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.
I'm motivated to do anything that reduces what goes from my house to a landfill."Safia Hussein
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).
To make the Municipal Composting program accessible to everyone, we’re offering a special Senior Rate of just $10/month. If you’re not a senior but find the regular rate of $16/month difficult, please reach out to us at info@neighborhoodcompost.com, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
You can compost meat, bones, cooking oil, pizza boxes, shredded paper and more! What other types of things can I compost?
I have been able to divert so much compostable material since Leonia joined the Neighborhood Compost program! I’ve never been able to successfully set up year round composting at home, and it’s fantastic to have this service!"Teresa McInerney-Rex
This program is for Residential subscribers. Contact Neighborhood Compost to inquire about their programs for small businesses and more.
Thank you for your interest in recycling food scraps; you can help reduce waste in landfills, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the biodiversity of soil used in farming, contributing to a healthier environment.
The Municipal Compost program helps reduce Leonia's tipping fees. Leonia is charged per pound for our trash and waste. Diverting our kitchen scraps away from New Jersey landfills to become compost means we are helping to reduce Leonia's municipal expenditures."Joanne and Allan Terrell
You can use any covered container or ziploc bag for food scraps; store at room temperature or in the fridge/freezer.
Neighborhood Compost sells bins online; subscribers get a $9.00 coupon code to use on anything from the shop. Ikea sells an inexpensive container
You can do that, but to reduce the number of trips, move them to a larger container (which can be stored in your garage or basement), such as this Leaktite 5 Gallon Pail with this Leaktite Bucket Lid
Actually, not much! You probably won’t notice much smell at home, but you will probably notice smells when the Municipal Composting tote is opened, particularly in summer.
The toters are well sealed and locked. We have not noticed any issues with vermin or pests in Leonia, and other towns have not reported any issues. In summer, you will likely see flies when you open the lid: they are a natural part of the decomposition process!
As the world speeds toward ecological disaster, and our global leaders are incapable of responding to this crisis, I find it deeply gratifying and empowering to be able to take one small but concrete step to mitigate my own personal impact on global warming. Hooray for Leonia Composts! to give us a way to make a difference!"Duncan Patton
For questions, contact leoniacomposts@gmail.com or info@neighborhoodcompost.com.