By John Kriz
One of the best ways you can both help the planet and keep taxes down is to compost.
“Not only is [composting] good for the environment, but it actually saves the town money,” says Tom Cronin, chairman of the Conservation Commission. “It’s cheaper to haul compost than it is to haul waste.” He notes that “we could save the town a fair amount of money, and do the right thing in the process” by separating compostables, and not disposing them with the rest of the trash.
Food scraps and other compostables comprise as much as 25% of municipal waste, he says.
This cost differential reflects the fact that compostables such as food scraps are easier to process and result in something of value – compost to nourish our farms and gardens. Regular municipal waste is trucked to distant landfills. Thus, waste haulage costs (called tipping fees) are lower for compostables.
“The Conservation Commission looks forward to working with our town Transfer Station and [local charity] Planet New Canaan in setting future volume goals for our town composting efforts,” says Chairman Cronin.
Planet New Canaan has had a successful composting project with South School, and is working on expanding it to include other schools.
To support home composting efforts, Planet New Canaan is selling buckets with tight seals and compostable liner bags to homeowners to collect food scraps, who then take it to the transfer station, where there are bins in which to deposit the compostables for processing. Buckets with the liners cost $15, and this is the link to get one: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/planet-new-canaan-incs-shop
Mary Ann O’Hara, who lives in a condo in town, is also a keen composting fan. “I have grandchildren and I feel… we have to stop the methane in the dumps. The majority of methane, I think maybe 70%, comes from food waste in dumps.” Food waste that ends up in landfills emits methane, a particularly powerful greenhouse gas.
Recycling
Chairman Cronin is also an ardent supporter of recycling. “Absolutely more recycling,” he emphasizes, noting that New Canaan “has made terrific strides over the years.” He wants to continue “to get the word out — create awareness on the need for more recycling.”
