Massachusetts is facing a growing waste crisis. Landfills are nearing capacity, with all scheduled to close in the next ten years. New incineration facilities are extremely difficult to permit, largely because of environmental concerns. As disposal options disappear, costs are projected to rise rapidly over the next decade. To combat this crisis, the state has set an aggressive goal of reducing solid waste by 30%, from 5.7 million tons per year in 2018 to 4.0 million tons per year by 2030.

In Weston, the average household produces about 1,625 pounds of non-recycled waste annually. One of the largest components of this trash is organic material, primarily food waste. According to the MA Department of Environmental Protection, food waste accounts for more than 25% of the state’s waste stream. By removing food scraps through composting, Weston residents can make a major dent in their total waste.

Other reasons to compost include:

• Lower carbon footprint – Almost all of Weston’s waste is incinerated. Incinerating food waste requires more energy than most materials because of its heavy weight and high water content. Using less energy results in lower green house gas emissions.
• Healthy plant growth – Compost is nutrient-rich. When added to soil it increases organic matter and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. It also improves soil’s water retention capacity, so you don’t need to irrigate as often.
• Resilience to climate change – Compost helps prevent soil erosion during extreme storms and helps retain water during droughts.
• Saves money – Reduced waste can mean lower disposal costs. Savings also occur from spending less on fertilizer and water and from free compost.

Compost at Home

There are many ways to compost at home. You can buy or make a bin to hold your organic material, or purchase a tumbler to turn your waste to compost even faster. Or you can simply select a dry, shady spot in your yard near a water source for a pile. The following resources tell how to compost at home, discuss the different types of composters available, and provide tips for a healthy compost pile.

What to Compost, How to Choose a Composter
Eartheasy

A Guide to Composting Yard & Food Waste
mass.gov

The 7 Best Composters of 2023
thespruce

Another alternative is to install a Green Cone Solar Digester in your backyard. These waste disposal units only require a sunny location and good drainage. No mixing or turning of green and brown material is needed. Instead of producing compost, food waste is reduced to water, carbon dioxide and a small residue. And unlike a backyard composter, it can accept meat, fish, bones, dairy products, fats, cooking oils, and small amounts of pet waste. Grass clippings and other yard waste, however, should not be added.

Product Details
Green Cone

Use a Commercial Service

If you don’t have the yard space or interest in composting at home, you can choose a commercial service. Commercial compost systems, like solar digesters, are able to accept a wider variety of materials than backyard composters. On the other hand, commercial operations use more energy for collection and running their equipment than an at home system.

Weston residents are fortunate to be able to use the town transfer station’s compost service at very little cost. Permit holders can transport food scraps in their own containers or compostable bags and empty them in the green compost bin located near the trash hopper. A list of acceptable materials is shown here.

Composting with Black Earth Compost
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Curbside collection is another option that is very convenient, although more expensive than the transfer station. Bootstrap Compost and City Compost currently service Weston with bi-weekly or weekly pickups. Black Earth Compost also plans to offer curbside collection, once enough residents pre-register on its website.

To help decide if a commercial service is right for you, the following chart compares available options.