Sign up for composting and maybe win a free tree!

DPW Director John Tomasz and members of the Recycling Committee are ramping up efforts to jump start resident participation in composting.

Efforts began this past July with State grant funding to begin a town composting program. Grant funds were spent on community outreach efforts, including the free distribution of a number of backyard compost tumblers and numerous 13-gallon compost kits from Black Earth Compost, LLC. Residents can compost in their yards or collect compostable kitchen scraps for weekly pick-up by Black Earth.

“Right now, we are trying hard to incentivize residents to begin composting. Taking organic matter out of the trash stream is not just environmentally beneficial, but provides the Town significant disposal cost savings. Essentially, cities and towns are running out of landfill capacity for trash disposal, forcing much more expensive longer cross-state hauls to find capacity. Organic refuse recycling is coming and we are starting right now to prepare for that day when it becomes mandatory.”

A new shipment of thirty 13-gallon composting kits from Black Earth Compost, LLC is available in the DPW office free of charge for residents who sign up with Black Earth. Stop in during DPW business hours and claim yours while supplies last. Must show proof of subscription confirmation email from Black Earth to receive. And, those who sign on with Black Earth will be entered into a drawing for a free tree that Tomasz will have planted in their front yard!

Black Earth CEO Conor Miller fully supports this incentive program. Once the number of participating residents reaches 200, he will drop the monthly collection cost for all Lynnfield participants. He will reduce it again at 400 participants.

“This November, the State’s Department of Environmental Protection will require any facility with more than ½ ton of organic waste to provide a formal organic disposal solution. This is certainly the case for our school facilities”, says Tomasz. Concurrently, one of the student-led 15 Civics Actions Projects at the high school is focused on investigation and possible launch of a composting program for the LHS school cafeteria.