NewsFlash
November 2014
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Got leaves? Here’s what to do with them
Color in the treetops will soon be crunching underfoot as leaf-peeping season gives way to raking season, which coincides with putting-the-garden-to-bed season. What to do with all the leaf, yard, and garden debris? Read on!
Non-woody leaf, garden, and yard debris includes leaves and plant material; small twigs OK as long as they’re no bigger around than a pencil. No plastic bags, rocks, sod, trash, or pumpkins (see story below for how to compost pumpkins).
CSWD Drop-Off Centers Accepted at no charge at all locations (Burlington, Essex, Hinesburg, Milton, Richmond, South Burlington, and Williston).
Note: Williston is the only DOC that allows dumping mechanisms for leaves.
Special hours for leaves only:
Essex & South Burlington: Sunday Nov. 2 & 9, 8am – 4pm
Mon-Sat 8-4
Special Sunday hours for leaves: Nov. 2 & 9 8am – 4pm
Winter hours begin Nov. 10: Mon-Fri 8am – 4pm
Tue, Thur, Fri, Sat 8am – 4pm
Open Mondays for leaves: Nov. 3 and Nov. 10, 8am – 4pm
Winter hours begin Nov. 17: Open Tue-Fri 8am – 12pm; Sat 8am – 4pm
Burlington leaf pick-up is on your recycling day during the week of November 17. It will be picked up only if leaves are in compostable paper bags. This service is provided by Burlington Public Works (863-9094) for residents. Not available for condominiums, apartment complexes, or commercial properties.
Colchester residents may bring leaves only to Airport Park (off Colchester Point Road in the Malletts Bay area) Nov. 1 & 2, 8am – 4pm. Leaves may be loose or in compostable paper bags.
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How to keep your Thanksgiving bounty out of the landfill
OK, first, we have to share our unique pumpkin pie recipe, developed at Green Mountain Compost. View the 1-minute video here.
Yum!
This is the season when we gather to give thanks for our bounty. Be it food, shelter, or the warmth of friends and family, there is much to be grateful for. One easy and meaningful way to express gratitude for the heaping helpings at the dinner table is to make sure your food scraps end up back in the soil as compost, rather than sending them off to be wasted in a landfill.
It’s easy to do because you can bring us your food scraps (including meat and bones!) and uncoated food-soiled paper. We accept it at all of our Drop-Off Centers and Green Mountain Compost. We even provide a scrap collection bucket to bring them in with. Here’s how to do it:
– Set yourself up with a 4- or 5-gallon bucket with a lid for collecting food scraps. You can pick one up at any CSWD Drop-Off Center or Green Mountain Compost. If you’re going to throw a huge dinner party with lots of food prep, you might want to get a larger bucket or have more than one on hand. You can even borrow one of our handy 13-gallon compost toters for your party. Visit our free bin loan program page and find out how.
– If you can’t use reusable dishes (remember, the best gossip happens during group dishwashing sessions after the meal!), purchase uncoated paper plates (Chinette offers some good, thick ones) and use certified compostable paper cups (non-certified ones are NOT allowed because they have a thin, plastic coating). Not-so-fun fact: There are NO paper cups that are recyclable. Going with plastic cups? There are certified compostable options as well as recyclable ones. Visit Green Mountain Compost’s compostable products page and find out which products will help you keep your Thanksgiving spirit out of the landfill.
– When you’re preparing your meals, simply toss the rinds, peels, fats, bones, coffee grounds, and even paper towels into that compost bucket. (If you’re collecting food scraps for backyard composting, please don’t include meat and bones. Visit our backyard composting page for more info.) Easy-peasy tip: Line the bottom of the bucket with a scrap of newspaper or a paper towel to make dumping easier.
– When you’re done eating, scrape your plates into that same bucket.
– The next time you’re out running errands, bring along the bucket and dump it off at any Drop-Off Center or Green Mountain Compost.
– When you get home, rinse out the bucket, line it with another paper towel, and you’re ready for the next meal!
Got questions about how to keep your gratitude out of the landfill? Drop us a line!
Call (802) 872-8111; email info@cswd.net; visit CSWD.net orGreenMountainCompost.com.
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Reserve your spot in the final CSWD backyard composting workshop of the year
CSWD is offering one final backyard composting workshop for the year. Discover the benefits of “closing the loop” with your own household food scraps in this interactive, hands-on demonstration of a healthy compost system — one that works for you all year ’round!
WHEN: Tuesday, November 11, 6:30 to 7:30 pm at Deborah Rawson Memorial Library (8 River Road, Jericho).
