WASHINGTON — Alexandria is working to make it even easier for neighbors to do their part in helping the environment. A new pilot program aims to make composting as easy as trash collection.
Anyone interested in participating will be provided with a 7-gallon collection bin and educational materials. Just like you put your trash cans at the curb, residents will do the same for composting bins
“The greater D.C. area generates 700,000 tons of food waste each year and the vast majority of that is still being thrown in the trash where it generates methane gas and contributes to climate change,” explains Dan Israel, the Senior Vice President of Growth at Compost Crew, a food scrap collection services for homes and businesses in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
The pilot is open to 2,000 residents in Alexandria and it will run for two years. So far, approximately 500 residents are signed up.
“I like to encourage people to look at food as a resource,” says Howard Lee, the Recycling Program Analyst of the City of Alexandria. “So when you compost you’re adding that resource back into the environment.You’re already throwing that food waste away in your trash. So all we’re asking is you to do is place it in a separate bin, but it in a separate bag and put it at the curb.”
Residents who participate get a compost kick-back from Compost Crew. Once collected, food waste is taken to a large composting facility in Prince George’s county where the scraps are turned into nutrient rich soil.
“We will deliver residents who want it a bag of compost,” Israel said. “They can use that in their garden, on their lawns, they can use it to help contribute to the health of the local soil.”
The pilot program is free for residents for the first six months then there will be a $21 fee per month for pickup to continue with the exception of a 12-month subsidy for 100 households that currently receive tax relief and assistance. But, the goal is to make the program free to residents with assistance from the city if it proves to be as successful as it’s expected to be.
This pilot is just for homeowners for now. For people who live in apartment complex, there are six free drop off locations available on the weekend.
There are curbside composting programs and pilots going on all across the DMV. DC is next in line, as the District is launching a program this summer.