A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Valhalla Friday for the introduction of the county's newest waste management tool.

Dubbed "the Rocket," the machine processes dry wood chips and food waste into high-quality compost to be used in gardens and parks throughout Westchester. It takes about two weeks to transform the food waste into compost, which is then bagged and distributed.

The organic waste comes from the Westchester County Jail and the Westchester County Medical Center.

The enriched soil will also go to the county's Department of Public Works and to the Food Bank, where it will help grow fruits and vegetables for those in need.

The new machine also provides job training for workers with developmental disabilities at the nonprofit Arc of Westchester in Valhalla.

The Rocket is part of the second phase of Westchester's Food Waste Reduction Initiative.