One of my most favoritest sites, Earth911, had a post titled Charlotte Airport to Start Worm Composting.
They post said:
The airport plans to open a new $1.1 million recycling center in February with a worm-based composting system that can handle up to two tons of waste per day, the Charlotte Observer reported.
This is such a dope idea. The airport will be using the compost generated on their facility. Whatever is left, they will be packaging and selling it.
It would be great if other facilities around the country took on similar projects.
What’s your thoughts on the composting program and have you seen any others similar to it?
Photo courtesy of Vancour on Flickr.
My city started a composting program this past year.
I (and many others like myself) thought it was a big joke.
You have to pay extra during the months that it is available (May-October, I think), and essentially, you put all your compostables into the same bin that you put your yard waste. Yard waste bins are extra on top of the regular garbage collecting monthly cost.
So, what can you put in the bins? Here’s what you put in the bins:
Clean Green includes yard and garden debris:
• leaves
• weeds
• brush
• prunings
• grass clippings
• pine needles and pine cones
• sod less than 3” thick (without rocks)
• woody materials up to 3” in diameter and
6’ in length
Clean Green also includes food scraps and
food-soiled paper:
• Meat, fish, poultry, bones
• Non-liquid dairy products (yogurt, cottage
cheese, etc.)
• Vegetable and fruit trimmings – raw or
cooked
• Table scraps
• Food-soiled paper towels and napkins
• Paper coffee filters and tea bags
• Cardboard pizza delivery boxes
• Egg shells and paper pulp cartons
But, remember, I said you have to PAY to get this stuff composted. Then what happens? Who knows, but the city’s solid waste management webpage doesn’t say where you can get the compost.
Also, who is to say the other people using those yard waste bins aren’t throwing plants in there that have been treated with miracle grow, or weeds killed with roundup, or letting knapweed go to seed, then throwing it away.
I think the community composting thing is cool, but if you have the resources, space, etc. to compost at home, do it there. That way you know you are getting healthy, clean, humus instead of “compost” treated with god knows what.
Also, to have to pay for someone to pick up my kitchen scrap/compostable awesomeness? Puh-leez. I like to keep my compost, thank you. 🙂
I hear you. We have a similar program in LA. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start. A lot of us don’t have the land or space to have a full on compost bin in our small apartments.
As Laura said they are a good thing but if you ever get anything from them you are getting a toxic soup of who knows what. I refused to pay for the compost can, I do my own composting and I don’t have anywhere for that can to sit and no money to pay for that can, the regular trash can, and they wanted us to pay for a recycling can. Why the heck would I pay them to take my recycling when I take it to recycling myself to get paid. I barely have one bag of trash a week and the rest is all the neighbor’s diseased tree leaves and when I pull my plants at the end of the season. I thought you weren’t supposed to put meat into the compost. I for sure don’t want mad cow, ecoli, ect. in my compost.
That’s awesome!
Well Mike, while not actually compost, the city of Milwaukee has been producing “Milorganite” for as long as I’ve been alive. At one time it was highly sought to help enrich the family garden, but I think it’s more about golf courses etc. nowadays. I’m sure they have a website.
I understand.
Interesting. Will look into it. Thanks for putting me onto it.
Hey Mike – I’ve got a Worm Factory set up in my BK apartment. It pretty space efficient (especially for a NY apt) and allows me to do my own composting at home. You should look into it (or have a sponsor hook you up with one…).
Nice bro. I I used to have one, but one fruit fly infestation and it got banished…
Hey Mike – I suggest using the Worm Inn. I have used it for about a year and have not had any issues with fruit flies or any other pest for that matter. It’s a much better alternative to the conventional plastic worm bins because it allows for more air circulation.
Thanks. Will look into it.