REGISTRATION: Space is limited. Registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot!
Here’s what you’ll learn:
– What type of bin is best for you
– Where to locate your bin
– What to put into your bin (and what to avoid!)
– How to manage your bin
– Troubleshooting
– Harvesting your compost
– Alternatives to a backyard bin (pick up service, or drop-off composting)
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November is household hazardous products clean-out month!
Let’s see: Cold wind and rain, the leaves are mostly on the ground, the wood is stacked, the mosquitoes are long gone — yep, it’s beginning to look a lot like … that other season is close at hand. Take a look around and you’ll probably find plenty to add to the pre-winter To Do list — like getting rid of those buckets, bottles, and bags of leftover hazardous products in your basement, garage, and shed.
If you weren’t able to make it to the Rover while it was roaming around the county, you still have two options for getting rid of your hazardous leftovers:
1. If you are a Chittenden County household, bring it to the Environmental Depot any time of year–free of charge! (NOTE: Non-Chittenden County businesses and residents may not use the Depot. Please check the State list of Solid Waste Entities for info.)
2. If you’re a resident of anywhere in Vermont, and all you have to get rid of isarchitectural paint, (includes common paints, stains, coatings, etc. for use on stationary objects), visit the PaintCare website to find a location near you that accepts paint year-round at no charge! Check first to see if your material is covered. PaintCare is a product stewardship program set up by paint manufacturers to provide plenty of convenient options for recycling architectural paint products.
Got oil? We’ll take it!
Whether you’re changing your oil for routine maintenance or getting your motorcycle ready for a long winter’s nap, when it comes time to dispose of that used oil, bring it in to any CSWD Drop-Off Center or CSWD’s Environmental Depot. We use some automotive oils and fluids to heat our facilities, so you’re helping keep us cozy during the frosty weather when you bring us your used oil!
Here’s the scoop on what you can bring in and where:
– Oil cannot contain contaminants, including water, gas, diesel, antifreeze, etc.
– Containers should be clear or translucent, if possible. (Oil containing other materials or fluids accepted at the Environmental Depot only)
– We limit the size of containers and quantity of oil we accept for safety and capacity reasons.
– Empty plastic motor oil bottles are NOT recyclable and should be thrown out with your regular trash.
– Oil containing other materials or fluids accepted at the Environmental Depot only.
DROP-OFF CENTERS
– Oil cannot be mixed with other fluids, including water, gas, etc.
– Containers should be clear and translucent, if possible.
– Up to 15 gallons per day (maximum amount per container: 2 gallons):
No charge for residents and businesses.
Accepted fluids:
– 2-cycle oil
– crankcase oil
– differential fluid
– gear oil
– hydraulic fluid
– motor oil
– power-steering fluid
– transmission fluid
NOT accepted:
– Fuel oil (home-heating oil, kerosene)
ENVIRONMENTAL DEPOT
(open to Chittenden County residents & businesses only)
– Used oil as well as oil mixed with other fluids are accepted at the Environmental Depot only.
– Up to 15 gallons per day: No charge for residents or businesses.
– 16 or more gallons per day: (maximum container size: 55 gallons):
Residents — No charge; please call ahead at 863-0480.
Businesses — Some fees apply; appointment required. Call 865-4663.
Accepted fluids:
– 2-cycle oil
– crankcase oil
– differential fluid
– fuel oil
– gear oil
– hydraulic fluid
– motor oil (used or unused)
– power-steering fluid
– transmission fluid
CSWD’s Environmental Depot (available to Chittenden County residents and businesses only); 1011 Airport Parkway, South Burlington – Hours: Wed-Fri 8-2; Sat 8-3:30.
CSWD Drop-Off Centers: Find locations and hours here.
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Check out the winners of the Green Mountain Compost Show Us Your Bounty Contest
Carrots, kale, kids … oh my! We received dozens of great photos for Green Mountain Compost’s Show Us Your Bounty Contest and had a great time rooting (ha-ha!) through them. In this contest, we asked you to post photos of this year’s garden bounty onFacebook and let the “likes” begin.
Check out the winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions at the Green Mountain Compost website. And thanks for entering, liking, Tweeting, and otherwise making this a really fun, interactive event!
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Milton Middle School holding first Trash On Lawn Day
The only time we LOVE it when people throw trash anywhere but in a trash can is on Trash On Lawn Day.
