Sponsored Post – from Austin Resource Recovery
Written by: Jennifer Denton
Currently in about half of Austin Resource Recovery’s (ARR) curbside customers’ homes, the Curbside Composting program can change the way we think about household “waste.” By fall of 2019 nearly 75 percent of the homes serviced by ARR will have the service, and it will roll out to all remaining customers in 2020.
COMPOSTED MATERIAL IS LIKE GOLD, AND WE WANT TO HELP YOU FIND MORE OF IT.
Confusion about what goes in the green composting cart is “natural.” Just remember, “If it grows, it goes,” meaning any material that began its life as an organic substance can go in the composting cart. Yard waste makes up the bulk of the materials collected, but don’t forget about your food scraps. Yes, even those moldy leftovers in the back corner of your refrigerator (minus the container, please).
Using a BPI-certified compostable bag makes collecting food waste in the kitchen a breeze, especially if you freeze it and put the bags in the cart the night before your collection day. No bugs attracted, no smell to cover up, and most importantly it keeps your green cart clean. Don’t forget to toss in food-soiled paper like napkins, paper towels and even pizza boxes. Don’t worry if your cart isn’t full each week, still set it out. By doing so, you may be encouraging your neighbors to use the service if they aren’t. Check out our how-to guide to learn more about curbside composting.
BUT WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF THIS PROGRAM?
A study showed that only 10 percent of your waste is actual trash; the rest is either recyclable (44 percent), compostable (46 percent), or perhaps even reusable. By composting and recycling, you could save up to $299 per year on your utility bill if you currently have the largest cart. How? It’s simple; the more you compost and recycle, the smaller the trash can you will require. If you’re recycling and composting correctly, you could downsize your trash cart and save money! Environmentally, by composting, you can help reduce the methane gas produced by organic materials in the landfill. Your choice to compost every week does make a difference.
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO COMPOST TOO
If you don’t yet have curbside composting at home, and even if you do, you can participate in our home compost rebate program. The program offers classes for backyard composting and chicken keeping, and a $75 rebate on a home compost system or a chicken coop. If you live in an apartment, you too can create compost gold. Texas Farmers Markets offer compost drop-off at their locations each weekend, or check with Compost Coalition to find a local community garden that will accept your compostable material. You could also use the home compost rebate to get a system that fits neatly on your patio, or in your pantry, and use the material to fertilize your plants.
If you still have questions, we are happy to come to your neighborhood association to give a presentation or talk more about the program — email Jennifer.denton@austintexas.gov for more information or to request a presentation to your neighborhood association. And, don’t forget to search the “What Do I Do With…?” tool on our website for hard-to-recycle items.
Please note – editorials and sponsored posts are written by guest writers to inform and educate the community on a variety of different viewpoints, as well as to share information about local eco-friendly businesses and organizations. However, they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Austin EcoNetwork.
