Due to its quick decay rate, food waste in landfills is contributing to more methane emissions than any other landfilled materials. An estimated 58 percent of the fugitive methane emissions (i.e., those released to the atmosphere) from municipal solid waste landfills are from landfilled food waste.
In order to meet New Jersey’s climate goal to reduce its annual generation of food waste to 50% of 2017 levels by the year 2030 (50x30 Goal), we are starting a Municipal Composting program here in Leonia. We are partnering with Neighborhood Compost, a woman-owned NJ business that turns food scraps into compost to nourish soil.
Removing food waste from our garbage stream will reduce the amount of waste we bring to the landfill, ultimately reducing the tipping fees we pay for disposal. If we work together as a community, we can be a part of positive change for New Jersey!
Many of you are aware of the dire financial situation in our town; for this reason we are counting on a paid-subscriber model to launch the program.
You can collect your food scraps in any closed container. Home depot sells one for $5.00, and Neighborhood Compost sells containers on their website.
Scraps can be refrigerated or frozen; biodegradable bags are available for disposing your scraps, however bags are not necessary. (Biodegradable bags are the ONLY type of bags that can be placed in the toters).
You can compost meat, bones, cooking oil, pizza boxes, shredded paper and more! What other types of things can I compost?
This program is for Residential subscribers. Contact Neighborhood Compost to inquire about their programs for small businesses and more.
For questions, contact leoniacomposts@gmail.com or info@neighborhoodcompost.com.