That’s when a school, business, institution — heck, anybody — takes a few day’s worth of landfill-bound trash, tosses it on a tarp, and combs through it to gauge just how well their recycling and composting systems are working. When they find recyclables and compostables mingled in with the trash, they get a good idea of just what they need to do to correct the situation.
Milton Middle School will be doing just that in mid-November.
“This is their first-ever Trash On Lawn Day,” says Ronda Mace, CSWD’s School & Youth Outreach Coordinator. “Twelve middle-school students will don gloves, protective suits, and smiles to get elbow-deep in their trash and recycling, in hopes of proving that Milton Middle School is the best school in their district at diverting waste from the landfill.”
That might seem like trash talk to the other schools — let’s see if the other schools in the District will let that challenge stand!
WHERE: Milton Middle School (17 Rebecca Lander Dr., Milton)
WHEN: Tuesday, November 18, 7:30 am – noon
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Coming soon: Your input on our new Solid Waste Management Plan
CSWD is rewriting its solid waste management plan to comply with the new VermontMaterials Management Plan (MMP). The MMP contains performance standards, including those focused on implementing Act 148 (Vermont’s universal recycling and composting law), that each entity must meet to achieve the following goals:
– Prevent waste from being generated.
– Promote sustainable materials management, with a preference for highest and best uses.
– Minimize reliance on waste disposal (landfilling and incineration).
– Conserve resources, minimize energy consumption, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other adverse environmental impacts.
CSWD’s plan provides information on how various waste streams are managed in Chittenden County; how members are and will be educated on waste prevention, reduction, and proper disposal; and how CSWD will meet the performance standards in the MMP.
Here’s where you come in: Before the plan is finalized, we want to hear from you and other residents and businesses of the Chittenden Solid Waste District. If you live or work in Chittenden County, then we want to hear from you!
A draft of the updated plan will be available on CSWD’s website in early November. We will announce its appearance on Front Porch Forum, our blog, and other media. When we announce that it is available online, we would greatly appreciate it if you would take some time to review it and send us your comments.
Thank you in advance for your help in keeping your District in the forefront of sustainable waste management.
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Grants available for your waste reduction project!
Got a great idea for upping your recycling or composting game? Need some cash to make it happen? CSWD has $10,000 in grants available on a first-come, first-served basis to help fund large and small community and school waste reduction projects, as long as they’re completed by the end of May, 2015.
Past funding has helped schools and communities
– install water-bottle filling stations to reduce dependency on single-use bottles
– build compost bins at schools and residential communities
– build cafeteria sort stations to keep recyclables and compostables out of the landfill
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How about fun facts, and tips & tricks to waste-proof your home?
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Win $500 in national compost poster contest
Sharpen your crayons and crack open your paint pots: Here’s another poster contest! You may have read about the Vermont Green Up Day poster contest in last month’s CSWD e-NewsFlash. Here’s another one from the US Composting Council:
CALL FOR ENTRIES: 2015 International Compost Awareness Week Poster Contest
THEME: “Be Loyal to Your Soil: Compost!”
DEADLINE: High noon on November 15, 2014
ELIGIBILITY: Open to anyone who wishes to share their artistic interpretation of the theme.
PRIZES: The overall winner will receive a $500 prize. Divisional winners will be highlighted on the USCC website and social media. Divisions include junior (3rd through 8th grade); senior (8th through 12th grade); and college/adult.
HOW TO ENTER: Visit the USCC contest page for details. Got questions? Contacticaw@compostingcouncil.org.
The winning poster will serve as the 2015 International Compost Awareness Week promotional media piece and be distributed to more than 800 US Composting Council members, state recycling offices and non-profit organizations nationwide.
“We are always amazed at the deep awareness of composting across the country and the world, which is where our entries come from,” said Lorrie Loder, president of the USCC. “With this year being the International Year of Soil, our poster will have a special place on the world stage.”
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Harvest Celebration “waste stations” successfully starve the landfill
By Jonny Finity
Is it just us, or are the material sorting stations at City Market’s Harvest Celebration (held on October 5, 2014) something you only dream about? Okay, maybe you don’t dream about stuff like this, but we sure do!
The Dream Team
With the help of CSWD’s event bin loaner program, City Market totally “cleaned up” — and that’s putting it mildly! They borrowed recycling and composting bins from CSWD for their Harvest Celebration,and they collected about 230 gallons of food scraps and other compostables, keeping them out of the landfill. Instead, those scraps have already been turned back into nutrient-rich compost at Vermont’s own Green Mountain Compost.
