CANTON -- Canton celebrated Earth Day 2019 by launching a residential food waste recovery project. The joint Village/Town Sustainability Committee and the Village Department of Public Works are piloting the project to encourage residents to keep their food scraps out of the waste stream and help create fertile compost for future use.

The project, which will allow Canton residents to drop off food waste and later pick up compost for their yards and gardens, was introduced at the Green Living Fair on Saturday, April 20.

“We’re up and going,” says Carol Pynchon, Village Trustee and a member of the Sustainability Committee’s food and ag sub-committee. “People can begin dropping their scraps off any time.”

Here’s how it works: Collect household food scraps in large covered plastic containers or commercially available compost pails and bring them to the drop-off site on Outer Lincoln Street (follow the driveway on the north side of the Pavilion and outdoor rink; if you have picked up free compost before, you’ll find the drop-off receptacles in that same area.).

[img_assist|nid=257150|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=250|height=252]Deposit food in one of the designated receptacles and be sure to take your collection container, including plastic or paper bags. Waste left in the receptacles will be transported by village DPW crews to the municipal compost site, mixed with leaves and yard waste, and transformed into fertile compost.

Once it is completely composted, organic material that can be used in residents’ yards and gardens will be brought back to the same site for pick up.

“A key to the success of this project will be ensuring that residents follow the guidelines about what can and can’t be left for composting,” says Pynchon.

“A sign at the drop-off site will remind you, but it is important to remember that this is strictly for food waste. We are able to accept most food scraps, including meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, bones, eggs and eggshells, cheese, dairy products, bread, baked goods, pasta, rice, beans, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit, coffee grounds, table scraps, plate scrapings, and leftovers. Strictly prohibited is household garbage, plastic, or paper, including packaging, fast food wrappers, takeout containers, and waxed paper. We are counting on participants in the project to observe these guidelines.”

“Canton is a Climate Smart Community, part of a network of New York communities working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate resilience,” explains Ann Heidenreich, chair of the Sustainability Committee.

“Offering residential composting is a great way to reduce the organic kitchen waste you send to the waste stream and cut your disposal costs, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from food decaying in the landfill. And in the end you’ll benefit from a useful product that will add nutrients to and improve the quality of soil for trees, gardens, and more,” Heidenreich said.

Learn more about Canton’s Sustainability Committee at https://cantonny.gov/residents/get-involved/boards-committees/canton-sustainability-committee/.

The committee meets in the board room of Canton’s Municipal Building (60 Main Street) at 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.

The meetings are open and everyone is welcome.