By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green’s food waste drop off program has stopped 12.5 tons of food waste from being landfilled in the last six months.
The pilot program has been a success, Bowling Green Sustainability Coordinator Amanda Gamby reported to City Council on Monday evening. At this rate of collection, it’s estimated the city could divert 25 tons of food waste per year.
“We’ve had very little contamination,” Gamby said. “The biggest issue we’ve had is flies.”
The compost collection pilot has also attracted a lot of interest by other municipalities wanting to know the particulars of operating such a drop off program.
“It’s extending well beyond our boundary, which is cool to see,” Gamby said.
Gamby is recommending that the city continue the pilot through the rest of 2021, then plan to include the program in the 2022 budget.
The composting program, which kicked off on March 26, accepts a wide range of items – from meat and potatoes to greasy pizza boxes and coffee filters.
When the pilot began, the amount of food waste being dropped off for composting quickly surpassed expectations. The company contracted for the composting – GoZero – had placed six 64-gallon containers at the composting drop-off site on a Friday.
“On Monday, I was calling them, telling them we would need extra bins,” Gamby said.
So the number of containers was boosted to 10.
And residents are putting in acceptable items.
“Folks who are going to put rotting food in a bucket and drive it out to the site are committed,” and tend to follow the rules, Gamby said. “It’s great to see it play out.”
Because Bowling Green already has a lot of backyard composters, Gamby did get a series of phone calls questioning the ability of the city to take items like meat and dairy – which are normally not suitable for small composting operations.
“GoZero is able to accommodate a wider list of compost materials than backyard composting,” Gamby said.
The city has given away bright green five-gallon buckets to about 280 residents expressing interest in the food waste composting. Nearly 70 buckets are still available. Those buckets, plus food waste from any residents may be placed at no charge in the bright green bins located behind the Public Works garage, near the public Yard Waste Drop Off, on Tarragon Drive. Anyone interested in a bucket may call Gamby at 419-354-6222 or email sustainability@bgohio.org.
As expected with the hotter days of summer, concerns have been expressed over the number of flies and other insects inside the bins as well as the smell when opening containers. The containers are lined and washed after every dump to help address odor/pest issues as much as possible.
According to Gamby, city staff has been happy with the level of service provided by GoZero and the amount of positive community outreach and interaction with this project.
A survey was sent out to the pilot participants, with feedback being “overwhelmingly positive,” Gamby said.
To date, this service has cost $2,524. If the program is extended, it’s expected the annual cost to continue the drop off site will be $5,460. The city does not have a contract with GoZero and is invoiced monthly for services. The program can be continued or discontinued without issue.
