Our community is spending thousands of dollars every year that can be saved and returned to residents. You don’t have to believe in climate change or have altruistic motivations to claim this one. All you have to consider are dollars and sense.
Food waste of all types is being incinerated and landfilled when it could be composted for a fraction of the cost and turned into rich topsoil. Sources say food waste makes up about 30 to 40% of a community’s total discarded trash.
The Town of Greenwich should phase in a mandatory composting program. Residents would be given 10 gallon sealed containers to keep at home and put out once a week for pickup along with other recycling. The garbage service in return would leave a clean pail and the cycle would repeat each week. (At my home I have a small container for daily use under the sink and a 10 gallon transfer pail in the garage).
Of course there are logistical items to be solved in close cooperation with those providing refuse service and residents who will have to understand their obligations. For example, everything biodegradable can go into the pail but no plastics, metals or wood. The containers must be sealed tightly to deter pests and shouldn’t be put out until the day of pickup. Apartments present special issues as compared to single family homes. Families may need more than one container. And Holly Hill Recycling Center should continue its free compost drop off for anyone who misses the regular pickup.
There are other things to consider and plan for, such as the upfront cost of a program, but nothing insurmountable. And nothing to stop us from saving money while doing something many people believe is beneficial.
John Furfaro
