Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should my business compost?
A: Currently, 30 percent of landfill space is made up of food scraps. Extending the life of landfills, reducing greenhouse gases and beautifying our community creates a winning partnership for everyone! Other positives include:
- composting will be appreciated by your staff and customers
- composting supports our community and environment
- composting is the right thing to do
Q: What will it cost my business to compost?
A: Midwest Fiber Recycling has designed its composting program to be revenue neutral for businesses. Studies show that by composting, your business will reduce its waste costs. There may a short period of adjustment to determine the frequency of both garbage and composting pick-ups, but soon it is anticipated that composting will cost no more—and maybe less—than what your business is currently paying in waste hauling.
Q: What can I compost?
A: If it used to be alive, compost it! This includes all food scraps as well as coffee grounds, cooking oil, eggshells, spoiled food, meat, and bones. Acceptable non-food items include: coffee filters, used pizza boxes, paper cups and plates, paper bags, tea bags, paper towels, and napkins. Midwest Fiber Recycling will provide your business with a complete list of compostable food and non-food items.
Q: What shouldn’t I compost?
A: To avoid contamination to your compost pile, do not compost aluminum foil, plastic, ceramic, painted or stained wood, clothing, Styrofoam, biohazard waste (including medical waste), kitty litter or animal feces, glass, or metal. Midwest Fiber Recycling will provide your business with a complete list of non-compostable items.
Q: Can I use regular plastic liners in my compost container?
A: No. The plastic liners supplied by Midwest Fiber Recycling are made of special biodegradable bags. Traditional plastic bags will contaminate your compostable materials.
Q: Where does my compost waste go after it’s hauled away?
A: After collection, compostable materials will be transported to the Illinois State University Farm in northeast Normal. There, it will be mixed with livestock manure as well as leaf and yard waste from the university and Town of Normal. The mixture is then laid out in rows where it will age into potent fertilizer to be used by the university and available for purchase by commercial landscaping companies.
Q: How can I ensure my composting will be successful?
A: The more food you keep out of your garbage is less that has to be hauled away and less that ends up in our landfill. Require your staff to properly separate compostable materials. Management’s dedication to this program will play an important role in its success. Next, make sure you’ve made it as easy as possible for your staff to compost. A Midwest Fiber Recycling composting representative will be happy to help. Finally, monitor the volume of trash and compostable material you collect and adjust your service levels accordingly.
For more information or to join the Community Composting program, call Midwest Fiber Recycling at 309.452.0064.
|
