Cue the West Side Story theme music (snap, snap…)
Looks like SFEnvironment is trying to stir up some s**t between our two neighborhoods! Reader June K. sent us this bus shelter ad which advises that “healthy competition can be good for the planet”.
Guess this means we’ll be rolling our green bins to Golden Gate Park for the big rumble – a massive composted food fight perhaps. Who’s in?!
Sarah B.
As a Sunset resident, I wish our side of the park was better about this…at least my building, where we are lousy about composting.
That said, I think feeding into a rivalry that I just never really sense Sunset-side might not be the most effective. Maybe they should’ve band the entire Avenues, both sides, against, say, the Mission or Noe Valley and other neighborhoods that turn their nose up at us.
You forgot to use “The” in the headline. I thought Richmond was having trouble with a composting company.
I lived in the sunset district for over 7 years & started composting, but wasn’t very good at it. Then I lived moved into the Richmond District & became a pro! 😉
Okay Rico, then we have a ringer on our team! Woot! 🙂
Sarah B.
Compost for Thought (heehee): My roommate and I compost all food scraps on the bottom bin (in a open top container) of our freezer. It never smells, nor rots or gets all gooey like when it’s sitting around for a few days in a different location. Best of all, I normally only have to take it out once a week (sometime every other) on garbage day and don’t get grossed out by decomposing food scraps. — Also another perk to composting, the awful smells in your regular kitchen trash is significantly reduced. Which also equates to, you don’t need to take the trash out until its full, not based on just because it has a foul smell. So Yes, taking the trash out is significantly reduced too! 😀
lmao.. count me in Sarah! 🙂
^ Stellar suggestion rico! SFEnvironment would be proud 🙂
Sarah B.
Thanks Sarah! — Funny thing, my last trip to BB&B, I noticed they’re now selling little compost bins to do this same exact thing. They’re a little too small for my normal usage, but it can work for others. People can also get a “size of their choice” topper ware to reuse (I personally use a large rectagular one that takes up 1 freezer shelf space), or use those special biodegradable baggies. — Go Team Richmond!!! 🙂
That’s actually a really good suggestion, Rico. The first time I tried using a biodegradable bag, I left it sitting under my sink for too long and by the time I went to go chuck it out, all the veggies had rotted through the bag and there were flies everywhere. Haven’t composted since, but if I can find something that’ll fit in my freezer I’ll definitely try to do so.
What works well for us is buying the bio bags at Walgreens and putting compost in a steel container (as seen here: http://goo.gl/L16Jo). We take it out every other day and I’ve never had any smells or bugs. I think about how compost turns into dirt for GGP and that keeps me motivated! 🙂
I got a free kitchen bucket from Sunset Scavenger (all you have to do is ring them and they will bring one out next garbage pickup) and we use the biodegradable bags from Walgreens. We also put our non stinky and dry scraps (paper plates, napkins, and closed biodegradable takeout containers) in a paper grocery bags. Just have to take the garbage, recyclables, and compost once a week.
Hmmm, given the Sunset’s past history of illegal pot farms I think the mellow factor would make them less competitive ;^}
Can’t we all just get along?!
I buy my produce in The Sunset and compost it in The Richmond!
Sheeesh!!
Where is this particular ad located?
I’ve seen it in shelters on both Geary and California if I recall. Not sure of the exact location though.
Sarah B.
Why are you paying an arm and a leg for Bio Bags at Walgreen? Costco carries them.
There was a compost pile in the southeast corner of our backyard. It was used regularly from 1917 until the 1960s. Output was spread into the flower beds.
When the kitchen was remodeled, the compost pile was forgotten as a trash compactor was the “new” appliance to have. We keep the Sunset Scavenger-issued green bin in the trash compactor. No smell there.
When we’re canning or cutting up watermelon, a paper grocery bag in the middle of the kitchen floor gets all the project’s compost matter and that goes directly into the big green bin.
I don’t shop at Costco, just don’t need enough stuff in bulk to do so. I don’t recall the bags from Walgreens being that much. Also, since they have lasted for a number months, it has been a nice value and a lot better than having to scrub the bucket, especially coffee grounds that get stuck.
Those of us who are diligent should get free wine. *cough* Just saying.
Mmmm, free wine. I request, no compost wine, please.
Do not use biodegradable plastic bags for use in the green bins. The plastic doesn’t compost fast enough to be used, so it ends up being screened and separated as a contaminant, then goes into the landfill. It is much better to use Brown Paper bags for food waste going into the green cart. The brown paper will compost nicely, and will keep your green cart less messy. Too bad our BOS didn’t consider this when they passed their well-intentioned, but fatally flawed resolution against paper bags.
our apartment manager helped us all get free little compost bins for our units…the only problem with them is that if you wait until it’s full to dump ’em, they can get a bit gross, it took a while but soon everyone was doing it.
they should have that headline changed though. should read “We compost on the west side because we don’t want to be eco hyprocrites like those folks in the Mission, Noe, and City Hall.”