I’ve found something big!!! So I decided to write this article to save time and energy for my fellow community. PS: You are a part of the community! It’s called ShareWaste!
After moving, I was totally shocked there were hardly any recycling or eco options available, in my area. So I did some digging and found out that there weren’t any municipal yard waste pick-ups at my apartment or most other cities I had looked into. I asked around the Buy Nothing groups to see if anyone had a drop-off or knew of anywhere, I got nowhere further. It took me three weeks to figure something out. I wondered if other people had the same issues I did.
What is ShareWaste?
Well, ShareWaste is a FREE app that allows you to compost your scraps and meet your community.
How do I start?
That totally depends on whether you would like to host a composting bin for fellow community members to drop off compost OR if you’d like to donate your scraps to someone who has a compost bin.
How do I drop off?
#1. Go to the map section of the app
#2. Search for a host marker nearby
#3. Click on the marker to bring up the details. Oftentimes people will post their specifics on whether they would or wouldn’t prefer if specific items went into their compost.
#4. Send a message to the listing owner and figure out their preferences; on time of day, frequency of drop-offs, how they want you to dump/drop off.
I personally messaged a few people before I found the person that was right for my drop-offs. I assessed that my compost will have paper products, lots of citruses, some cardboard, spicy items, onion and garlic scraps, etc. So by figuring out what I’m going to be composting most of, I can then communicate that with the hosts, and see if that works for them as well.
#5. Hurray! It’s time to drop off!
What do I store my scraps in?
This is totally up to you and the host. There is the option of storing them in compostable bags, however, this can get pretty spendy, and I ran into the bags leaking if they weren’t taken out often enough.
I personally prefer to keep my scraps in five-gallon buckets, dump them out at the host’s location, and then hose them out. You can find buckets free from most bakeries at local grocery stores bakery department as well.
Also, try avoiding anything that had chemicals in it before, as it could disrupt the natural composition cycle.
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A couple of options online is a 5-gallon bucket option here. Or maybe you already have a 5-gallon bucket and just need a lid, this one should work for you here. If you don’t want a screw-top lid, there is a bundle of buckets here.
I rotate about three of the 5-gallon buckets, once all three are filled, then I drop them off. I frequently drop off since I’m primarily plant-based and enjoy gardening! I end up with a lot of scraps. Sometimes I drop off once a week, but that depends on whether it’s melon season or not! Those melon rinds take up a ton of composting space! Plus I do the drop-offs for my roommates and myself. YES, I got my roommate to start composting! YAYAY! I’ve gotten a couple of neighbors to start composting and using the app as well! What an exhilarating feeling! Eco-win!
Here is the composting bucket I use. This is just a Home Depot bucket he already had. Honestly any container with a lid that won’t leak works.
What is the importance of Composting?
Well when we toss our food scraps in the garbage, unfortunately, the food scraps are not able to properly break down. The food scraps end up mixed inside plastic bags, amongst chemicals, amongst other inorganic materials in the landfill.
Without the food being in a natural and compost-friendly system, they will produce methane (a greenhouse gas) that is almost 50 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide, just like trash.
So let’s take those scraps and waste out of the trash and put them into the compost! Especially since it helps the host get compost for their garden! How great of a contribution is that?
The ShareWaste app is pretty easy to navigate overall and will make composting simpler. I personally love the app; The app offers the opportunity to help the environment, connect to the community, and even has a couple of extra fun features! If you log in when you drop off your compost and how much compost you dropped off, the app will add that up and tell you how much methane gas you’ve saved from being produced! I love how it personalizes that conversion!
Are there ShareWaste locations near me?
The ShareWaste app is pretty easy to navigate overall and will make composting simpler. I personally love the app; The app offers the opportunity to help the environment, connect to the community, and even has a couple of extra fun features! If you add in the details of when you drop off your compost and how much compost you dropped off, the app will add that up and tell you how much methane gas you’ve saved from being produced! I love how it personalizes that conversion!
A great option is to become a host and start accepting compost or find someone who can accommodate compost. Let’s grow this community and save these perfectly usable scraps from ending up in the landfill!
According to the Composting Council, if everyone in the United States composted all of their food waste, the impact would be equivalent to removing 7.8 million cars from the road.
This post is not sponsored, the app is still growing and working towards being better! (Just like my blog!)So please take a moment to share this blog post, tag me (@manifesting_serenity) , and tag @sharewaste to help encourage friends to keep their scraps from ending up in the landfill and support a sustainable message!
