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Reduce Wasted Food
In conjunction with the USDA and the Natural Resource Conservation Services' Composting and Food Waste Reduction grant, the CIty of Frisco is proud to offer a multi-tiered food waste reduction and composting program. Submit an Interest form for priority sign-up!
What is a multi-tiered program?
The method of composting that may fit best for your household may be different than that of your neighbors. Having multiple options on how to participate makes the program accessible to more residents.
How can I participate?
You can choose to participate in the Use The Food Challenge, and /or in one of the three composting programs: Community Composting, Bucket Exchange Composting, or At-Home Composting.
Community Composting
Participants collect their kitchen scraps and store them in a sealed bucket for up to a week then drop them off at the Environmental Collection Center during our operating hours and mix it in with mulched wood and browns (provided) and assist with turning the pile when needed. This service is $20 for one year. Ideal for residents of multi-family complexes.
Bucket Exchange Composting
Participants collect their kitchen scraps and store them in a sealed bucket for up to a week then drop them off at the Environmental Collection Center during market hours. A private company manages the composting. Participants would exchange their bucket of kitchen scraps for an empty bucket. This program would be $60 for a year of services. This service is ideal for residents that want to reduce their environmental impact without the commitment.
At-Home Composting
The at-home composting program would be providing expertise and resources for people composting at home, at no cost. Signing up for this program includes invites to workshops and the opportunity to communicate with our expert composters on any questions you have. Participants can schedule for an expert to come out for a home visit and help troubleshoot problems in the compost pile. In addition to that, participants will have access to supplemental mulched wood and browns to add to their compost for a healthy and balanced pile.
Composting 101
Composting is a natural process where organic material is recycled into a soil additive. Organic material, like kitchen scraps and yard waste, that goes to our landfill emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas. You can help by reducing your household food waste with composting in your back yard. The composting process requires: carbon-rich material “browns”, nitrogen-rich materials “greens”, oxygen, water, heat, and time.
Here is an overview of the steps for successful backyard composting:
- Choose a location with good drainage (no standing water after a storm) and near a water source.
- Build or buy a bin that allows for adequate airflow and has structure enough to hold up heavy material while not creating an anaerobic pile.
- Add a base of brown waste (list below) about an inch deep.
- Separate your kitchen scraps to be added to your pile. All organic material can be composted. To reduce the likelihood of pests and smells, keep to the advised list of accepted green waste below.
- Mix browns and greens at a ratio between 2:1 and 5:1, then cover with a layer of browns.
- Water as needed. A healthy compost pile will have a moisture content between 40-60%. To test this, take a handful from the middle and squeeze. It should feel like a damp sponge. If it’s slimy or when you squeeze water drips out, it’s too wet. If it doesn’t clump, it’s too dry.
- Turn your pile with a spade every 7-10 days (more frequently in the summer and less frequently in the winter).
- Check the temperature, before turning. Once the middle of the pile has reached 130 degrees F, the pile is curing and needs to sit for 3-4 weeks. Occasional watering is okay if the pile starts to look dry.
Finished compost can take anywhere from 2-12 months, the more compost you have, the faster the process will go. Using a higher nitrogen content will slow the process, but it will also reduce smells and detract pests. Composting can be tricky, but also rewarding, for best results be patient and mindful of what goes in!
Organic Material | Carbon: Nitrogen Ratio |
---|---|
Carbon-Rich Sources | |
Twigs, Branches, and Wood Chips | 600:1 |
Fresh Sawdust | 500-600:1 |
Fresh Sawdust | 400:1 |
Cardboard | 350-550:1 |
Paper Products | 200-800:1 |
Office/Printer Paper | 170:1 |
Shredded Newspaper | 170:1 |
Bark | 130-1280:1 |
Paper Towels | 110:1 |
Wheat Straw | 100:1 |
Hay | 75:1 |
Corn Cobs | 55-120:1 |
Pine Needles | 60-100:1 |
Corn Stalks | 60:1 |
Peat Moss | 55:1 |
Straw | 50-150:1 |
Dried Leaves | 40-80:1 |
Nitrogen-Rich Source | |
Fresh Leaves | 37:1 |
Nut Shells | 35:1 |
Fruit Wastes | 35:1 |
Wood Ash | 25:1 |
Vegetable Wastes | 12 to 20:1 |
Coffee Grounds | 20:1 |
Grass Clippings | 12 to 25:1 |
Alfalfa Hay | 13:1 |
Do Not Compost These
- Black walnut trees, leaves, or twigs
- Coal or charcoal ash
- Dairy products or eggs
- Diseased or insect-ridden plants
- Dryer lint or clothing
- Fats, oils, grease (or any food cooked in them)
- Food containers
- Meat or fish including bones and scraps
- Paper products (paper towels, bath tissue)
- Pet feces or litter
- Tea Bags
- Yard trimmings with pesticides