LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Make composting and recycling your resolution for 2024


Food Scraps with worms Photo A. Scheck

As we embark on the new year with much hope for a peaceful world, our most frequent resolutions seem to revolve around losing weight, exercising more and eating a more healthy diet. But one resolution that would make the world a more peaceful place is if all of us were more kind to our family, friends and other people we meet.

We could also be kinder to the Earth, which includes all of the flora and fauna. One simple resolution could be to use the bins provided by Republic Services more correctly.

The blue bin is for all items that can be recycled, the green bin is for plant debris and food scraps. One could also start composting at home. Republic Services will provide you with a compost bucket for the kitchen that can be used to collect the food scraps to put in your outside compost bin. They can also provide a compost bin for a reduced price. My favorite are bio-stack bins that have doors at the bottom. The finished compost can be removed from the bottom of the bin while you can continue to put food scraps on the top of the bin.

The black bin is for trash - not items that can be recycled, green waste or food scraps - and goes to the landfill where the trash is emptied on top of the earth and plowed over.

My dream is that all trash will someday become extinct. May your new year be filled with happiness and good health.

For more information about compost bins, and workshops about composting, visit www.recyclesmart.org/compostbins/