Backyard Compost or Service

Summary: Backyard composting or curbside food scraps pickup service

Description

Hate to trash food scraps but can't compost yourself? Want to reduce your household waste by up to 50%? Not have a smelly trash bin? Get quality compost? Reduce your carbon footprint? Save your septic? There are two options:

1. Compost at home. If you have a backyard, no matter how small, and access to old newspapers or some “browns” (leaves, cardboard), you can have a compost bin. By composting in your own yard, you avoid unnecessary transportation of materials back and forth and you can use the nutrients for your lawn, perennials or veg garden. Here are some instructions on the basics of composting from EPA and the Rodale Institute.  Find out more under the Steps to Take and the Deep Dive tabs. 

2. Have food scraps picked up at the curb by Black Earth Compost  or similar companies in your area. These services  take your organics, including food-stained newspaper, flower cuttings, meat, grease, cheese and even bones. They can also pick up your Fall leaves. In the spring you can either receive a voucher for a bag of finished compost, redeemable at participating Garden Centers, or you can donate your compost to Backyard Growers.

(Cooler Communities does not receive money from Black Earth Compost. A customer already? Use another vendor? Let us know how they're doing by leaving a Testimonial.)  

Deep Dive

Why compost? Did you know that over 51% of the trash that goes to landfills is actually compostable? In a landfill, organic waste contributes to the generation of methane, and what a waste of a valuable resource! Compost feeds the creatures in the soil that in turn make the nutrients available for veggies and flowers, perennial plants and trees. A healthy,living soil also takes up carbon from the atmosphere.

Also, composting food scraps will reduce your household waste by up to 50% and save you money in trash collection. Your trash bin will no longer smell of rotten food. And without the moisture in your trash, you can even line your waste bin with a paper bag instead of plastic, keeping many plastic bags from ending up in landfills or in incinerators. It’s a win-win, really.

Can I compost if I live in an apartment or in a condo?  For those without a yard, vermicomposting, or indoor composting with worms, is a space-saving option. You can make your own bin or purchase one that has added convenience features through retailers. It is simple to do and makes for a fun science project for kids! 

Steps to Take

Tips and tricks for backyard composting:

1. Build a compost bin of your own. Read up on the basics of composting from EPA and the Rodale Institute. 
2. Use a small bucket on your countertop or other covered container to collect your food scraps and empty them regularly into your yard compost bin (adding leaves/torn newspaper for correct balance of materials). There are many kinds of bins availbale, or you can even simply make a compost pile.
3. Try indoor composting with worms  if you don't have a yard. For home composting, it’s best to keep meat and cheese out of the bin. Commercial services will accept these items.  

Businesses like restaurants, schools, and assisted living facilities can use compost services too!