Waste-watchers push food compost

With new statewide recycling regulations on food waste going into effect July 1, regional planners are hoping to encourage more backyard composting.

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Waste-watchers push food compost Rutland Herald | April 01, 2017 By SUSAN SMALLHEER STAFF WRITER Starting in July, Vermont transfer stations must accept food waste, but residents are being urged to compost when possible. Here, Vermont students learn about composting and disposal of food waste in September 2015. ALBERT J. MARRO / STAFF FILE PHOTO Starting in July, Vermont transfer stations must accept food waste, but residents are being urged to compost when possible. Here, Vermont students learn about composting and disposal of food waste in September 2015. ALBERT J. MARRO / STAFF FILE PHOTO SPRINGFIELD — With new statewide recycling regulations on food waste going into effect July 1, regional planners are hoping to encourage more backyard composting. Tom Kennedy, executive director of the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, which manages the local solid waste district, said this week that while food waste won’t be banned from people’s trash bags until 2020, state law calls for all transfer stations to accept food waste starting in July. The waste will be composted at a facility in Hartland that will be operated by Grow Compost, a company from Moretown, Kennedy said. But he said backyard composting, where possible, is definitely the most cost-efficient thing to do. The fees towns will charge for food waste is still to be determined, he said, and is up to the towns. And another provision of Act 148, the state’s universal recycling law, requires trash haulers to offer food scrap collection at an additional fee. While all Vermont towns must make provisions for handling food waste, Kennedy and Mary O’Brien, recycling coordinator for the Southern Windsor/ Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District, said the push is on for people to compost food waste in their backyards. O’Brien said the district had been selling plastic compost bins for several years “near or at cost,” at between $50 and $52. It’s still a lot cheaper than in a store, she said. This year, the state and district are pushing composters, making them cheaper and hopefully more attractive. O’Brien said Friday there will be four composting workshops in May and June, which will allow residents to buy a “Soil Saver Composter” for $25, which is $15 off the regular subsidized price. O’Brien said the Soil Saver model was very sturdy and easy to assemble. “I’ve had one for five years,” she said. She said the project is in line to receive a state grant of $2,100 to help it pay for the compost bins. The waste district has been selling compost bins every year, but this year will see the lowest price. The 5:30 p.m. workshops are being held May 17 at the Rockingham Public Library; June 7 at the Windsor Public Library; June 8 at the Springfield Town Library; and June 14 at the Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow. For those who don’t attend a workshop, the price for a composter is $40, and they are available later this month. The waste district also offers a $5 food scrap pail with a cover. O’Brien said people who want to buy a backyard composter should place their order by April 7, and the composters will be available to pick up April 29 at several transfer stations in the district, including Cavendish, Ludlow, Rockingham, Springfield, Weathersfield and Windsor, and the Plymouth town offices any weekday. O’Brien said people who want to sign up for the composting workshops should contact her at 674-9235.