(Dublin, OH) The City of Dublin is launching a composting program with the assistance of a SWACO Community Waste Reduction Grant. The City received more than $6,700 in grant funding from SWACO this year to implement this new program, which will help Franklin County increase its rate of diversion from the local landfill.
The first 500 Dublin residents who register at DublinOhioUSA.gov/compost will receive a complimentary compost bucket and one disposable liner. (It is highly recommended that composters use 6-gallon BPI Certified Compostable Bucket Liners, which can be purchased at numerous locations, including Amazon, Whole Foods and Kroger.) The liners can be emptied directly into the carts.. Buckets may be dumped any time at our 24/7 waste drop-off location, which is located in the City Service Center parking lot at 6555 Shier Rings Road. GoZero will operate the program and maintain the disposal/collection carts. Any Dublin resident may participate by using one of the complimentary GoZero buckets or any bucket.
Composting is a natural process of recycling organic materials, such as food scraps and yard waste. It has many benefits including enriching soil, which helps retain moisture, reduces the need for fertilizers and helps plants grow. It also helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. According to the EPA, food scraps and yard waste together make up more than 28 percent of what we throw away, and can be composted instead.
“Food waste, by weight, is the number one item being thrown away in Franklin County,” said Hanna Greer-Brown, Communications Manager for SWACO. “We applaud the City of Dublin for their efforts to capture this material in order to turn it into something of value for our region’s environmental, economic and social benefit.”
“We know there is a huge demand for this service in Dublin,” said City of Dublin Street and Utilities Operations Administrator Michael Darling. “Dubliners are very conscientious about ecofriendly disposal options and this will be a new way to divert organic materials away from the landfill.”
Our goal is to divert 10 tons of compostable material during our pilot program. The pilot program will last six months with the option to extend based on results and funding.
Register now to receive your free bucket and instructions for picking it up.
What is accepted for compost?
- We CAN compost– Fruits, vegetables, grains, pasta, baked goods, beans, coffee grounds, eggs, eggshells, dairy, cooked meat, wood, other plant and animal based material, soiled non-coated paper/ fiber products, and WITH WRITTEN APPROVAL “BPI certified compostable” plastic products (i.e. trash can liners/bags, forks, spoons, knives, cups, bowls, plates, straws, and other service ware) are accepted. NOTE: If in doubt, don’t include it without first getting approval.
- We CAN’T compost– The following may be subject to additional fees, and/or may not be received – rocks, stone, glass, all plastics which are not “BPI certified compostable” (i.e. bags, forks, spoons, knives, cups, bowls, plates, straws, and other service ware), metal, steel, tin, aluminum, electronics, Styrofoam, personal health care products, pharmaceuticals, non-compostable packaging, and coated paper/ fiber products.
- We USUALLY compost– Raw meat, bones, seafood, and shellfish are accepted on a case by case basis. GoZERO will be able to accept these items all the time as soon as its community food waste composter is up and running.
Media Contact:
Lindsay Weisenauer
Public Affairs Officer
614.704.9742
lweisenauer@dublin.oh.us
Newsroom: http://dublinohiousa.gov/newsroom/
