How It Works: Composting

Step 1 We provide all of our customers with 35 gallon, residential style containers. We do this for two reasons; the plastic bags you currently buy will fit the containers, and food waste is heavy, so this keeps the containers light enough to move around. Step 2 Once the containers are lined with plastic or biodegradable bags, you fill them with your compostable material. “If it grows, it goes!” We can take meat, bones, shells, dairy, fish, produce, herbs, grains, pastas, and more. We can even compost soiled paper, waxed paper, wood, and cardboard (including waxed cardboard). All of this material can go into the bins together – you don’t need to worry about keeping the different parts separate. Just be sure to keep out anything that can’t be composted. Examples include plastic, metal, glass, ceramic or porcelain, or electronics. Step 3 In the kitchen, different people use different methods to help separate the organic material. Some operations put a bin at each preparation station, so that waste trimmings are thrown directly into the containers as food is prepared. Other operations like to put a container in a location that is accessible for multiple cooks, letting them stage their trimmings in table-top containers until they have accumulated enough to walk over to the compost bin with. Usually, bins are kept in prep areas, dish areas, and anywhere that food-service staff is disposing of food. You’ll have to take the time to decide what’s best for you and for your operation. Step 4 Our team will come by, typically overnight, to collect the material. EnviRelation has designed a custom-built vehicle that is especially suited for handling the unique challenges presented by collecting food scraps. Because it is very heavy and wet, food waste requires different equipment than other waste types. Our customers receive every-other-day collection services. This frequency allows you to eliminate odors and pests typically found in your loading dock or trash areas. Also, you will save space because you will need fewer containers. Step 5 Sometimes, we find containers that we cannot accept. Containers that have a large amount of plastic, metal, glass or other material that cannot be composted will be rejected. Also, containers with bags that are tied shut will be rejected because we cannot see what is inside of the bag. When we reject a container, we "flag" that container. "Flagging" is when we find a container that we cannot accept; we put a bright yellow paper sign in the lid of the container. This sign says that the container has been rejected, and lists the materials that we can and cannot compost. We work hard to take every container. One or two items in a container will not be enough to have it "flagged." "Flagged" containers are containers that are so full of contaminants that we cannot possibly clean it up for our composting facility to use. Step 6 Once we collect everything that we can, we bring it to a local composting facility or farm. There, microbial activity digests the organic matter, turning it into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. This end product is what we call compost! By diverting organic waste from landfills or other waste disposal methods, you reduce waste, avoid greenhouse gas emissions, and help create an environmentally-friendly substitute to damaging chemical fertilizers. Many of our customers like to use the compost that they've helped create. And our composting facilities often hope you do! The compost can be used for landscaping or even for potted plants inside. There are many great ways to use compost, and our composting facilities are happy to help you learn more about how you can use your compost!