The composting facilities at the Transfer Station are being improved.
These facilities, which were launched in late 2020 as a partnership between the town and local environmental and sustainability charity Planet New Canaan (www.planetnewcanaan.org), have experienced an ‘embarrassment of riches.’ So many people wanted to use them that capacity was frequently overwhelmed, resulting in often-full bins and an unfortunate ‘Ick’ factor.
Starting now, pick-up of the compost bins will be doubled every week, resulting in more capacity and a better user experience. The bins are at the far left of the dumpsters where trash and recyclables are deposited. Food scraps that can be composted include meat scraps and bones. Please remember to not place plastic or paper bags and other non-compostables in the bins. Compostable trash bags, which are locally available, are fine.
Planet New Canaan pays the difference between the cost of landfilling food scraps and of composting them. This charitable subsidy has been around $300 per month, funded by community donations.
“We are thrilled that so many want to support environmental sustainability by composting their food scraps, thereby reducing methane gases that are produced by landfilled food waste,” says Katie Owsley, a Planet New Canaan board member. “Composting is an easy, effective way to help the planet.”
