In Chittenden County, food scraps account for nearly 33% of most people's trash. You can "recycle" these scraps by composting!
Composting is the process by which micro-organisms decompose organic material, producing
a nutrient-rich soil amendment for your garden or house plants. Chittenden Solid Waste
District (CSWD) encourages all residents, businesses, and institutions to consider
composting.
So......How can you begin composting? There are several options:
Set up a backyard composting system. All you need is a backyard and a compost bin to collect your scraps. To learn more about what you can put in your backyard composting bin click here.
Use one of our drop-off options: Haul your own food scraps to Intervale Compost Products or one of the CSWD Drop-Off Centers.
Curbside collection of food scraps:
For Businesses and Institutions:
Curbside collection of food scraps is currently available county-wide for institutions and businesses by three private haulers.
For Residents:
Residential and non-food-based business collection is provided by Earth Girl Composting to certain neighborhoods in Chittenden County.
CSWD has been monitoring curbside compost pickup programs for residents in other areas for many years. It's not clear yet whether this is the best strategy to manage residential food scraps. We conducted a pilot for the collection of food scraps and yard waste in 2000, which included neighborhoods in Burlington, Colchester, and Williston. One obstacle is participation: Less than half of the residents invited to participate agreed to do so. It worked well for those who did. Many people can’t seem to get past what we call the Yuk Factor. The question has also been cost. Most communities that start up food scrap collection already have a yard trimmings collection program so adding the material doesn’t add substantial cost. There are no regular curbside collection programs for yard trimmings in Chittenden County. CSWD is in the process of selecting a consultant to conduct a study to evaluate alternative systems for the long-term management of organic wastes generated within Chittenden County. Curbside collection of residential organics will be evaluated as part of the study.
OTHER CSWD COMPOSTING RESOURCES
Kitchen Food Scrap Containers-- Kitchen food scrap containers for purchase, plus use tips
Composting at Work or School--want to reduce your trash disposal costs and help out the environment at the same time--set up a composting program at school or work!
Recycling and Composting at your Special Events-make your next event a zero waste event!
Intervale Compost Products-the commercial composting facility servicing Chittenden County
ADDITIONAL COMPOSTING RESOURCES
Compostable "Take-Out" Container Sign
Biodegradable Plastics and Composting-information on what they are and what types are accepted
Composting with Worms-the "how to's" of composting with worms, a great composting alternative for apartment dwellers
Cornell Composting-technical information on backyard composting
Composting Grass Clippings, Leaves and Yard Waste-what you can do with your yard waste?
Link to videos on backyard composting: Turning Your Spoils to Soil and Don't Trash Grass!
(resource: Connecticut Department of Environmental Conservation)
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