About the Program
Up to 40% of the food in the United States is wasted and sent to landfill, generating methane emissions as it decomposes. In Plano, food waste collected as part of curbside residential trash services is transported to a transfer station, combined with trash collected from other routes, then takes the approximately 25-mile journey to the landfill. The journey of food waste from its point of generation to the landfill can negatively impact local air quality and increase local traffic.
The landfilling of food scraps also shortens the lifespan of the landfill. Through small changes in our daily routines, we can help preserve landfill capacity and delay the millions of dollars in tax-funded expenditures associated with new landfill infrastructure.
With the Residential Food Scrap Composting pilot, Plano residents have the opportunity to reduce the negative outcomes associated with landfilling of organic wastes and turn their food scraps into compost for the enrichment of local soils.
Only residential food scraps will be accepted in this pilot program. Paper products and compostable dinnerware and silverware cannot be composted as part of this pilot.
Enrollment is now open! Don’t miss out and sign up to be a part of the pilot.
Who can participate?
The pilot program is available to the first 500 residents of Plano to enroll. Spots are still open!
I already compost. Should I participate?
Food scraps eligible for composting as part of this pilot include not only scraps found in a traditional backyard compost pile, but also meats, bones, dairy and eggs. This program can provide an outlet for the scraps unsuitable for composting in your backyard pile, as well as spikes in quantities of scraps (e.g., watermelon rinds following a party, fall pumpkins, etc.).
Participants will receive a sample of finished compost, as well as a voucher for 1 cubic foot of finished compost, from Texas Pure Products as part of their welcome kit.
Contact Us
972-769-4343
foodcomposting@plano.gov
News
Resources
What Can I Compost? (PDF)
Information Session
The City of Plano Residential Food Scrap Composting pilot program is prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Originally posted here: https://www.plano.gov/2106/Residential-Food-Scrap-Composting
Leave a Reply