How exciting that City Council is considering organic waste collection (Herald, July 1). Imagine the cost savings if we keep food and yard waste out of the landfill and compost or mulch it instead. We could save money by using smaller trash bins and/or less frequent trash pickups. If people do not put food waste down the disposal, it will save the water reclamation department money. Hopefully, these cost savings, along with funds from the Producer Responsibility Act, will cover most or all of the cost of this additional service.
Countywide, 40% of what goes to the landfill is organic waste. In the city of Durango, on average, 20% of residential household trash is food waste. Our landfill in Bondad has about seven years of room available. If we reduce what goes in, we can significantly extend its useable life. Diverting organic waste will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as organic waste releases methane – a potent greenhouse gas – as it decomposes.
City collection of organic waste can reduce landfill traffic, improve our soils with the compost created and reduce methane emissions, with little to no additional cost on our utility bill. Let’s do this.
Gail Harriss
Durango