Home Composting Goes to Washington

Brenda Platt writes a post for the Institute for Self-Reliance, one of the organizations that supported the District of Columbia 's recently approved "Home Composting Incentives Act of 2018."

"We prioritize home composting over residential curbside collection precisely because it does avoid the curb, which in turn saves hauling expenses and tip fees at processing facilities while enhancing residential soils," according to Platt. "One-third of a ton can conservatively be composted at home per household per year. That can add up to a lot of savings for the City."

Included in the bill are several tools for spurring adoption of home composting, including a rebate or voucher for the purchase of home composting system and educational materials and a training program offered by the Department of Public Works.

Cathy Plume picked up the news of the District's new home composting program, which achieved final approval by the Washington D.C. Council after Platt's article was published. According to Plume, the composting program will help D.C. meet the 80 percent waste diversion goal it set for 2032. Plume also adds that D.C. can look to the Austin, Texas rebate program for a model.