GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Brown County is expanding its food waste recycling program to Green Bay’s east side.
The Brown County Food Waste & Organics Drop-off Program is adding a third food waste collection side at the Brown County UW-Extension office, located at 1150 Bellevue Street.
“So far it’s been a success, and because the demand is so high for an east side location we’re teaming up with the UW-Extension,” said Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. “They teach the importance of seed-to-plate, composting and recycling. So this is a perfect fit for us to do this.”
Since the program started in 2014, over 15,000 pounds of food waste has been collected. With the new site, officials expect that amount to grow in 2016.
The UW-Extension site will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The other two locations are at the Brown County Recycling Transfer Station, 2561 S. Broadway and the Brown County Solid Waste Transfer Station at 3734 W. Mason Street.
“With an estimated 2014 cost of $2.2 million to landfill 52,000 tons at roughly $42 per ton, we felt it was important to divert the food waste, extend out the life of the landfills and maintain the lowest possible costs for users,” Streckenbach said. “It’s a win-win for the environment and the rate payer.”
The program allows people to recycle organic compostable food waste ranging from meat scraps and vegetable peels, to food contaminated paper products like napkins and paper towels. To get started, collect food waste in compostable bags and drop it off at one of the collection sites when it’s then converted into compost.
“The UW-Extension has a strong focus on agriculture, horticulture and local foods. A number of our programs address sustainability and making wise choices,” says UW-Extension Family Living Educator and Department Head Judy Knudsen. “Having a collection site is one more piece that fits with our current programming.”
It’s a program that has been spearheaded by the Brown County Resource Recovery department.
“We have a goal of increasing the amount of food waste and organics that are recycled,” according to Mark Walter, Business Development Manager for Resource Recovery. “More than 90 households are currently participating and we are excited about the direction the program is headed.”
You don’t have to pay to join the program, but participants are asked to fill out a registration form. Those forms, program information and resources for BPI-certified compostable bags can be found here and here.
