|
Frequently Asked Questions about the Composting Collection Pilot Program
General Questions & Answeres About the Composting Collection Pilot Program
- Who is eligible for the Composting Collection Pilot Program?
- When will the program be available Citywide?
- What is not acceptable in the green composting cart?
- What is the green kitchen pail and how should I use it?
- How can I keep my kitchen pail clean?
- What is the size of the green cart?
- Will the compostable material smell?
- Won't my green cart attract bugs and rodents?
- Who will clean the green cart?
- Why can't I bag my organic material in a plastic bag before putting it in my green cart?
- What about overflow/oversized materials?
- Where should I store my green cart?
- What are the City's composting service guidelines?
- Where do I put my green cart on collection day?
- What if my cart is lost or stolen?
- Is composting collection mandatory?
- Why should I particpate in composting collection?
- What happens to the organic material that is collected from my green cart?
- How much does the program cost me?
- How is the composting collection program different from backyard composting?
- Are there special bags that are accepted in the composting collection program?
- Where are the pilot areas?
- What is my composting collection day?
1. Who is eligible for the Composting Collection Pilot Program?
Only 3,000 homes from select areas of the city will be eligible to participate in the program. Service will be offered in these areas only and on a first-come, first serve basis.
2. When will the program be available Citywide?
At this time, we need to complete the pilot program to evaluate the possibility of a citywide program. In the meantime, it does not hurt to let your elected officials know that you are interested in receiving composting service. We will continue to offer other seasonal programs to assist residents with composting, such as LeafDrop, Treecycle and free Learn to Compost classes.
3. What is not acceptable in the green composting cart?
Due to the wide array of non-organic material it is hard to develop a comprehensive list of unacceptable items.
Some examples of unacceptable items are:
-
Plastic items, including plastic bags, are not accepted in the program
-
Styrofoam
-
Glass
-
Metal
-
Diapers
-
Used toilet paper
-
Kitty Litter
-
Animal feces
-
Sod
-
Rocks or stones
-
Dirt or sand
-
Lumber or consturction debris
 4. What is the green kitchen pail and how should I use it?
The green kitchen pail is given to you to collect food and food-soiled paper in your home. It is designed so that you can easily scrape the leftover food off of your plate.
5. How can I keep my kitchen pail clean?
Keeping your kitchen pail clean is simple. Make sure you empty it into the green cart regularly. You can line the pail with newspaper, a paper bag, or paper towel to help keep it clean. The pail is dishwasher safe, so either hand wash it or run it through the dishwasher frequently. You can also purchase small biodegradable, cornstarch bags from whole foods to line the pails. Make sure you buy the right bags if you chose this option. All bags used for compostables other than plain paper bags, must carry the official BPI logo ( Biodegradable Products Institute) to be approved for use in the composting collection program. The BPI compostable logo lets the composting collector and processor know that products with this label have been tested to ensure that they will compost quickly, completely and safely. For more information visit BPI Products Institute.
6. What is the size of the green cart?
The green cart holds approximately 65 gallons of compostable material (the same size as the purple recycle cart). The height with the lid is 41 inches, the width is 27 inches, and the depth is 29 inches.
7. Will the compostable material smell?
Compostable material does have a smell. It’s the same stuff you put in your garbage, but now it’s just in a different container. Odor is often caused by too much moisture. You can minimize odor by:
-
Ensuring you set your cart out for every collection.
-
Draining as much liquid as possible from organic material.
-
Keeping your cart clean.
-
Burying your food waste underneath some yard debris.
-
Alternating layers of food waste with layers of newspaper or leaves.
-
Wrapping food scraps with newspaper or placing food scraps in an empty milk carton or paper bag before putting it in your cart.
-
Freezing leftover meat and fish scraps and waiting to put them in your cart until your collection day.
-
Sprinkling a small amount of baking soda or vinegar in your green cart.
-
Waiting to clean out your refrigerator until the day before your collection day, rather than the day after.
8. Won't my green cart attract bugs and rodents?
The green composting cart is designed to be pest-resistant with thick plastic and a tight-fitting lid. Make sure the lid is always closed and your composting cart should be at least as secure as your regular trash container or bag. If you have problems with bugs and rodents around your trash now, you may experience some problems. If you do not currently have problems with pests, you should not experience any additional problems with your green cart. Compost can attract fruit flies. Keep your container clean to ensure you do not attract pests.
9. Who will clean the green cart?
It is the resident’s responsibility to clean their cart. A simple rinse with the hose every couple of weeks should keep the cart clean. A great idea for cleaning your green cart is to use a broom to reach the bottom. You may also help keep your cart clean by lining it with newspaper or brown paper yard waste bags.
10. Why can't I bag my organic material in a plastic bag before putting it in my green cart?
Plastic is a serious contaminant for composting. All the compostable material is ground into fine pieces. When plastic is in the mix, we get small pieces of plastic that are hard to remove. Plastic is not compostable and will not break down in the composting process.
11. What about overflow/oversized materials?
At this time we can only accept materials placed in the cart. We will be looking to receive feedback from residents about overflow/oversized materials as it may warrant a special drop-site or collection service when we evaluate the services needed for a citywide composting collection program.
12. Where should I store my green cart?
Your green cart must be stored on your property, out of public view as best as you can. Do not store your green cart in the alley or on the street. Store your green cart in your garage, breezeway, side of house, shed, or other location. Carts continually left in alleys or on the street may be removed.
13. What are the City's composting service guidelines?
-
Green carts are the property of the City and County of Denver.
-
Green carts should be used for storing compostable material only.
-
Carts should be placed out for collection by 7 a.m. on service days. It's okay to set out your cart the night before your service day.
