Tips & Guidelines Compostable material includes food scraps and yard waste. Weekly compost collection is included with your garbage subscription at no additional cost. If you require additional carts, see available options here. The handling and processing of compostable material is less resource-intensive than processing garbage and creates a valuable product to use in parks […]
Yes! Compostable bags are acceptable in the organics collection program. Compostable bags must meet the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) standards. These bags can be found at Costco, Whole Foods, Mollie Stones, Safeway, CVS and Walgreens, among other stores. Find a full list of approved bags on the Biodegradable Products Institute’s website. Of course, you don’t […]
Not a good idea! When you put food scraps down the garbage disposal, it takes a lot of energy for wastewater treatment plants to clean the water – not to mention it can cost a lot of money to fix clogged up pipes and disposals.
All residents of Hollister, San Juan Bautista and the County Unincorporated can get free compost up to 3 times per year at community events that are held throughout the year (starting November 1, 2018). Please see the 2018-2019 Calendar Events for exact compost giveaway dates.
Compost made from the food scraps is a valuable resource for home gardens, landscapers, farmers and community gardens. Compost helps soil retain water, reduce weed growth, reduces and or eliminated the need for pesticides or herbicides and reduces water consumption. Also disposing organic material in landfills impacts our food system. Agricultural dependence on fertilizers and […]
The organics material is sent to South Valley Organics (SVO), a certified composting facility in Gilroy, California, where it is managed to gradually decompose to a high-quality soil amendment known as compost.
Composting food scraps keeps organic material out of the landfill and reduces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. When food scraps are sent to the landfill, they emit methane, which is 25 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
Here are simple ways to make organics collection easy: You can use compostable bags (you can find a list of approved compostable pages at bpiworld.org) or use paper bags or newspapers to contain the organics. Or you can store the organics in a food container with lid in the freezer or refrigerator. Be sure to […]
Tips & Guidelines Did you know food scraps, un-coated food-soiled paper, and yard waste can be composted into a nutrient-rich soil amendment? Finished compost creates a valuable product used in parks and gardens. Approximately 40% of all material that ends up in the landfill could have been composted instead. When you keep food scraps, food-soiled […]
Recology is a large-scale composter. Our technologies and techniques for composting are different than those of backyard composting, but the basics are the same. You need air, water and bugs to turn food scraps and yard trimmings into a valuable soil amendment. We recommend the EPA’s page “Create Your Own Compost Pile” to learn about […]