Today I started composting.Two “Earth Angels” from the city of San Francisco came to my door, handed me a free plastic bin and explained the basics.
Plus I got a printed wall chart in 3 languages: Chinese, Spanish and English from Recology San Francisco and SF San Francisco titled: “WONDER what to do with this stuff?”
It tells me where to go to drop off recyclable junk like household batteries, fluorescent lights, latex based paint, used motor oil and filters and electronics plus FREE home pickup by appointment of hazardous waste like oil based paints, finishes, solvents and strippers, cleaning products, automotive products,non-empty aerosol containers and larger household items like old mattresses, appliances and electronics.
Plus I got a printed wall chart in 3 languages: Chinese, Spanish and English from Recology San Francisco and SF San Francisco titled: “WONDER what to do with this stuff?”
It tells me where to go to drop off recyclable junk like household batteries, fluorescent lights, latex based paint, used motor oil and filters and electronics plus FREE home pickup by appointment of hazardous waste like oil based paints, finishes, solvents and strippers, cleaning products, automotive products,non-empty aerosol containers and larger household items like old mattresses, appliances and electronics.
Walgreens is even listed as a battery drop off site. I learned about the California Cell Phone Recycling Act of 2004 requiring cell phone retailers to collect and recycle used cell phones. I was surprised to learn that 50% of San Francisco’s Household Hazardous Waste is paint. There’s even a chart that helps you to calculate the right amount of paint to buy for your project - that way you don't buy extra - you only buy what you need.
Now I get why San Francisco has it’s reputation as the greenest city in the U.S.
Could it be the Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance requiring residents to separate their recyclables, compostables, and trash or the fact that they make it so easy.to recycle just about everything, it’s free and they even pick up on Saturdays?
Just after one day my mini compost bin is half full of veggie scraps, an apple core and a banana peel. That's progress and less stuff in the landfill - feeling pretty green already!
NOTE: The Wall Street Journal had an article awhile ago called: “Quick and Not So Dirty: No Sweat Composters”. It reported that yard trimmings and food residuals constitute about 24% of the U.S. municipal solid-waste stream, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Innovations in the compost-bin marketplace are fueling interest in composting. Russ Cohn, the creator of Nature Mills, has an engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He designed his composter to “sound, smell and feel like any household appliance”.
I found it interesting this time - normally I wouldn't - it's just wasn't my thing... Now I’m a believer! I have to admit to opening the lid of my composter and checking the contents to see what's going on - it’s a bit like watching paint dry. After it’s full, I’ll take it outside to the properly marked bin where it’s collected on pick up day by Recology San Francisco. It only takes a second to separate my kitchen scraps and makes me feel so proud!
As Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz: “There’s no place like home...There's no place like home...There's no place like home”. ZenGuideToRealEstate.com
Now I get why San Francisco has it’s reputation as the greenest city in the U.S.
Could it be the Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance requiring residents to separate their recyclables, compostables, and trash or the fact that they make it so easy.to recycle just about everything, it’s free and they even pick up on Saturdays?
Just after one day my mini compost bin is half full of veggie scraps, an apple core and a banana peel. That's progress and less stuff in the landfill - feeling pretty green already!
NOTE: The Wall Street Journal had an article awhile ago called: “Quick and Not So Dirty: No Sweat Composters”. It reported that yard trimmings and food residuals constitute about 24% of the U.S. municipal solid-waste stream, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Innovations in the compost-bin marketplace are fueling interest in composting. Russ Cohn, the creator of Nature Mills, has an engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He designed his composter to “sound, smell and feel like any household appliance”.
I found it interesting this time - normally I wouldn't - it's just wasn't my thing... Now I’m a believer! I have to admit to opening the lid of my composter and checking the contents to see what's going on - it’s a bit like watching paint dry. After it’s full, I’ll take it outside to the properly marked bin where it’s collected on pick up day by Recology San Francisco. It only takes a second to separate my kitchen scraps and makes me feel so proud!
As Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz: “There’s no place like home...There's no place like home...There's no place like home”. ZenGuideToRealEstate.com