Tee Cee's Tip
DEAR TEE CEE >> I just heard that we can’t compost paper towels anymore. Does that mean I should put them in the trash? Why did this rule change?
DEAR DEVIN >> That’s right — compost guidelines are changing. A1 Organics, the only industrial compost manufacturer serving all the communities along the Front Range, is simplifying what they accept in compost carts. The new guidelines are simple and straightforward — food scraps and yard and plant trimmings ONLY. If it came from your plate or your cutting board (after removing all produce stickers, rubber bands, twist ties, etc.), or it grew in your backyard, it goes in the compost cart. Otherwise, please keep it out.
This means paper products of all kinds — paper towels and napkins, tissues, nonrecyclable paper, coffee filters, etc., are no longer accepted. Compostable food serviceware (to-go containers, “compostable”
utensils, etc.) are also now on the no list. Please note: These items are also not recyclable. If you have them, scrape any food into your compost cart, and then landfill them. If you are a backyard composter, paper towels, etc., can go in your backyard bin.
A1 Organics made this decision to reduce contamination. They notified communities and haulers all along the Front Range that they are seeing too much glass, plastic and “look-alike” products that might have been labeled with terms such as “biodegradable” or “plant-based,” but which also contain plastics. The goal with simplifying the guidelines is to clean up the compost stream so that A1 gets only the good stuff — food scraps and yard trimmings — to make a high-quality finished compost product for use by gardeners and farmers.
A1 is also asking residents and businesses not to use any compostable bags that aren’t CMA (Compost Manufacturing Alliance) approved, and they must be 3 gallons or smaller. No large bags. The larger bags often conceal contamination that haulers can’t identify when they collect compost material. Brown kraft yard bags will be accepted during special spring and fall collection events only. Save money by skipping the bag and putting food scraps and yard trimmings loose into your compost cart, just like your recyclables.
This is a big change, and we all are affected and have questions. Enter the Colorado Clean Compost Campaign, created to help educate residents and businesses on the changes. Check out ecocycle.org for an extensive FAQ page and a toolkit of bilingual compost guideline signs, photos of compost contamination, and more.
While this may seem like a step backward, it is not. The changes reflect a growing pain
— as communities understand the tremendous importance to our climate of keeping organic materials out of the landfill and of applying finished compost to farms and landscapes, we are seeing a huge uptick in compost participation. And with it, more contamination. So, we’re in it together to improve it together.
— Tee Cee