Dear Eartha, I collect my food scraps at home but the restaurant I work for doesn’t. I’d like to help them start composting food waste. What should I do?

High five for composting your food scraps! You’re one of over 3,000 Summit County residents who all use High Country Conservation Center’s free residential Food Scrap Program. Food scrap composting is free for everyone who calls Summit County home thanks to the Strong Future mill levy approved by voters in 2018. Since then, residents have collectively diverted more than 2 million pounds of food waste from the landfill. That’s worth another high five!

Restaurants can—and should– get in on the action, too. About 25 restaurants across the county are already composting their food scraps. Your restaurant could be the next one. Since restaurants are in the food business, a shift to food scrap composting can make a big difference in our community’s overall waste diversion. Start the conversation at work by sharing this information with your boss and colleagues.

Why should a restaurant compost its food scraps?

• Downsize your trash – Separating food waste from trash can reduce your total trash thrown away. Some of the restaurants already composting their food scraps have found they are able to reduce their trash dumpster size or pick-up frequency, saving them money.  

• Right-size portions – Collecting food waste can provide a visual of how much food your restaurant is throwing away. When separating out prepared food left on plates, you can get an idea of how to best right-size your portions, allowing you to buy less. 

• Increase engagement – Many patrons care about supporting restaurants that align with their values. Stand out from the crowd by sharing that you are doing your part to reduce waste.

• Support community diversion goals – We are trying to make our one landfill last as long as possible. And while we all love the mountains, no one wants a mountain of trash! Locally, food waste makes up over 20% of landfilled material. Keeping food out extends the life of the landfill. 

• Reduce harmful emissions – When food breaks down in the landfill without oxygen, it produces methane emissions that trap heat. By composting instead, we reduce these emissions.[JH1] 

• Help create a nutrient-rich soil amendment – All food waste is processed right here in Summit County. That’s right – your banana peels are turned into fresh High Country Compost at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP, our local landfill and recycling facility). This high-quality compost can be used as a nutrient-rich amendment to gardens, houseplants and lawns. [JH2] 

How does my restaurant get started?

Composting might seem daunting, but it’s really as simple as adding new bins and educating your staff on what goes where.

1. Assess your space. Look at your waste area outside (where your trash and recycling dumpsters are located). Determine if you can add another container for food waste in your existing area.
2. Contact your waste hauler to see if they offer food scrap collection. If you have any questions about haulers or need contact information, call the High Country Conservation Center.
3. Design your program. Place collection bins where food scraps will accumulate like prep areas, dishwasher, etc. Determine what type of bin you’ll use in each space and how to easily move the waste to your larger container outside.
4. Educate employees. Host an employee training and include tips at staff meetings.
5. Start collection service with your waste hauler.
6. Keep it clean. Collect food waste only. Compostable and paper products go in the trash.

My best tip? Call the experts at the High Country Conservation Center. Their staff offers free site visits, signage, bins, buckets, bilingual training and financial assistance to help cover a portion of monthly service costs.

What can you compost?

Only food scraps are accepted in our local program; no paper, plastic, nor ‘compostable’ products like bags are accepted.

What if the food is still edible?

Not all food should end up in the scrap pile. Food that is still edible can be donated to Café Food Rescue. Café Food Rescue is a local organization that collects edible food and redistributes it to local food pantries and community dinners. To donate your food or find out more information visit, CAFEfoodrecue.org.

Ask Eartha Steward is written by the staff at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation. Submit questions to Eartha at info@highcountryconservation.org.