What We're Doing

Compost

Composting in Birnam Wood:

This is a new pilot composting program in BW which is brought to the community by BW’s Hall Council and WWU’s Office of Sustainability. Every apartment was supplied with a new composting system containing a new bucket with a secure lid and handle, as well as compostable liners.

Once your composting system is full, simply take out the liner and dispose of the compost in one of the green totes, which are placed throughout BW right next to the recycle and regular dumpsters. They are marked “FoodPlus! Recycling Only”.

What can be composted?
YES! Compost these materials:

• Food Scraps - ALL foods including meat, dairy, fish, seafood, shells and bones. Yes, this also means kitchen prep items like trimmings, peelings and egg shells, table scraps, leftovers and spoiled/outdated/moldy foods, paper coffee filters and grounds.
• Food-Soiled Papers - All compostable, biodegradable, food-soiled paper including pizza boxes, (waxed) paper milk/juice/ice cream/soy cartons, frozen food cartons, paper deli/take-out cartons, PAPER napkins/towels/plates/cups, tissue paper, parchment/waxed paper/bags, cardboard bakery liners and, compostable plastic items like cups, lids and utensils.
• Yard Debris - grass clippings, garden trimmings, branches, leaves, weeds and seasonal greens like pumpkins, cornstalks, apples, garlands, swags, wreaths and grapevines. Larger branches are accepted - see details below.

NO! Please throw these items in the trash:

• Not Accepted - plastics* (incl. foil/plastic juice pouches), metal or foil or scrap metal, Styrofoam™, liquids, diapers, wet wastes, kitty litter, rocks, bricks, concrete, dirt, sod, root balls, tires, lumber, garden hoses or garbage.
• "Juice Boxes" are paper-based and are acceptable, but "Juice Pouches" are made with foil and plastic and are not acceptable.

Do I need to use a liner bag?

No, but liners keep your containers clean and material contained. Line containers with biodegradeable bags only. More liners are available at BW’s Hall Information Desk.

What is “FoodPlus! Recycling”?

FoodPlus! Recycling is Sanitation Service Company's (SSC) all-in-one service for recycling yard debris, compostable/biodegradable/food-soiled paper.
How much you compost in is up to you. If you prefer to just compost certain kitchen wastes like food prep scraps, pizza boxes and milk cartons - great. Or if you're ready to really be a super composter add plate scrapings, moldy foods - even meat and dairy scraps. FoodPlus! is designed to be flexible so you can make it work for your household. Remember - every little bit counts. When you compost with SSC you are supporting local businesses, reducing what is sent to the landfill and helping create new products made from recycled materials.

Where Does It All Go?

All materials collected in the FoodPlus! Recycling program are composted at Green Earth Technologies (GET) in Lynden. Composting is a natural process that break down organic materials and turns them into rich soil amendment. Compost from GET is available for sale in Whatcom County.

More Questions?
Please contact the ResRap Coordinator at (360) 650-2011 or ResRAP@wwu.edu.