TIPS TO STOP THE CYCLE:
WASTE WARRIORS!
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By Catherine Ruhland
You may have noticed something different at the TASH (Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow) Farmers Market in Patriots Park the last few weeks.
Since TASH vendors are now using compostable single-use packaging for ready-to-eat prepared food and beverages, there are now three disposal units at each waste station during the market.
The three units are for: compostables, recyclables, and trash.
Recyclables and trash (everything that cannot be reused, recycled, or composted) might be self explanatory. Compostables include discarded food, paper (napkins, tissues, cardboard food containers) and compostable plastics. Instead of using plastic made from petrochemicals and fossil fuels, compostable plastics are derived from renewable materials like corn, potato, and tapioca starches, cellulose, soy protein, and lactic acid.
Compostable plastics are non-toxic and decompose back into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass when composted and can be used for food and beverage containers as well as utensils and other items. These items should be clearly marked as “compostable” or say something like “this can be composted in industrial composting facilities.” They are not meant for backyard composters, but they can be broken down in commercial composting facilities. Tarrytown and other Westchester villages send our food scraps recycling to the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency in Kingston NY. Learn More Here
Removing the organic waste materials from the waste stream significantly reduces the volume and weight of the trash going to the landfill or waste-to-energy plant /incinerator, as we have in Westchester. Not only does the heavy wet food require excess energy to process, it can clog the system, making the whole operation less efficient.
But more importantly, by separating the food scraps and compostables, the organic waste material can be converted into compost, to be put back into the Earth to nourish the soil. Of course, market goers are often not thinking in these terms, so TEAC has created a Zero Waste Committee with volunteer “Waste Warriors”: folks who are trying to help Tarrytown reduce waste.
The market has ended for the season, but when it starts up again in May, check out the trash areas. You will find helpful Waste Warriors there to guide you through the new trash protocol. Please thank them for their efforts and if you would like to volunteer, send a quick note to us at TEAC at tarrytownenviro@gmail.com. |
