LANDFILLS -

 

An estimated 28% of landfilled waste is considered compostable, including food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and wood waste. When these materials enter the landfill, their nutrient potential is wasted. Why?

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Landfills not just holes in the ground - they are lined, contained areas where waste is disposed of. Items that enter a landfill are mixed with all other waste. Once a landfill reaches capacity, a lined cap is placed on top, effectively sealing them forever.

 

Compostable items in a landfill breakdown anaerobically, or without oxygen, creating methane gas emissions - a gas that has contributed to 20 to 30% of global climate warming since the Industrial Revolution. Methane is also 84 times more potent as a greenhouse gas as compared to carbon dioxide. 

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COMPOST PILES -

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Instead of landfilling your compostable materials, we hope to offer residents the chance to actually compost these items! When food scraps, yard trimmings, and other compostable materials are composted, they break down aerobically, or with oxygen. This process releases carbon dioxide as its main gas byproduct, as opposed to methane in the landfill. 

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Compost piles consist of carbon-rich materials (or "browns") and nitrogen-rich materials (or "greens"). When browns, like yard waste, wood chips, leaves, etc., are combined with greens, like food waste, in the right ratio, piles can reach temperatures as high as 150 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, weed seeds, pathogens, and bad-bacterias are neutralized. Good bacterias and decomposing bugs break down materials. After a few months, what once was waste becomes a nutrient-rich soil amender that can be added to house plants, potted plants, gardens, and yards. 

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Not only is this process good for the environment by reducing methane production, but it's also good for our soil biodiversity!

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HOW CAN YOU HELP? ​

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Our compost pilot program is here! Scan or click the QR code above and let us know if you're interested in participating! 

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We are accepting PRE-PLATE fruit and vegetable scraps (meaning scraps that have not been cooked), eggshells, yard trimmings (grass, leaves, tree waste), coffee grounds, and coffee filters. These materials are easily broken down and prevent the least amount of risk of contamination. ​

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We are NOT accepting POST-PLATE scraps (meaning food that has been cooked or that has been partially-eaten), fatty or oily foods, plastics, twist ties, rubber bands, or stickers, meat, dairy, or baked goods. These items are more difficult to break down and have added risk for contamination.