Compost...we dig it

It's not about being first, but being sustainable. It's just icing on the leftover cake that Corvallis is the first city in Oregon to collect food waste mixed with residential yard debris in the Mixed Organic Cart.

Residents who live within the city limits of Corvallis can now add food waste, including meats, dairy products and other proteins to the organic material already going into their yard debris cart.

Mixing food waste with dry yard debris helps to eliminate odors. Give it a try, we think you will find it is as easy as the leftovers of last weeks pie.

How do I compost?

Residents have several choices for composting:

1. Residents living within the Corvallis city limits have the option of placing food waste and other organic material in the Mixed Organic Cart (formerly called "The Yard Debris Cart" or "Green Waste Cart". This cart is collected every week and we will do the composting for you.
2. Residents living outside of the Corvallis city limits may be eligible for a yard debris cart. Yard debris carts are available to Benton County customers in some areas.
3. Residents living within any of our service areas have the option of a home composter. With this option, Allied Waste provides a home composter instead of a Mixed Organic Cart. You may have either a composter or a cart.

Why compost?

It’s estimated that more than 20% of waste going to landfills is food.
Recovering this organic material is environmentally beneficial.

Sustainability:

• Composting is a sustainable solution to divert organics from landfills.
• Composting produces less methane than landfilling.
• Composting organics is beneficial to recover nutrient rich material.
• Compost retains soil moisture, increases soil nutrients, decreases the need for commercial chemicals and helps prevent soil erosion.

Technology:

• Mixed organic material is composted in aerated windrows. The high temperatures generated ensure that bacteria and pathogens are eliminated.
• Compost piles are covered to control temperatures, moisture, odors and microorganisms.
• A bio-filter removes odor from the air as it is pulled through the compost.
• PRC compost is made from yard, wood and food waste. Non-organic material is removed by hand before composting.

Getting Started

How do I collect food to put in the cart?

Food can go directly in the cart and does not need to be contained in a bag or box. In fact, it is preferable to place material in the cart loose. The easiest way to collect food waste is to keep a container with a tight fitting lid on the kitchen counter, under the sink or in a place of your choosing (just be sure it’s convenient) and scrape food directly into it as you prepare food or clean the kitchen. There are many containers on the market or you may find something at home that can be re-purposed, like a bucket or yogurt tub. There is no right or wrong way to collect food waste. Use the container and method that works best for you. Ideally, you will be mixing yard debris and food waste in the Mixed Organic Cart. It’s a good idea to layer some yard debris under and on top of food waste to keep the cart cleaner and odor free. You can also layer with newspaper or cardboard if you don’t have yard clippings. The same layering applies to home composting.

How do I avoid odors?

When you think about it, much of the food waste you will be collecting has been sitting in your garbage can in the past. The only difference is that now you will be collecting it in a container with a lid. As long as you empty the kitchen container every few days, there shouldn’t be problems with odor.
Some of the containers available have a charcoal filter that helps with odor control. Rinsing the container after you empty it will also help keep your kitchen smelling fresh. Food collection containers with a pull out bucket type liner make it easy to rinse after you empty. Local kitchen and garden retailers as well as big box stores carry a variety of containers. The same method applies to placing food waste in the Mixed Organic Cart as well as for home composting.

Garbage disposals vs. composting

There is discussion in the sustainability world about the use of garbage disposals and the effect on the environment. Whatever you decide about garbage disposals, remember the following:

• Garbage disposals use extra water.
• Garbage disposals send food residue to municipal water treatment plants where is it treated and filtered out.

Composting is almost always a better approach.

What goes in the Mixed Organic Cart?

All food waste except grease and liquids can be included in the Mixed Organic Cart. Meats and dairy products like cheese can now be included. Other compostable materials like egg shells, paper towels, coffee filters and coffee grounds and food contaminated paper like pizza boxes can also be included in the cart.

The same material can be included in you home composting pile, although meats and dairy products are difficult and may draw animal visitors.

Pacific Region Compost Facility
29969 Camp Adair Rd.
Phone: (541) 745-5831
Nutrient rich compost is available in bulk