Did You Know?
COMPOSTING: A RECIPE FOR GOOD CLEAN DIRT
Even the lowly potato peel piles up. Along with spoiled fruit and leftover dinners, food waste accounts for about 11% of the garbage thrown away in the Green Guardian Twin Cities Metro area. That's over 2 pounds per person per week. Much of this waste can be avoided or put to better use.
Reduction Tips
Reduce food waste further by planning ahead to prevent food from spoiling. Here are a few suggestions:
- Buy perishable foods such as fruits, vegetables and meats in smaller quantities that still meet the needs of your family.
- Store food as directed on the label. Use reusable containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Freeze food if you're not planning to eat it right away.
Disposal Information
Fruit and veggie scraps can be combined with leaves and grass and thrown into your backyard compost bin. In 6 to 8 months, the finished compost is a rich soil nutrient. Mixed with your yard and garden soil, it's proven to keep your flowers blooming year after year.
FOOD WASTE THAT CAN BE COMPOSTED INCLUDES:
- Vegetable and fruit scraps, rinds, and peels
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Tea leaves and tea bags
- Egg shells
- Nut shells
NOT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE COMPOSTED IN YOUR BACKYARD. DO NOT COMPOST:
- Fats or butter
- Meats or bones
- Gravies or sauces
- Dairy products
- Cheese
These items should be thrown away with your trash. Cooking oil and grease is accepted from residents at the Dakota County Eco Site in Eagan.
Find out where you can purchase a compost bin, or for more tips on composting, see Yard Waste.
Visit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency web site or your county.