by Tom Ellis

Throwing food waste into landfills creates greenhouse gases, which significantly contribute to global warming and takes up space in Albany’s Rapp Road landfill. Since Albany’s landfill was built in protected Pine Bush habitat, this is an especial problem.

If you live in the City of Albany, you can reduce greenhouse gases and divert waste from Albany’s overburdened landfill, while at the same time supporting a local non-profit and ecologically regenerative micro-industry, by joining the Radix Center’s Community Composting Initiative.

All you need to do is to place your food scraps in a compostable bag inside the filtered, no-odor container provided by Radix. Once a week, place the container on your step and Radix will remove the contents and leave a fresh, clean bag. The Radix Center will turn your waste food into a nutrient-dense garden fertilizer.

To begin service, contact Radix and arrange for a brief meeting, at which they will deliver an attractive 2.4 gallon compost container with odor filter, a compostable liner bag and composting instructions.

Here’s how much it will cost: The attractive 2.4 gallon compost container with odor filter is $20. Then the compost pick-up costs $15/month for one container per week. Each additional container costs $5/ month.

Here’s what you can compost: All plant-based scraps, including fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds and filters, teabags, unbleached napkins, paper towels and waxed paper (like those wrappers from sticks of butter).  Bread products are acceptable in smaller quantities (less than 25% of the total volume in the bucket).  In order to discourage pests, Radix will not accept any meat, dairy or egg products.  Please make sure that no garbage, plastic wrappers, rubber bands, metal cans, or pet waste is included.

Food scraps will be brought to the Radix Ecological Sustainability Center at 153 Grand St., placed in wire bins and carefully layered with wood chips and leaves.  After several months of processing, a nutrient dense soil will result that will be used for our food growing demonstrations.  Because composting is a heat generating process, it will be ongoing throughout the winter.  By participating, you will benefit by recycling your food waste, reducing your ecological footprint, and supporting a community project.

Currently, Radix is only offering this service for the city of Albany.  If you are interested in this service but live outside of Albany,  please contact Radix.

If you have any questions or want to sign up: sk@radixcenter.org or (518) 605-3256

 

Published in December 14/January 2015 Save the Pine Bush Newsletter