By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — There will soon be an environmentally friendlier way to dispose of your leftover scraps.

Chelsea Huckabody and Kelly Adlington have started a city-wide compost program, which is a collaboration between Custer-based Rising Sand Organics, Whitefeather Organics, Central Rivers Farmshed, and UWSP Waste Management students. The team’s recent GoFundMe campaign raised over $1,000 to kickstart the program.

“We wanted to make it affordable to people, so we’re also offering a free drop-off.” said Kelly Adlington. “We’re also offering volunteer opportunities if you want to participate in the program and help out and offer your time.”

The program will have residents fill their compost buckets, which will be fitted with a screw-top “gamma” lid to help seal in potential odors, as well as make for easy handling, and set them on the curb outside of their residence. The team will then pickup the buckets, and then swap it out for a clean bucket for immediate use.

Chelsea Huckbody (left) and Kelly Adlington, (right) presented the new city compost program during Monday’s common council meeting. (Contributed Photo)

According to their GoFundMe page, “all of the food waste we collect will be composted and used for organic vegetable production.”

The buckets will take all compostable food waste, including meat and dairy products.

“Whether you’re scraping off your plates from dinner, or you’re cleaning out your refrigerator — that’s fruits, vegetables, spoiled dairy products — you just scrape it all into the bucket, and we’ll take it.” said Adlington.

Stevens point residents have the option to sign up for weekly, or bi-weekly pickup. Rates start at $11.50/month. Restaurants and businesses can sign up for $21/month.

“I encourage anyone who is even slightly interested to contact Kelly and try to get involved,” said Mayor Mike Wiza. “This is a great program — the cost is nominal, but it does save the city money. We pay per-ton to throw our garbage into a landfill, and it’s expensive. Anything we can pull out of that weight saves the taxpayers money.”

Wiza presented a $500 check to Rising Sands Organics to help with the program shortly after their presentation. For more information on how to get involved and signup, please visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/risingsandorganics/

Or visit http://www.risingsand.com/2018/04/21/community-curbside-compost/