by Nathaniel Cook –

In a recent Going Green column we learned how food waste can be diverted from the landfill and recycled into natural fertilizer through commercial composting processes.

Information was provided on several composting providers in our area, and TowerTalk readers responded. There seems to be interest in starting some level of resident-organized composting in our community. Because of this, I thought it might be helpful to outline in greater detail what the composting process might actually look like here at Park Tower.

Residential urban composting services offer a convenient way for anyone to recycle food waste regardless of their living arrangement.

No yard? Highrise penthouse? No problem! These services hinge on the power, versatility, and simplicity of the five pound bucket!

Yes, this low-technology container makes saving food scraps in your home possible. Services offer weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly pickups for customers. The full bucket is swapped out for a new, clean bucket on the designated day, thus providing you with a reliable collection system for kitchen food waste.

Tight-sealing lids help contain any odors in between pickups. If you are still concerned about smells, try placing your food scraps in the freezer in a ziplock bag. When collection day rolls around just dump the frozen scraps into the bucket and take it to the collection point.

Park Tower is especially attractive to urban composting services because it offers a single pickup point for many residents. This maximizes efficiency and lowers costs. If we can generate enough interest, we may be able to use our community’s unique characteristics to arrange for a building pickup at a lower cost than regular residential pickups.

The more the merrier! If you have even the slightest inclination to become a Park Tower composter please reach out! You can get connected with the movement via news@ptcondo.com