The Rewards of Composting

The Rewards of Composting

I am writing to express my support for Rye Sustainability Committee’s proposed Curbside Composting and Drop-off Food Scrap Recycling pilot. I am a mother, a gardener, the chair of the Midland Green Team, and a member of The Rye Garden Club. 

I am glad that the proposed six-month pilot has now been added to the agenda for the November 7 City Council meeting. I will be there in person for that meeting. I urge all others in our community who want municipal food scrap recycling to become a reality in Rye to be there as well and/or to send an email to the City Council to show support for this important initiative.

Three years ago, two Midland moms, Cali Gibbs and Emily Keenan, took the important first step of bringing composting for the masses to Rye. At Midland we have been able to reduce our cafeteria trash by 70%. This composting and recycling program is now in place at all three Rye elementary schools and the middle school. The high school will not be far behind. Rye Country Day also composts. Our children are all experts. It is time for the next step. 

Bringing municipal food scrap recycling to Rye is a critical step towards reducing the carbon footprint of our trash. Composting will divert Rye’s organic waste including meat, fish, bones, pasta, and more from the incinerator and instead turn it into a valuable, nutrient-rich resource. 

As I said in my remarks to the City Council at their October 17 meeting, my family of six have been avid backyard composters for the past eight years. My husband even grew up composting. We are always amazed by how much organic waste we generate on a daily basis, often a gallon. During the rare times the composter freezes shut and we unable to compost, we are shocked by the frivolity of the waste. Our backyard setup means we can only compost certain items like fruit and vegetable trimmings. As a huge bonus, the municipal pilot would allow us to include all food items in the bin. 

I look forward to the pilot coming to fruition. Here’s to making some great dirt together!

• Lucy Berkoff