by Rob Bonney
Salem City Councillor Andy Varela (Ward 7) has a way for businesses, nonprofits, and public entities that prepare and serve food to be more sustainable and save money, too. His composting ordinance currently under consideration by City Council would provide training and guidance to help these organizations comply with an existing state law that requires composting for any entity that produces more than a half ton of food waste weekly.
Some Local Businesses Are Already Saving by Composting
Local business Spitfire Tacos is already saving money by using a compost service. When food waste is separated from other trash, both bins smell less, Spitfire owner Kathleen Rodgers explained at a public hearing. This has resulted in fewer pickups by haulers and reduced expenses, as there is a charge for every pickup. This is true of public buildings, too.
Compost results in a rich fertilizer. Unlike manufactured fertilizers, this fertilizer doesn’t require artificial chemicals or high amounts of energy to be produced.
Composting Would Save Taxpayer Dollars
Taxpayers pay for waste removal from municipal buildings and schools. The city will be renegotiating its contract with their hauler in the coming two years. Rates are expected to increase by more than 60 percent due to skyrocketing costs in traditional waste removal. Mandating composting for businesses and public buildings that produce a lot of food waste could significantly reduce those costs. Our current hauler has indicated it would give a more favorable rate if Salem adopts a large-scale composting program, even though the composting service would be with a different provider. The proposed ordinance doesn’t cover Salem Schools, but the school system is considering its own composting program.
Additional Environmental Benefits
Reducing costs is not the only reason to compost, of course. Salem might end up contracting with a trash removal company that transports its waste out of state, as many Massachusetts towns and businesses do. Black Earth Compost, which is in discussions with the city to become its compost hauler, is located just over seven miles from the city border. Transport to their facility would produce significantly less pollution and greenhouse gasses from vehicle emissions than an out-of-state option.
Additionally, most of Salem’s waste is incinerated, which releases toxins into the air and pollutes our water. These toxins include lead, mercury, PFAS and dioxins, all of which have serious health impacts. Compost, by contrast, results in a rich fertilizer. Unlike manufactured fertilizers, this fertilizer doesn’t require artificial chemicals or high amounts of energy to be produced.
Why do we need a local ordinance?
You might wonder why Salem needs an ordinance when a state law already exists. The city and local businesses need guidance that the state has yet to provide, according to Councillor Varela. He also sees his ordinance as the start of something even better for Salem: city-wide composting at a site owned by, and located in, the city. We should start thinking about this option now, as the city is not only preparing to negotiate its next waste-hauling contract but also redesigning its department of public works facility. San Francisco, which mandates all its food and plant waste be composted, sells much of its compost to agricultural businesses, making it a win/win for the city.
SAFE would like to thank local businesses All Souls Lounge and Spitfire Tacos for testifying in support of the ordinance at a recent City Council meeting.
The next step for SAFE and concerned citizens is to contact your councillor and the mayor and urge them to vote in support of the composting ordinance. A vote is expected soon.
Rob Bonney is a member of the SAFE Board of Directors and the co-lead for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, North Shore.