-
Please do not stack materials on or around carts, or have materials protruding from the cart.
-
Do not overfill green carts. Overfilled containers create litter and may not be serviceable.
-
Green carts must be at least 4 feet from any other obstacles such as parked cars, mailboxes, recycling carts, trash containers etc.
-
Carts must be removed from the curbside or alleyway on non-service days.
-
Anything that will not fit into your cart should be held over for your next collection.
-
If you are moving, call to return your cart. Each cart is assigned by serial number to an exact address.
-
Denver Recycles reserves the right to remove green carts that are improperly used. Improper use includes trash in carts, carts left in the public right-of-way (including the alley), abuse or destruction of carts outside of normal wear and tear, and uses deemed inappropriate by the city.
14. Where do I put my green cart on collection day?
 To find your set-out location you may look up your Service Schedule on-line or call 3-1-1. If you have curb set out, then place your cart in the street adjacent to the curb in front of your house. The front of the cart should face the street. If you have dumpster-side alley set out, then place your container by the dumpster at least four feet away from any trash containers, fences, cars or other obstructions. If you have even-side alley set out, place your container on the side of the alley with even numbered homes. If you have odd-side alley set out, place your container on the side of the alley with odd numbered homes. Make sure the front of the cart faces the alley. Do not block access to your neighbor’s driveway, gate, garage or property.
15. What if my cart is lost or stolen?
If you have a lost or damaged cart, please call us at 3-1-1 or email Denver Recycles to order a replacement.
Other General Questions & Answers
16. Is composting collection mandatory?
No, it is not mandatory. The City and County of Denver does encourage participation because it will help us learn how best to implement a citywide program and we believe that it will be a service that provides many benefits to our city.
17. Why should I particpate in composting collection?
Organic material makes up about 58% of what Denver residents send to the landfill. Methane is generated in landfills as organic material decays under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions. Methane is a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting is a way to divert organic material from landfill, thereby reducing climate warming gases generated in landfills. Composting is nature’s way of recycling and returning valuable organic matter and nutrients to the soil to be used again. By keeping organic material out of the landfill, we can extend the life of our landfill.
18. What happens to the organic material that is collected from my green cart?
The material is taken to a company called A1 Organics in Keenesburg, Colorado where it is commercially composted. The finished compost is then sold to farmers and to retailers. If you are interested in purchasing A1 Organics compost, it can be purchased retail from Pioneer Sand and Gravel.
19. How much does the program cost me?
There is no charge to participate in the composting collection pilot program. The pilot program is being funded by a grant received from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and in-kind donations by the City and its partners.
20. How is the composting collection program different from backyard composting?
The organic material collected through the composting collection program is sent to a commercial composting facility in Keenesburg, Colorado that is run by A1 Organics. There, organic material is ground into fine pieces by an industrial grinder and then composted under controlled conditions. So materials that you wouldn't put in a backyard composting bin, such as meat, bones, processed foods and soiled paper such as milk cartons, can break down quickly in a commercial composting facility and contribute to making quality compost. After composting is complete A1 Organics performs a number of analytical tests on the compost, using an independent laboratory, to ensure the compost is a quality product before selling it.
Denver Recycles encourages you to continue backyard composting if you already do so. You can still compost lots of materials in your backyard while putting your meat, dairy, grains, and food-soiled paper products and excess yard waste out for pick-up in your green composting cart.
21. Are there special bags that are accepted in the composting collection program?
Traditional plastic bags made from petroleum are not accepted in the program as they can't be composted. However, there are compostable bags made from plants like corn, wheat and potatoes that are accepted in the program. These compostable bags are plastic-like and waterproof. If you choose to buy compostable bags to use in your kitchen pail or green cart, please make sure you purchase the right bags. All bags used for compostables other than plain paper bags, must carry the official BPI logo ( Biodegradable Products Institute) and be green in color to be approved for use in the composting collection program. The BPI compostable logo lets the composting collector and processor know that products with this label have been tested to ensure that they will compost quickly, completely and safely and being green in color makes it easy for the composting collector and processor to distinguish them from non-compostable plastic bags. For more information visit BPI Products Institute. (Of course, newspaper and paper bags are still an easy way to keep composting cleaner and to save you money.) Compostable bags may be purchased online, at some Whole Foods stores and at All Things Renewable (Stapleton, Northfield).
22. Where are the pilot area?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Composting Collection Pilot Program Guide
Acceptable Items
Yard debris: Grass clippings, leaves, plant trimmings, branches (no larger than 4 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter), flowers, houseplants, weeds and garden trimmings.
Soiled Paper: Used paper plates, paper cups, tea bags, coffee filters, paper milk and juice cartons (no foil lined cartons), facial tissue, greasy pizza boxes (non-greasy pizza boxes should go in your recycle cart), microwave popcorn bags, paper ice cream cartons, paper towels, paper napkins, wax paper, waxed cardboard, tissue paper and paper take-out cartons.
Food: Baked goods, bones, bread, butter and margarine, cake, candy, cereal, cheese, coffee grounds, cookies, corn cobs and husks, dairy products, eggs and eggshells, fish and fish parts, flour, fruits, grains, gravy and sauces, herbs and spices, jams and jellies, mayonnaise, meat and meat products, nuts and nut shells, oatmeal, pasta, peanut butter, pizza, popcorn, poultry, pumpkins, rice, salads, shellfish, sugar, syrup, tea bags, vegetables, watermelon, yogurt and other processed food like left over pizza or burritos, and more.
Other Miscellaneous items: Cotton balls, dryer lint, feathers, hair (pet and human), wooden chopsticks, wooden popsicle sticks and wooden toothpicks.
|
|