Does it surprise you to know that 40% of the food produced for human consumption in the US goes to waste? That over 90% of that waste ends up in the landfill?
Organic waste decomposing in a landfill produces methane gas – a greenhouse gas with 25 times the global warming potential of CO2. In fact, food waste contributes significantly to climate change (perhaps as much as 8% of anthropogenic greenhouse gases globally).
Taking steps to reduce food waste all along our food’s journey from field to mouth is essential. You can read more about food waste, including tips to reduce food waste, on our website.
There will always be some food that is not used, and it is important to keep that waste out of our landfills. That means composting! While we offer backyard composting workshops each year, there are lots of other composting opportunities available in our area.
Indeed, with increasing awareness about the impact of food waste on our planet, more and more people want to compost. Here are some current opportunities available in our area. If you are aware of others, please let us know (zerowaste@sustainablesaratoga.org).
Adirondack Worm Farm
This vermiculture business includes curbside compost collection in the Glens Falls region as well as products made from worm castings from the 20,000 worms on the farm. Products can be purchased on-line to use as a potent plant fertilizer. www.adirondackwormfarm.com
Ballston Spa Compost Initiative
In this entirely volunteer organization formed in 2019, local composters regularly pick up appropriate food scraps from restaurants and soup kitchens for their own needs. This initiative has an impressive statistic: in 1 ½ years, they have collected 11 tons of material. sbonvell1@nycap.rr.com
Community Composting
The purpose of this type of program is to offer a food scrap drop-off site for community residents who are not able to do their own composting, as well as provide broader compost education to the public. Check out the city-funded Community Compost Program located on-site at the Pitney Meadows Community Garden, Sustainable Saratoga and Pitney Meadows Community Farm is hoping to provide this option for interested composters on a long-term basis. In the first month alone, with just 50 households participating, over 1,000 pounds of food scraps were collected. https://www.pitneymeadowscommunityfarm.org/community-compost
Food Scraps 360
Offers curbside compost collection in Albany & Schenectady counties, and helps organize zero waste events in the area. foodscraps360.com or foodscraps360@gmail.com
Grow Amsterdam
Operates community gardens and a compost drop-off site while serving as a gateway into the compost community with a plethora of educational opportunities. For fun and compost, they collect Jack-o-lanterns after Halloween and have fun smashing them to speed up the compost process. Stay tuned to see where this group is going next! https://www.growamsterdamny.org/
Loving Earth Compost
Curbside collection in and around Saratoga Springs. This business offers residential compost pick-up and soil & compost testing. https://www.lovingearthcompost.com/
Natural Upcycling
The service area of this compost collection business covers all states in the Northeast and more. Many of their clients are large institutions or businesses: Skidmore and Union Colleges, SUNY Albany, and many Hannaford grocery stores. They even serve Salt and Char in Saratoga Springs. www.naturalupcycling.com
Saratoga Springs Farmers’ Market
On Wednesdays and Saturdays in High Rock Park, food scraps are accepted in collaboration with Loving Earth Compost. https://saratogafarmersmarket.org/composting/
Sustainable Saratoga Compost Workshops
Since 2017, these free workshops have given more than 350 people the information needed to set up and maintain a backyard compost bin. In addition to our actual workshops, we now offer an online tutorial on our YouTube Channel.
Got questions? Email us at: zerowaste@sustainablesaratoga.org
