FOOD WASTE >>>>> COMPOST

 In the Staunton/Augusta County/Waynesboro area, we now have the opportunity to compost our food waste. Composting reduces our garbage volume, reduces our impact on the environment since less methane is being produced, and the compost improves the soil made from this part of our garbage.

 

 

This is great, but I already compost at home. Congratulations for taking an important step in giving back to the environment! One advantage of composting through Shenandoah Green is that we partner with Black Bear Composting, an industrial scale composter. Black Bear can compost any food waste, including meat, bones, and dairy products, unlike a household compost bin. Some of our food waste contributors just bring us the material they can’t put in their own composting bin.

 

What is composting? Composting is the process of decomposing food waste back into its original components, producing nutrient-filled soil. Our forebears composted because they recognized that what we now call food “waste” is actually a rich resource for growing plants. As a society, we are beginning to recognize the value in our food waste and the limit of our resources. Composting is a simple way of recycling food waste into valuable soil.

 

I’ve never collected food waste before? How do I do it? Most people begin by having a bowl or a container on the kitchen counter, perhaps with a compostable bag as an insert. As food is prepared during the week, the food waste is collected and when the bag is full it’s moved to another location. Some people have a larger container with a tight lid outside their back door or in the garage. Some people prefer to store full bags of food waste in the freezer. On Saturdays, the bags of food waste are brought to the Shenandoah Green Compost Station.

 

How do I know what’s compostable? “If it grows, it goes,” is the simple maxim that we follow. In other words, if you have a plant-based food, it’s compostable. And since we’re using an industrial-scale composter, meat, bones, and dairy products are also acceptable. 

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How does composting work? Composting is a process in which microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, in the presence of oxygen and water use the carbon of our food waste for energy and decompose the organic wastes. This process produces heat which kills pathogens and seeds. The remaining carbon is stable humus that is weed-free and safe to use for agriculture, landscaping, gardening or other purposes.

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How does the Staunton Compost Station work? Bring your food waste to the Compost Station and dump it in the bin – it’s that easy! The bin will go to Black Bear Composting and be turned into compost. 

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What are the costs associated with this project? Who pays for this effort? Costs for food waste collection at the Shenandoah Green Compost Station involve having people at the Compost Station to publicize the effort, answer questions, and to make sure the collection bin is used for appropriate material. This work is done by volunteers. For the collection bin, and to turn the food waste into compost, Black Bear Composting charges $11.10 per week, with a $125 fee per ton of food waste (about 40 bins worth), plus we purchase kitchen bin-sized compostable bags to give to users. So far, we’ve been able to raise enough money through donations to cover the costs associated with the Compost Station! 

 

This sounds great! How can I get involved? We are all volunteers and we depend on volunteers to make the Compost Station possible. If you’re interested in working with us, email us at ShenendoahGreen@gmail.com with “compost” in the subject line. We’d love to have you join us, in whatever capacity you are able.

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Can I trade my food waste and compostables for compost? We expect to have small amounts of compost available for sale or to give away each Spring; larger amounts of compost are available for purchase from our partner, Black Bear Composting. You can feel good about the work you’re doing to recycle your food waste into compost, keeping it out of the landfill where it produces harmful greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change.

 

What kind of bags are compostable? Look for Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)-certified compostable “plastic” bags. Note that some bags say they are biodegradable, but are not compostable; look for this image. This certifies that the product completely biodegrades in a commercial-scale composting environment.

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Where can I buy compostable bags? 

Local sources of compostable bags:

• RefillRenew, at 110-1 Baldwin St, is in the process of stocking compostable bags; contact them regarding their status. 

• Simple Truth Small Compostable Kitchen Bags, from Kroger, 850 Statler Blvd, Aisle 13. These are the same size as the larger, heavier Lirex bags that we carry at the Compost Station.

• Cranberry’s Grocery and Eatery, 7 S. New St, is in the process of stocking 1-gallon bags, the smaller size we provide at the Compost Station. They do have a Compost Keeper, a ceramic bin to go on the countertop that uses 1-gallon bags.

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On-line sources of compostable bags:

• Lirex 200-Count 100% Compostable Bags, Durable, Unscented, 2.6 Gallon, US BPI&ASTM6400 Certified Biodegradable Waste Bags These are the larger, heavier bags we carry at the Compost Station

• BioBag Compostable Produce Bags These are the smaller, thinner bags we used to carry at the Compost Station; unfortunately, as of April 2020, these are only available by the case of 3200 bags. 

**Note that once compostable bags get wet and/or warm they will start to decompose. Some people store filled bags in the freezer or refrigerator until they can take them to a drop-off site, and they carry them in another container such as a 5-gallon bucket.

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I don’t have any compostable bags; can I use a brown paper bag? Yes! Your compostables can be dumped directly from another container or placed in a paper bag, paper box (remove any plastic tape and/or plastic labels) or BPI-certified compostable “plastic” bag.

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Help! My filled compostable bags are starting to disintegrate before I can get them to you! 

Compostable bags will start to decompose and leak when wet and warm so carry them in a sturdy container for depositing to the bins.

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I have so much food waste that it’s attracting fruit flies and starting to smell. Any suggestions? Add a paper towel or any non-glossy paper to your kitchen bin to soak up the excess moisture that small insects love. Consider storing excess food waste in the freezer, or in a larger bin outside, until you can bring it to the Compost Station on Saturday. You could also store your kitchen bin in the refrigerator or freezer to slow the decomposition process. 

 

How can meat, bones, dairy, and other proteins be acceptable? These materials are most successfully composted in an industrial composting facility like Black Bear Composting. The high heat required to safely and completely break them down cannot be achieved through backyard composting. 

 

Can I bring my yard waste such as grass trimmings, weeds, and brush? We are only accepting residential food waste at this time. Yard waste can be taken to the Regional Landfill where it is ground up and used for mulch. 

 

I’d like to purchase some compost; is that possible? Compost is available for sale from Black Bear Composting, blackbearcomposting.com, 888/666-4172. 

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How do I sign up for food waste collection at my home? Reach out to Black Bear Composting, blackbearcomposting.com, 888/666-4172.