BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Composting Waste to Keep the City Clean
When people think of compost, they often imagine a small bin in the backyard filled with scraps like banana peels, apple cores, and egg shells. However, with the right approach and tools, a wider variety of food waste can actually be composted. Compost Bowling Green, a local company, is working hard to change how the community views food waste.
Waste Reduction in Our Landfills
According to Charlie O’Connell, the owner of Compost Bowling Green, food waste forms the largest part of what is sent to landfills in the United States. By composting this waste, we can save valuable space in landfills for other materials. O’Connell’s company collects food scraps from homes and businesses in Bowling Green, transforming this waste into nutrient-rich compost.
How Compost Bowling Green Started
Compost Bowling Green began by serving individual homes. Over time, they attracted businesses in the downtown area, starting with Cafe Kindness and later taking on Nova Dolce, a full-service restaurant. As the demand grew, O’Connell saw the opportunity to expand their service, leading to their current operations.
Understanding Compost
Many people may not know that compost is a dark, crumbly material that smells earthy and is made through the decomposition of organic matter. This process involves bacteria, fungi, and various micro-organisms that work together to break down the organic waste. Once fully composted, the material can be returned to the soil as a valuable fertilizer.
Wide Range of Acceptable Waste
While backyard compost bins typically focus on fruit and vegetable scraps, O’Connell states that Compost Bowling Green is able to handle more types of waste. “We can accept meat, dairy, and even bones as well. You can compost anything you eat or drink,” he mentioned.
The Composting Process
The composting process at O’Connell’s facility involves a careful collection of waste three days each week from various locations throughout the city. Once collected, the food waste is taken to their composting site, where it is mixed with other materials. The main ingredients used include food waste from Bowling Green-Warren County alongside wood matter such as sawdust and wood chips.
This combination creates the proper environment for microorganisms to break down waste at high temperatures. The mixture then undergoes further breakdown for approximately four months before the finished product is ready for public distribution.
Evolution of the Business
O’Connell initially partnered with Western Kentucky University (WKU) for composting when he first started his business. For about two to three years, he transported waste to WKU for processing. As the business expanded, it became necessary for him to secure land and permits required to operate a composting site independently. Obtaining the necessary permits from city and state authorities was a pivotal step in that process.
How Residents and Businesses Can Participate
For those interested in joining the composting movement in Bowling Green, getting started is easy. Residents and businesses can sign up online, and a four-gallon compost bin will be delivered to their doorstep. This size is ideal for an average week’s worth of scraps and features a tight-sealing lid, allowing it to be kept conveniently in kitchens or under sinks.
Families simply fill up their bins throughout the week and leave them on the front doorstep for pickup. Compost Bowling Green will exchange the full bin with a clean one, making the composting process seamless and hassle-free.
Learn More
For additional information about Compost Bowling Green or to sign up for the service, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the company’s website.
