A flyer arrived in my mailbox last week from Recology (our trash, recycling and greens pick up service in SF) announcing the The Great Compost Giveaway and also please bring my own bucket. You’ve probably noticed the greens bins that appeared all over the city several years back as part of San Francisco’s zero waste by 2020 goal. Wondering where all those greens go? Here’s your chance to find out and pick up 10 free gallons of compost for your garden. Recology also notes that San Francisco has reached the 80% mark of zero waste.
Earth Day is just around the corner and so is International Compost Awareness Week (I actually wasn’t aware of it but am now). A quick search on the web reveals that many cities in California are giving away compost. Actually Recology looks a bit stingy with their measly 10 free gallons. For example, if you live in Anaheim you can haul away a whopping 60 free gallons. Berkeley has free compost for residents the last Saturday of every month and so on.
And it’s not just California, cities everywhere are composting. The city of Chicago’s Waste management site notes:
“Every year, Chicago residents throw out tons of leaves, lawn clippings and other organic material. This “waste” makes up more than half of the city’s residential trash in the spring and summer growing seasons, and again in the fall when leaves are dropping. Organic waste, however, is a valuable resource that can be composted instead of thrown out in the trash.”
It just makes sense when you think landfill waste can be reduced by 50% just by removing the greens and all you have to do is some sorting and then bring a bucket to pick up some gorgeous compost for your garden.
Happy composting,
Judy
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