfill and the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

In 1992, the MCUA constructed the Middlesex County Landfill, which includes a number of technologically advanced safety features to eliminate the risk of adverse environmental impact. The landfill is operated by the MCUA's Solid Waste Division, whose commitment to quality environmental protection is reflected in both the design of the landfill and the effective manner in which it is managed.

Located in East Brunswick, the Solid Waste Division maintains and manages the 215-acre state-of-the-art landfill, which features 46 groundwater monitoring wells, a double liner system, leachate and methane gas collection systems, and high-tech monitoring systems. Among the MUCA's initiatives throughout 2000 was the development of an environmentally sound and economically efficient landfill gas-to-energy system, in which greenhouse gases collected at the landfill are used to create 16-megawatts of electrical energy.

The Solid Waste Division operates the landfill with the highest standards of environmental and community consciousness. Each day, 323 trucks transport approximately 2300 tons of garbage to the landfill, which amounts to more than 450,000 tons per year. The waste is managed by applying organic cover material daily, at intermediate levels, and enclosing the landfill with a final cap cover when it reaches capacity. The Middlesex County Landfill has an expected life span of 18-25 years, with an estimated acceptance of 20 million cubic yards of solid waste.

Since its founding nearly 50 years ago, the MCUA's Wastewater Division has been instrumental in cleaning up the Raritan River basin by processing municipal and industrial wastewater before it is discharged.

The Wastewater Division, which is located in Sayreville on the same site as MCUA's main office, provides wastewater treatment services for industrial, commercial and residential users in Middlesex County, as well as several municipalities in Union and Somerset County. Five pumping stations and nearly 140 miles of sewer lines deliver more than 110 million gallons of wastewater per day to be treated at the MCUA facility.

The Wastewater Treatment Facility consists of some of the most cutting-edge technologies and innovations in wastewater management. The wastewater undergoes a comprehensive purification process, which includes removal of solid material, biochemical stabilization with pure oxygen, and thorough testing before the refined water is reintroduced into the environment. The residual biosolids undergo additional treatment utilizing temperature and chemical stabilizers approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Overall, the Wastewater Division maintains an efficient and environmentally sound treatment process, which protects the residents and environmental integrity of the Raritan River basin.

Proof of the MCUA's efficient and responsible role in the treatment of wastewater comes in the form of its biosolids-treatment and recycling program. To meet and surpass State regulations, the MCUA constructed a facility to treat and recycle the waste and created a product called Meadow Life. This product, made from recycled biosolids, is used as a licensed fertilizer and liming agent and has won several awards for its environmental achievement. Endorsed as "exceptional quality material" by the EPA, Meadow Life is marketed to a number of agricultural users in New Jersey.

Meadow Life can be used in a wide range of applications to enhance soils. It is rich in a number of beneficial nutrients and minerals, including calcium, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and phosphorus, and is also a source of organic material that will enrich the soil. Meadow Life can be used as a lime for farm fields, as an organic ingredient for topsoil, and as the ideal fertilizer for reclaiming mined lands, gravel pits or other depleted soils. It is also great for lawns and gardens. Easy to use and safe to store, Meadow Life is covered by product liability insurance and is approved by both the EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for all agricultural and landscaping applications.

Like most public sector entities subsisting on taxpayer dollars, the MCUA strives for operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility. One prime example is the creation and commercialization of Meadow Life. With Meadow Life, the Authority converted a waste product into a beneficial and cost-effective material.

Another example of the MCUA's sound financial judgement is its decision to purchase and deployFundWare as its accounting software. "We originally chose FundWare 12 years ago because of its flexibility and for the way it handles multiple funds and separate checking accounts," said Susan Denby Kyler, the accounts payable supervisor at the MCUA. "We upgraded to version 7.14 because we wanted to stay with the most current version, and realize the benefits inherent in a technologically improved product. The upgrade to 7.14 was done by a Fundware technician, so it was pretty painless for us."

As an example of FundWare's flexibility, Kyler cites a unique problem that could only be solved with FundWare. "It was the only program we found that could meet our complex check-writing needs," she said. "We have to run checks from nine different accounts in two divisions and in several funds, one of which has two checking accounts in the same fund. With FundWare, this often difficult process became routine."

An 18-year veteran of the MCUA, Kyler's responsibilities include reviewing purchase orders and vouchers, processing payments, preparing monthly and annual reports for the accounting and budget departments, and maintaining the FundWare programs. In addition to Kyler, four other MCUA employees useFundWare on a daily basis.

Award-winning*FundWare is accounting software that delivers the unique functionality required by non-profit organizations and government agencies, all for the lowest total cost of ownership as compared with competing products.FundWare is comprised of a suite of easy-to-use software modules that let clients better manage and report on their business, stay in compliance with government regulations, and improve productivity so they can focus on their mission rather than their accounting system.

The software is available in two versions: FundWare Pro Edition and FundWare Enterprise Edition .FundWare Pro Edition is designed for smaller organizations with five users or less, such as the Alliance. FundWare Enterprise Edition is designed for larger organizations with more than five concurrent users. Both versions are available with the following modules: General Ledger, Project/Grant, Accounts Payable/Purchasing, Payroll, Budget Preparation, Allocation Management, Fixed Assets, Bank Reconciliation, Reporting, and Import/Export tools.

FundWare has been installed at over 4,000 client locations worldwide. These clients are supported by a direct sales force and a national network of value-added resellers. The company also offers a professional services group that will install and customize FundWare to a client’s exact specifications for a fee.

When discussing FundWare's greatest strength as it relates to her work, Kyler says the software's best feature is its ability to customize the different modules for the MCUA's specific requirements. "Fundware provides an essential product for organizations with special accounting needs," she said. "Couple that with a product support group that is always knowledgeable and helpful, and you've got a very valuable vendor-partner.