Anne wrote up this great editorial the other day that takes a look at Composting in Columbus on CU and I wanted to cross-post it here for everyone who might have missed it:
Being Green is so trendy right now, even if it is getting a bit ridiculous.
One key thing that is mentioned all of the time on TV and even in our own Columbus Alive is composting. So easy! And the rewards from composting are awesome!
Imagine my surprise today when I found out from the city that composting food scraps (what you need to make a compost worthwhile) is not allowed:
From 311: Composting of leaves, grass clippings and pine cones only are allowed in the City of Columbus. Residents can not use any form of food matter including pumpkins skins, egg shells etc. as part of the compost pile since this causes a harborage for rodents. Compost piles need to be turned often in order to aerate the pile and keep the smell down.
From Columbus City Ordinance – 707.03 Standards relative to solid waste:
(A) Every owner or person having charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premises shall store and dispose of all garbage, rubbish, debris or solid waste from those parts of the premises that he or she controls in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner. No owner or person having charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premises shall store or dispose of garbage, rubbish, debris or solid waste by placing said solid waste in or on any land or premises in the city.
(B) Every owner or person having charge of a dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premises shall store and dispose of all garbage, rubbish, debris and solid waste which might provide food for vermin and/or rodents in a clean, sanitary, safe manner. All garbage cans and refuse containers shall be rodent-proof, insect-proof, water-tight, structurally strong to withstand handling stress, easily filled, emptied and cleaned; shall be provided with tight fitting covers or similar closures; and shall be maintained at all times in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. Plastic bags may be used as garbage and refuse container liners but shall not be used without the container for on-site storage of garbage or refuse.
(C) bulk containers, garbage and refuse cans which are used for storage of garbage, refuse and/or other solid wastes shall be placed in an acceptable location approved by the director of public service or his or her duly authorized representative, so as to not create a safety hazard or public nuisance.
(D) The total capacity of all provided garbage and/or refuse containers and bulk storage containers shall be adequate to meet the needs of the occupants of the dwelling, dwelling unit, multiple dwelling, business building or premise.
(E) Every owner or operator of a business building or every owner or person having control of a dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units shall provide and maintain adequate garbage disposal and rubbish storage receptacles for the sanitary and safe storage and/or disposal of rubbish and garbage. In the case of one (1) dwelling unit, it shall be the responsibility of each occupant to maintain adequate garbage disposal and rubbish storage receptacles in containers approved by the director of public service or his or her duly authorized representative.
(F) It shall be the responsibility of the owner or person having charge of any garbage, refuse, or bulk containers to clean and maintain the container in a nuisance-free condition. Accumulation of material on the sides or bottom of the container will constitute a violation of this code. If a bulk container is leased, it shall be the responsibility or the lessee to clean and maintain the container in a nuisance-free condition.
(G) No person shall deposit or allow to accumulate in any building, premise, yard, court, lot, street, alley, sidewalk, easement or any other place, except in authorized receptacles, any substance, solid, semi-solid or liquid, or animal, vegetable or mineral origin, that by its decay, decomposition, chemical action or by becoming a harbor for animal or insect pests, would become an unsanitary condition. (Ord. 858-01 ยงยง 1 (part), 5 (part).
This is especially confusing to me because one of the classes offered in this year’s Ohio Community Gardening Conference (which is promoted by the city) was “From Garbage Cans to Gardens” where participants will learn the ‘ins and outs’ of Worm Composting. (A method for recycling food waste into a rich, dark, earth-smelling soil conditioner).
Since Columbus is all about being the best Green City, and it seems that the major concern with food composting is rodents, can’t we get this ordinance amended to allow kitchen scrap composting in city approved containers? This one sounds like a nice option.