Because city dwellers don't always have the space or time to compost. |
OH THE (s)CRAP WE'LL TAKE FROM YOU!
NO MEAT, NO DAIRY, NO BONES OR GREASE, NO PLATE SCRAPS
Print this out to help you remember
Watch this Video on What's Acceptable and What's Not
two types of dropoff programs
SELECT THE PLAN THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU
MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION
in a nutshell
HOW TO COLLECT SCRAPS
We'll provide you with a collection bucket with a tight fitting lid. Place this under the sink or on your kitchen counter. Collect your scraps. Drop them off everyday or atleast every week at your selected dropoff hub. Freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less frequently than on a weekly basis. You are responsible for washing and keeping your collection bucket clean. You may want to line it with a paper or plastic liner. HOW TO DROPOFF
You will receive details on your dropoff hub and cart lock code via email. Note certain hubs have limited dropoff hours.
Bring your scraps to your selected dropoff hub every week. Please freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less regularly. BAGGED SCRAPS ONLY LOCATIONS Some locations require scraps to be bagged. Make sure your bag is cinched close before placing it in the dropoff cart. Types of Bags We do not require the use of a particular type of plastic bag. Get creative. Reuse bread bags, produce bags, mail order packaging bags. Note that we treat compostable bags as trash. BAG FREE LOCATIONS Transfer your scraps (without bag) into the centralized collection cart at your dropoff hub. Cover your scraps completely with the mulch from the cart adjacent to the dropoff cart. A trowel and a scoop is available for you to scoop the mulch. |
BUCKET SWAP
in a nutshell
HOW TO COLLECT SCRAPS
We'll provide you with a empty clean bucket for scrap collection and a supply of mulch. Make sure you show your voucher or have your voucher code with you. We will deduct $5 from your voucher for each bucket issued. Start with a one layer of mulch in the bottom of your bucket. Add foodscraps, mulch, foodscraps. Keep making these layers - we call it lasagna layers - alternating between foodscraps and mulch. Keep doing this until your bucket is full. You should end with mulch as the topmost layer when your bucket is full. HOW TO DROPOFF
Dropoff your lasagna bucket at a participating bucket swap location during work hours.
Take another empty bucket to collect scraps and another bucket of mulch and start over. |
FEEL THE WARM FUZZIES!Our team of neighborhood composters will compost your scraps at nearby community gardens and urban farms. BENEFITS
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY ARE DROPOFF CARTS LOCKED?
We lock carts when we see a high rate of contamination or when there is risk that the cart will be used as a trash bin by people passing by. Locked carts provide you with a cleaner dropoff experience and reduces the volume of material we have to discard due to contamination and trash.
WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR DROPOFF PROGRAMS?
We have tools to purchase, bills to pay, and a vocation to build for soil farmers who want to make a career in regenerating soil.
Our cost to process one batch of foodscraps (appoximately 27 cubic feet) is $260. One batch yields approximately six cubic feet of sifted, finished compost which earns $40. We make up the remaining $220 by offering pickup services and dropoff programs.
We also accept foodscraps at no charge at the San Carlos Community Garden once a week. Check schedule for free weekly dropoffs.
Our cost to process one batch of foodscraps (appoximately 27 cubic feet) is $260. One batch yields approximately six cubic feet of sifted, finished compost which earns $40. We make up the remaining $220 by offering pickup services and dropoff programs.
We also accept foodscraps at no charge at the San Carlos Community Garden once a week. Check schedule for free weekly dropoffs.
WHY DO YOU REQUIRE SCRAPS TO BE BAGGED?
The short answer is to prevent odors, reduce the incidence of critters and fruit flies nesting inside the carts and to protect compost technicians from injuries while transferring scraps from carts to compost bins.
A fuller explanation on How We Got To Plastic Bags is available here.
Watch this video to experience gnats flying in your face when opening a cart which has loose foodscraps. We are trying to offer a cleaner dropoff experience to our subscribers.
If you have ideas and suggestions to help us move away from single use plastic bags or repurpose bags that are already going into the trash stream please send us an email.
A fuller explanation on How We Got To Plastic Bags is available here.
Watch this video to experience gnats flying in your face when opening a cart which has loose foodscraps. We are trying to offer a cleaner dropoff experience to our subscribers.
If you have ideas and suggestions to help us move away from single use plastic bags or repurpose bags that are already going into the trash stream please send us an email.
CAN I GET A SMALLER COLLECTION PAIL?
We occasionally have smaller buckets which are 1 or 3 gallons in capacity. Please send us an email if you would like a smaller collection pail. We'll try our best to get you one but please understand there are no guarantees.
WILL YOU ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR COMPOSTING?
- Soil from indoor/outdoor planting projects – YES
- Fallen leaves from plants/trees - YES
- Succulents, cactus, indoor plants, bouquets that have died or withered - YES
- Manure and bedding of guinea pigs and other vegeterian pets - NO
CAN I PUT PAPER IN MY COMPOSTABLES BUCKET?
We are not accepting any paper based items from our subscribers at this time. Paper comes in many varieties - bleached, unbleached, Kleenex, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, dryel sheets, bounce sheets etc. Kitchen towels could have made contact with non-vegetative waste which the City prevents us from accepting in our stream.
We do not have the manpower to ensure that the paper coming through our stream will allow us to comply with municipal regulations and public hygiene and sanitation requirements. Since we are operating at a community scale we have to put in certain fail safe measures to keep our costs low and operations feasible.
We do not have the manpower to ensure that the paper coming through our stream will allow us to comply with municipal regulations and public hygiene and sanitation requirements. Since we are operating at a community scale we have to put in certain fail safe measures to keep our costs low and operations feasible.
