Composting!

The county of Marin currently has a goal of zero waste by 2025. Fairfax has the same goal, but would like to achieve it by 2020. Composting is a huge part of making this possible. Presently, in Marin, over 25% of our landfill waste is food, and when food is thrown into the landfill it can’t break down in an organic process and decay properly, so instead it turns into methane and CO2.

Currently less than 50% of fairfax residents use their green bin to compost their yard waste. Less than 20% use it to dispose of their food waste. Right now Sustainable Fairfax is working toward educating the community on composting in your green bins.

Definition of composting: Decomposition of organic waste

What can be put in your green bin?

• All food scraps, including meat and bones

Think of all the possibilities your green bin gives you. There is a reason your green bin is bigger than the landfill bin, because there should be more compostable waste.

Even if you have your own compost at home that you use in your garden, you can still use the green bin for animal bi-products and slow decomposing yard clippings.

Also once you start composting more and have less landfill waste, then you will be able to reduce your cart size, which is cheaper and more environmentally efficient.

Let’s raise the percentage of people who use the their green bins!

If you would like to learn more about your green waste bins click here.