Chittenden Solid Waste District

DATELINE THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008
THE INTERVALE WILL REMAIN OPEN TO ACCEPT MATERIAL UNTIL MAY 9

The Chittenden Solid Waste District is working closely with the Intervale Center and the State of Vermont to negotiate an agreement that would keep the compost operation open at its current location for two years until a new location is found to replace it. The Intervale had originally announced that it would stop accepting material as of May 1. The additional time affords the time needed to forge an agreement satisfactory to all parties.

We are committed to our composting program and will do everything we can to ensure that those who wish to compost will be able to do so without disruption. In the event that Intervale Compost Products will no longer be able to accept compostables, other facilities will be called upon to span the gap until a longer-term solution has been put in place.

For the most up-to-date information on the Intervale, news will appear on this page, and the Burlington Free Press has had excellent coverage on the ever-shifting situation at the Intervale. You may also wish to subscribe to the monthly CSWD e-NewsFlash, a newsletter e-mailed to subscribers who wish to learn about our free round-ups and other events and learn ways to reduce waste. You can subscribe by filling out the box on the left side of your screen.

No Time or Space to Compost at Home?
Try Drop-Off Composting!

Drop-Off Composting is an easy way for you to keep organic materials from being wasted in a landfill. Just separate compostable kitchen scraps from your regular household trash and bring it to one of the four participating CSWD Drop-Off Centers.

Because we send the scraps to Intervale Compost, the drop-off composting program can accept a wider variety of items than most backyard compost bins. The drop-off composting list includes dairy products, pizza boxes, meat, and even bones.

Fee: There is no charge to drop-off your composting. We'll even give you a free covered 4-gallon pail to help you get started. Just ask the Drop-Off Center operator for your free pail and more information.

**Tips for maintaining your 4-gallon drop-off compost bin**
Biodegradable bags are only available in certain sizes: 3 gallons, 13 gallons, and much larger. The 3- gallon bag can fit into a 4-gallon pail but it is a very tight fit. Gardeners Supply carries the 3-gallon BioBag size.

Alternatively, one could try using brown paper grocery bags, folding under the excess inside the pail so the lid will still work, or lining the pail with newspaper. Grocery bags and newspaper can get composted right with the food waste. Another option is using a real plastic bag, but the food scraps have to be emptied out from it since the bag itself is not compostable.

PARTICIPATING CSWD DROP-OFF CENTERS

Facility Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Burlington
339 Pine St. closed closed 9:30-5 8-3:30 closed 8-3:30

Essex
218 Colchester Rd. closed 9:30-5 8-3:30 8-3:30 8-3:30 8-3:30

South Burlington
Landfill Rd. (off Patchen Rd.) 8-3:30 8-3:30 closed 8-3:30 9:30-5 8-3:30

Williston
end of Redmond Rd. 8-3:30 closed 8-3:30 closed 8-3:30 8-3:30

DROP-OFF COMPOSTING LIST

FOOD SCRAPS
Table scraps
Fruits and vegetables
Bread, rice and pasta
Meat, fish, and bones
Shellfish
Egg shells
Dairy products
Salad dressings & sauces
Coffee grounds and filters
Tea bags
SOILED AND NON-RECYCLABLE PAPER
Paper napkins, towels, and tissues
Paper plates and cups (no plastic-coated)
Wax paper
Oily pizza boxes
Wet or soiled newspaper and paper bags
Sugar, potato, and flour bags (no plastic liners)

OTHER
Pet & human hair
Dryer lint

DO NOT INCLUDE:

milk & juice cartons
frozen food boxes
drink boxes
diapers
kitty litter
6-pack or 12-pack carriers
plastic-coated plates & cups
pet waste
personal hygiene products
glass, metal or plastic
(no plastic bags - no styrofoam)