By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Who knew decomposing food would generate such excitement in Bowling Green.
The city’s Sustainability Coordinator Amanda Gamby spent Thursday morning fielding phone calls from city residents wanting to be part of the food waste composting pilot project that officially opens on March 26.
The composting program will accept a wide range of items – from meat and potatoes to greasy pizza boxes and coffee filters.
The city is giving away bright green five-gallon buckets to the first 350 residents expressing interest in the food waste composting. Those buckets, plus food waste from other residents may be placed at no charge in the bright green 64-gallon bins that will be located behind the Public Works garage, near the public Yard Waste Drop Off, on Tarragon Drive.
“We want it to be open to residents as easily as possible,” Gamby said. “We’re really trying to do this without any charge to the community. Let’s see if we can pull this off without charging our residents.”
So far, city residents appear to be onboard.
“It’s been really well received,” Gamby said. “Your average BG resident seems to be excited about this.”
Last year Bowling Green expanded its curbside recycling program as part of the goal to divert more waste from the landfill.
“Then we had to look at ways to divert more waste,” she said. “Food waste is a big one.”
The city is contracting with Go Zero, a Toledo-based business that is certified to accept food waste. Go Zero will come every other week to empty the six bins at the drop-off site. If the pilot project generates more than the six bins can hold, more will be added.
The project is not expected to save the city money. It will divert some waste from the landfill, which costs $40 a ton. But it will cost the city an estimated $4,000 for the year.
There are other benefits, Gamby said.
“It will have tremendous environmental benefits,” she said. “It’s the right thing to do from an environmental standpoint.”
The food composting drop-off pilot is for Bowling Green residents only. But Gamby is hopeful that the pilot will encourage others to do the same.
“We would love to see this inspire our local businesses,” she said, noting that Go Zero contracts with several businesses to pick up food waste.
“I’m really hoping we can be super successful and we can be a catalyst for neighboring communities,” Gamby said.
After six months, Gamby will report back to the mayor and council members about the success of the program. She hopes to get regular reports from city residents collecting their food waste for composting.
“We want to hear how frequently are you using it,” she said. “Is it too awful smelly in the summer time?”
While the composting program accepts a wide range of items, it has limits. No plastic, pet waste, or roadkill should be dropped off, Gamby stressed.
The following items will be accepted:
- Fats & sugars
- Raw/cooked meat, bones & dairy
- Beans & eggs
- Baked goods & pasta
- Fruits & veggies
- Paper towels & napkins (no paper products with waxy surfaces)
- Greasy pizza boxes
Items not accepted are:
- Plastic bags
- Traditional plastics
- Stone, glass & metal
- Pet waste
- Electronics
- Styrofoam
- Healthcare products
The food waste drop-off area will be clearly marked with signs identifying where to drop off residential food waste and brochures will be available listing the accepted materials and program guidelines. Food waste cannot be left in the yard waste collection area and yard waste cannot be left in the food waste area.
Residents are encouraged to use a lidded bucket to transport household food waste to the site. Residents may use any bucket or container they choose. To help launch the program, the five-gallon buckets with lids will be distributed to the first 350 residents who request one. The buckets will contain educational materials and a label displaying the list of acceptable food waste. In return, these residents will be asked periodically for feedback on the pilot program. To request a bucket and/or a label, call 419-354-6222 or email sustainability@bgohio.org.
The EPA estimates that in 2018, more than 63 million tons of food were wasted, and about 40% of that came from households. This estimate represents the single largest material in everyday trash being sent to landfills and combustion facilities in the U.S.
Individuals are encouraged to reduce the amount of food waste created by reviewing their purchasing and food preparation habits. A resource for starting this process is savethefood.com/.
Residents should also consider composting at their homes if they are able. This can be done by purchasing an outdoor compost bin or an indoor vermicompost unit, or by selecting another appropriate method suitable to their living arrangements. Composting in place is more sustainable than a drop-off or curbside program because it minimizes the need for transport. The city has educational resources available to help residents understand how to start this process.
More information on the food waste composting pilot can be found on the city’s website at https://www.bgohio.org/departments/public-works-department/public-works-division/refuse-recycling/pilot-food-waste-drop-off-program/
