{"id":14297,"date":"2021-11-22T18:06:11","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T23:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/?page_id=14297"},"modified":"2023-07-05T17:34:17","modified_gmt":"2023-07-05T21:34:17","slug":"home-composting-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/food\/home-composting-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Alternatives to Composting Your Food Waste at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>Want to keep your food waste out of the waste stream but don&#8217;t want to do it yourself?\u00a0 There are several different options available &#8211; at Needham&#8217;s RTS and with some area businesses.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/food-waste-composting-at-RTS-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-14155 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/food-waste-composting-at-RTS-2-300x290.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/food-waste-composting-at-RTS-2-300x290.png 300w, https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/food-waste-composting-at-RTS-2-45x45.png 45w, https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/food-waste-composting-at-RTS-2-150x145.png 150w, https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/food-waste-composting-at-RTS-2.png 476w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.needhamma.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/24870\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"details Opens in new window\"><strong><em>new<\/em> program<\/strong><\/a> to help reduce Needham&#8217;s food waste began on Nov. 3, 2021 and is available to all Needham residents for <strong><em>free.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>You drop off your food waste, <em><strong>including<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em>meat and dairy, to a\u00a0special bin at the Needham RTS.\u00a0 The food waste is picked up by our partner, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.agricycleenergy.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Agri-Cycle<\/a>, and delivered to their facility in Maine where it is turned into energy.\u00a0 The Needham Public Schools are participating!<\/p>\n<p><b>Here\u2019s how the program works:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Separate your solid (not liquid) food waste and place it in a bag\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">The bags are very important to prevent rodents and odors<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">Paper and plastic bags are accepted. Plastic bags are mechanically separated and disposed of as trash<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">See below for a list of acceptable food<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Bring your bags of food waste to the RTS and drop them in the green bins in the clearly labeled \u201cFood Waste Recycling\u201d area\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">If you don\u2019t have an RTS sticker, they are free!\u00a0 Just drop by the Town Treasurer\u2019s Office at the Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland Ave and pick one up!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Acceptable food waste items:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">All food items are recyclable for this program (meats and seafoods including small bones, dairy, bread, fruit, etc.).\u00a0 However, residents should NOT place the following in the food waste recycling barrels:\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><em><strong>NO liquids.<\/strong><\/em> This includes juice\/soda\/milk\/grease\/cooking oil. Sauces, such as apple sauce, are fine provided they are not in a plastic container<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><em><strong>NO non-organic material<\/strong><\/em>s\u00a0 in with the food waste (straws, utensils, cups, lids, etc.)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><em><strong>NO pet waste<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><em><strong>NO yard waste<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>What happens to all that food?<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">The food is picked up by our partner Agri-Cycle and brought to an anaerobic digester to be turned into biogas for energy<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Any plastic bags will be separated out by the machinery and disposed of as trash<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bucket-of-compost-wikicommons.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14306 size-full alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bucket-of-compost-wikicommons.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"275\" height=\"183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bucket-of-compost-wikicommons.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bucket-of-compost-wikicommons-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px\" \/><\/a>Still<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 want to compost your food waste, but want someone <em><strong>else<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em>to worry about all the details?\u00a0 There are several local companies that, for a fee, will pick up the food waste of both residential and business customers and compost it at their facility.\u00a0 Some companies will accept meat and dairy; others only fruits and vegetables.\u00a0 They provide everything you need so it&#8217;s easy to participate.\u00a0 \u00a0See below list of local composting companies.*<\/p>\n<h4><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bootstrapcompost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bootstrap Compost<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>A residential &amp; commercial food scrap pickup service. They use 5-gallon buckets outfitted with a compostable liner and tight-fitting lid. Each week or every other week, a Bootstrap rep will swap out your full bucket with a clean replacement bucket. All residential customers are eligible to receive soil amendment each year, available upon request. To learn more about their education-driven mission, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/bootstrapcompost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">bootstrapcompost.com<\/a>.\u00a0 <em><strong>Contact 617-642-1979<\/strong> <\/em>| info@bootstrapcompost.com<\/p>\n<h4><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blackearthcompost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Black Earth Compost<\/a> (BEC)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>A commercial &amp; residential food waste hauler, recycler and composter since 2011. The company can handle all food waste, as well as non-food, certified compostable items which they recycle into valuable soil amendments. Black Earth Compost also provides curb-side textile recycling for its residential customers. In the spring customers receive a voucher for a cubic foot bag of compost. Pricing and sign-ups available online.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/blackearthcompost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Black Earth Compost<\/a><\/p>\n<h4><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.citycompost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>City Compost<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Another residential &amp; commercial food scrap pickup service. \u00a0Fill up the kitchen container with compostables throughout the week and empty this into your City Compost collection bucket that is picked up right by the road and replaced with a fresh one. All food types are accepted, plus napkins, paper towels, and other compostable items. Compost can be received back for use in home gardens, or it will go towards local, sustainable farms.\u00a0 Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.citycompost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.citycompost.com<\/a> to learn more or\u00a0contact them directly at <a href=\"mailto:info@citycompost.com\">info@citycompost.com<\/a> or 978-378-3048.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Reconsidering\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> whether <em><strong>you<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em>can compost your food waste at home?\u00a0 It&#8217;s easier than you think &#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/food\/home-composting-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> learn more about how you can do this.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">*Note<\/span>: This list does not constitute an endorsement by Green Needham Collaborative for any individual company nor do we guarantee their services; we recommend you ask for and review\u00a0references before contracting their\u00a0services.<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Updated July 2023<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to keep your food waste out of the waste stream but don&#8217;t want to do it yourself?\u00a0 There are several different options available, including a new option at the RTS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":14155,"parent":5292,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14297","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14297\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}