WHY DIVERT ORGANICS?
Curbside Composting will resume May 2025.
Why should food scraps and other organics be diverted from the landfill, according to the USDA:
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Together we can make a difference! In 2024, together we diverted over 654 tons of organics from the landfill. By diverting organics through the various composting programs, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and leachate production at the landfill and return our food scraps to the soil or feed animals, the soil food web. We have less than about 40 years of landfill life. Thank you for doing what you can to put
#lessinthelandfill. There are three main organics programs, Workplace pilot program, Curbside and Community composting. There are a number of compost partners and if you are interested in joining the Anchroage Composting coalition please email compost@muni.org
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Workplace Composting Pilot Program
Its is easy as 1, 2,3...
1. Reserve your free 5 gallon composting bucket with screw top lid. Limited supply so get yours today Compost@muni.org
2. Send an email to your coworkers announcing the program and how it works.
3. Display the poster nearby that explains the program.
4. Montior the bucket throughout the week.
5. On Fridays, empty the bucket at a nearby compost location, rinse, dry, and repeat!
This is the vision of the curbside composting program. A pink bin at every driveway, or at least one large bin per street. Do you have ideas on how to expand the program? email compost@muni.org and share your thoughts.
Curbside Composting Program Program
Service Area and Schedule:
Reserve your curbside compost cart today.
There are a limited number of carts, so get yours now.
$5.84 for a 32 gallon, or $11.69 for a 96 gallon per month.
SWS will collect yard waste and food scrap materials weekly. See your registration for details on your service day. If you are an existing curbside compost customer your service day will not change, unless notified.
Keep your neighborhood safe by properly handling compostable material. Do not place your cart out before 7 a.m. on the day of service to prevent animals, including bears, from getting into the carts. Keep food scraps stored indoors until the morning of pick-up. DO NOT bag your organics, no plastic or compostable bags, keep materials loose.
Accepted Materials:
Fruit and vegetable scraps, garden scraps, coffee grounds and tea bags including paper filters, yard waste such as grass leaves, garden debris, twigs or weeds.
NOT accepted materials:
No: fish, meat, dairy, poultry, animal waste, such as manure, cooked food or bones, compostable containers, dirt, rocks, plastics, or glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I participate in Curbside Compost?
Food scraps and yard trimmings make up about 1/3 of all residential solid waste. By removing this material, you can potentially save money on your trash bill by reducing the volume of trash buried in our landfill.
This material takes up significant space in the landfill. Diverting these materials rather than burying them helps extend the life of our landfill, we only have about 40 years left of useful landfill space. When compostable materials break down in the landfill they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Solid Waste Services collects methane at the Landfill Gas To Energy Plant (LFGTE) and turns it into electricity for the military base. Although some of the methane gas produced by compost is captured and utilized for energy at the LFGTE plant, some of it escapes into the atmosphere.
Who is eligible for the program?
Any SWS customer with roll cart trash and recycling service may sign-up to participate in curbside composting. Renters may participate but must have homeowners approve participation by contacting SWS directly at (907) 343-6250.
Not sure if you are in the SWS service area or need a reminder of your service day? Email swcs@anchorageak.gov
How do I register for the program?
Call Solid Waste Customer Service at (907) 343-6250. If you are a renter, you must have your landlord approve the service before registering for curbside compost.
Alaska Waste currently offers Curbside Compost in limited neighborhoods. For more information, contact Alaska Waste customerservice@akwaste.com or 907-563-3717.
I live outside your service area and cannot sign up for curbside composting. How else can I participate?
SWS only operates in a designated service area and cannot offer services outside of it. However, SWS will offer Community Compost drop-off at the Central Transfer Station, May 1-September 30, 2024 (food scraps only).
In addition, new this year are two pilot composting programs the Workplace Composting program and the Neighborhood Depot program.
Curbside Composting FAQ's
When will the program run?
Collection for the 2024 program will run weekly from May through September 30.
When will registration open?
Registration is open now, space is limited, so sign up early! Call 907-343-6250
What does the program cost?
The program is $5.84 per month for a 32-gallon cart and $11.69 per month for a 96-gallon cart. Participants will not be charged for winter months when the program is not in operation.
Participants are responsible for maintaining carts. Any lost or damaged carts and will be assessed a fee of $168.88.
Won't animals, including bears, want to get into my cart?
By properly handling compostable material in both the pink carts and regular trash carts we can keep our community safe. Only set out the morning of your service not before 7am, keep your carts stored indoors or secured next to the residence, rinse carts after they are emptied to keep smells down, and place cardboard, paper towels or paper bags in the bottom of the roll-cart to ensure all contents are easily emptied and it keeps your cart cleaner.
What day does the cart get serviced? Is it the same day as my trash and recycling?
Curbside Compost service may or may not be the same day as your trash and recycling service. Please see your registration email for more information on your service day or call (907) 343-6250 to confirm your service day. If you are a previous participant, service is the same day as last year.
My cart didn't get serviced, what do I do?
Please contact SWS Customer Service at (907) 343-6250 to schedule a pick-up or email swcs@anchorageak.gov
What compostable bags can I use?
Please no bags. Place food scraps directly into the roll cart along with your yard waste. Compostable bags are not preferrable due to the colder climate in Alaska. For ease of use and keeping your roll cart clean, paper bags, cardboard or paper towels on the bottom of your cart will help to soak up some of the moisture and makes it much easier to clean after each servicing.
What do I do with my cart in the winter?
Please keep your cart in the winter while the program is not in service. You will not be charged for the cart during this time. However, please keep track of your cart. Lost or missing carts are still subject to a lost or broken cart fee during this time.
If you elect to not keep your cart please note that you will have to re-register for the program each year. Space in the program is limited and registration is not guaranteed.
Grass keeps getting stuck in my cart, what do I do?
Try venting the top of your cart to allow water to escape. You may also place a small amount of cardboard or newspaper at the bottom of the cart before adding grass to keep it from sticking.
Where does the compost go?
Food scraps and yard trimmings are composted at a farm in Palmer. It takes about one year for collected material to breakdown into useable compost, so PLEASE make sure that there is no plastic, glass, rocks or other non-compostable contaminants.
Organics from all programs: Workplace pilot project, Curbside, Community, end up here, at the farm located in the Matanuska Valley.
More questions?
SWCS@anchorageak.gov or (907) 343-6250
Additional information:
2021 Organics Management Feasibility Report
Pam the amazing teacher who organized a tour for Frontier Charter School students, brought her food scraps from home to dispose in the Community Compost Bin, demonstrating to the students how easy and fun it is to compost.
Please do not use compostable bags, bring your food scraps in a bucket or other container that can be emptied directly into the roll carts. place some paper towel, paper bag or cardboard in the bottom of your container for easy cleanup.