Add 50 gallons of recyclables to those 230 gallons of food scraps and the resulting 280 gallons of renewable material dwarfed the 100 gallons of trash the event’s 900 visitors generated!
Of course, materials don’t manage themselves! It takes intention and some thoughtful planning. Todd Taylor, City Market’s Outreach & Education Coordinator, lays it all out for us:
– They checked with vendors about the types of plates, cups, napkins, etc. that they would need. Then they made one large purchase of certified compostable items based on CSWD’s requirements (you can find out what those are here) – including reusable bamboo sporks given out at the door for visitors to use during the event!
– They reserved some recycling and composting bins through CSWD’s event bin loanerprogram, and positioned them together with trash cans, creating sort stations.
– They topped it off with a team of volunteers at the ready by each sorting station to make sure visitors tossed their items into the right bins.
“The Co-op loves the loaner bin program,” says Todd. “We don’t host large events that often so having these resources available, along with helpful tips from CSWD staff, is great for businesses like ours.”
You Can Do It, Too!
If you’re planning an event of your own, check out the resources that CSWD offers to help you manage resources at your event, and set up a material sorting station — one that dreams are made of!
You might also like a recent post on the CSWD blog: Be a Zero Hero: How to Plan a Zero Waste Event!
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Register for the Green Cup Recycle Challenge
Schools competing in a national contest called the Green Cup Recycle Challenge get points for recycling correctly. Pick up bonus points for additional waste reduction efforts, like composting and using paperless communications.The contest comes with worksheets and how-to tips for seeing how well your school stacks up against others across the country.
Who can enter: K-12 schools
What does it cost: It’s FREE!!
When does it happen: November 3 – December 12, 2014
Weekly bin checks provide instant feedback on your recycling efforts. Weighing is not required.
Yikes! That’s really soon! So go to the Green Cup Recycle Challenge website and learn how your school can become a recycling hero!
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CSWD Calendar
Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day Holiday Hours
– All CSWD facilities will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. This includes the Drop-Off Centers, Green Mountain Compost, and Administrative Offices. All facilities normally open the Saturday and Monday preceding the holiday will be open regular hours on those days.
– CSWD’s Materials Recovery Facility will be open regular hours on November 11.
Veterans Day holiday hours for NON-CSWD Facilities:
If you have questions about non-CSWD facilities, please call them directly.
– Burlington curbside recycling pickup WILL occur on November 11. Please call Burlington Public Works directly at 863-9094 if you wish to confirm your collection schedule.
– McNeil Wood & Yard Waste Depot (864-7446) Closed on November 11.
Thanksgiving holiday hours for CSWD facilities:
Drop-Off Centers (DOCs)
Wednesday, Nov. 26: Open regular hours
Thursday, Nov. 27: Closed for the holiday
Friday, Nov. 28: Open regular hours
Saturday, Nov. 29: Open regular hours (8-3:30)
Environmental Depot
Wednesday, Nov. 26: Closed for the holiday
Thursday, Nov. 27: Closed for the holiday
Friday, Nov. 28: Open regular hours (8-2)
Saturday, Nov. 29: Open regular hours (8-3:30)
Green Mountain Compost
Wednesday, Nov. 26: Open half day (8-12)
Thursday, Nov. 27: Closed for the holiday
Friday, Nov. 28: Open regular hours (8-4)
Saturday, Nov. 29: Closed per normal schedule
CSWD Administrative Offices
Wednesday, Nov. 26: Open half day (8-12)
Thursday, Nov. 27: Closed for the holiday
Friday, Nov. 28: Open regular hours)
Materials Recovery Facility
Wednesday, Nov. 26: Open regular hours
Thursday, Nov. 27: Closed for the holiday
Friday, Nov. 28: Open regular hours
Saturday, Nov. 29: Open 8-12 to accommodate the holiday
THE FOLLOWING FACILITIES WILL ALSO BE CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING DAY
Casella Waste Systems Transfer Station (Ave. B, Williston, 864-3615)
Thursday, November 27: Closed for the holiday
Burlington Area Transfer Station (Redmond Rd., Williston, 878-3506)
Thursday, November 27: Closed for the holiday
Burlington Curbside Recycling Pickup
Thursday, Nov. 27: Recycling will NOT be picked up. Service for those with Thursdaypickup will resume the following week on regular pickup day. Call Burlington Public Works with questions: 863-9094)
McNeil Wood & Yard Waste Depot (111 Intervale Rd., Burlington, 864-7446)
Thursday, Nov. 27: Closed for the holiday.
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