Curbside Composting: A Valuable Community Service

Curbside Composting: A Valuable Community Service
posted by Megan, selected from Green Options Sep 9, 2009 7:20 am
filed under: Blogs, Community Service, Green 101, Healthy Home, Healthy Neighborhood, composting

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16 comments
By Robin Shreeves, Green Options

This past spring, my family and I were able to get all the compost we needed for our vegetable garden from a local community’s compost pile at their department of public works. The compost was created from all of the leaves and yard clippings that had been collected curbside. Many communities collect leaves, clippings and other outside organic matter to turn into compost, but some communities are taking it a step further.

Cities such as San Francisco, Minneapolis, Toronto, and Boulder all have programs in place that allow residents to place food scraps curbside to be turned into compost.

Food that is mixed in with regular trash is estimated to make up about 40% of the trash in landfills. It also is the biggest offender in creating landfill methane which is a powerful greenhouse gas - 72 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Reducing landfill methane is just one of the benefits of keeping this type of waste out of landfills.

Curbside composting’s many benefits include:

-saving money by reducing trash to landfill service and thereby lowering garbage bills;
-conserving valuable organic resources by returning organic matter and nutrients to the soil;
-reducing climate warming gases from landfills and reducing the risk of potential groundwater pollution
-extending the life of our landfill by saving space.

Since it is not possible for everyone to compost in their home, curbside composting programs like these are valuable community services. I’m going to bringing up the idea at my town’s next Green Team meeting. Right now, my community does pick up vegetative waste but it is limited to things like “grass clippings, sticker balls, acorns, pine cones and viney type materials such as ivy, honey-suckle, poison ivy, laurel and plant clippings.” I wonder what would need to be changed to include food waste in the can that is provided to collect these other things. If you think this would work in your community, contact your department of public works to see how you can help implement a curbside composting program.

Does your city already offer curbside composting? Do you think it is a good idea? Share your comments below.

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16 comments add your comment

Denise H. says
Sep 10, 2009 1:06 PM
Janet C - it is actually possible for renters to compost. If you are in a house and have a fenced yard, you can simply designate one corner for yard waste. You can either simply make a pile, or purchase some pieces called hog panels (check a CoOp or ranching store) that you can take with you. A well-run compost pile shouldn't have a terrible smell. If you have no fence or live in a duplex, you can purchase or make a very simple composter from a barrel. This has an added benefit of making compost VERY quickly, so you wouldn't have to worry about leaving a compost pile behind. Even in a high-rise apartment, the practice of growing earthworms can be done in a tub under the kitchen sink! None of these practices costs much or makes an awful smell. I have done some of them myself and know firsthand, and have friends who have done the other ones, with great success.

When you start to research compost piles, it can seem pretty complicated. All in all, nature does the work if we'll just let her, and they don't have to be complicated at all.


Melissa Scharfinski says
Sep 10, 2009 11:35 AM
I'd love curbside composting service! And to Miss Info- just keep your scraps in the freezer (if you have room). A biodegradable container sounds good, but like lawn waste containers, I'll bet they'd only accept a certain type.


Carol H. says
Sep 10, 2009 11:31 AM
That is a great idea that me and husband have saying for years but in my area people barely recycle because it takes to work.
My husband has a composter already for some grass and other things of which he uses on our plants and they are green all year round.
It would be a great idea but people in my area would never do it and that is a fact.


Carol S. says
Sep 10, 2009 10:52 AM
What a great idea! I plan to bring this up at our church "Creation Care" meeting.

Janet C. says
Sep 10, 2009 10:25 AM
I live in Fresno, CA who is one of the USA's worse air offenders but they do recycle in cans outside green waste. They also separate recycling to help out the planet. I do not know how long these services have been available, but since I rent instead of own, I can not start a compost where I move until I can afford to purchase. I love the fact my city does what I can not do yet.

Miss Info says
Sep 10, 2009 8:49 AM
I'm trying to picture kitchen scraps at the curb and I'm cringing. I put my kitchen scraps in a bowl, and when I get to it I bring the bowl outside to the compost pile. Sometimes I don't get to it right away, and it gets gross. I can't imagine holding onto my scraps for an entire week, and what form they'd be in when they get picked up. Are there special containers for this? Biodegradable, smell-proof containers to hold a week's worth of rotting food, that the guys can throw in their truck and haul away without making the whole neighborhood stink? How does this work?


Denise H. says
Sep 10, 2009 8:49 AM
Don't use it if you don't want it, but let's give a little credit where it's due. These people are picking the low-hanging fruit first, and let's support everyone's efforts to start somewhere. I mulch, make compost, and don't proactively put chemicals on the lawn. Nevertheless, it blesses me to see the community moving to green(er). People who think helping the environment is too much trouble will still make a little effort when it's available to them. A jumping off place is still a start. Let's not dis ANY efforts, but applaud them and continue to encourage people to think ever greener.

Susan S. says
Sep 10, 2009 7:15 AM
Okay, I just have to add one thing based on some other comments. Which homeownesr do you think are the most apt to put lawn clippings on the curb? Those who are green and don't use chemicals or those who just want a "beautiful" lawn at any cost and so wouldn't dream of using a mulching mower to put the mown grass back down on the lawn? The green people are doing that, and their (chemical free) clippings don't make the curb. So what is in that "free" mulch you get from the city. I agree with Mograine and Lauri T. Make your own and you won't need the other stuff!

Laurie T. says
Sep 10, 2009 7:01 AM
I agree with Morgaine regarding mowing over the cut grass and leaves on lawns. As I let my grass clippings fall where they may, many people ask how my lawn is always greener and lusher when I don't use fertilizers. I respond by telling them that my grass just gives back to itself. Ottawa is another city in Canada that collects curbside yard waste, and the collections go into fertilizing public areas in and around the city. As more natural waste is being produced now, there are opportunities opening, for the public to help themselves to this wonderful rich soil. I am lucky enough to have my own composters in the back yard so am constantly in supply of rich, dark soil for my gardens. The doggy poo composter I have, creates beautiful fertilizer for ornamental plants (only) after adding a bit of septic starter to the buried bin. I no longer have to cringe over putting doggy packages by the curb for landfill pick-up.

Morgaine G. says
Sep 10, 2009 6:36 AM
I get so irritated with people who have "yard waste". Taking the leaves and cut grass out of the yard takes away the nutrients your lawn lives on. If you use a mulching mower and run over your leaves at the end of the season, you won't have to fertilize annually and can reduce the chemical load on the planet. Makes a lot better sense