Composting

Under Construction!

Map of all community composting drop-off spots in the city of Ithaca and surrounding area – Coming soon!

Map of municipal composting drop off spots: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1pYJ8O5d16qpZmrYwrY-3f9K6K7A&ll=42.492238619653705%2C-76.40581711191408&z=11

TC RMM’s page for Food Scraps Recycling: https://recycletompkins.org/recycling-and-composting/food-scraps-recycling/

TC Master Composter Program offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension: https://ccetompkins.org/gardening/composting/master-composters

Tompkins Food Policy : Tompkins Food Future : https://www.tompkinsfoodfuture.org/

Residential composting pilot program in Tompkins County ran in 2013-2014 then got scrapped due to the “lack of participation” and “lack of funding” from what we heard … See  https://theithacan.org/news/county-to-test-run-curbside-compost-collection/

Composting is a climate issue. Methane emissions from landfills.

Plastics is a dangerous contaminants for soil and microorganisms, and does not belong to compost. Do not put any “bioplastics” | “compostable” either. Most contains plastic and is toxic. There is no regulations about those claims. See Toxicity page: zerowasteithaca.org/toxicity

Quick jumpstart: Zero Waste Chef’s Compost for the Lazy: Throw it in the Ground

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Some Takeaways from October 2021 GAIA’s webinar “Creating System-Level Organics Policy“:

1. Preference is given to decentralized, multiscale composting system that involves many small businesses and local actors – rather than relying on just one industrial composter. (Imagine Casella being in charge!)

2. Fight for diverse and distributed infrastructure. Fight against policies for large-scale industrial infrastructure.

3. Start small; localized composting system that keeps the resources locally is the best (rather than shipping it out 50, 100, 1,000s miles out) – example: Washington DC’s “Composting Incentive Act “– a. the city openly supports and promotes home composting as a law b. offers training and c. offers rebates for participants c. 50 collection points around the city

4. Open dumpsters with food scraps is a five star buffet for rodents (some of us KNOW this so well, dumpster observers) – composting is an imperative especially with climate change.

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