Nov22025
NewsEmblazoned on a green swoosh: Compostables only. In a red blob: No plastics. These are surrounded by a tired looking jack-o'-lantern, a pile of vegetable peelings, a fish skeleton, a watermelon, a coffee filter, a chewed-on turkey leg, egg shells, a tea bag, a pizza box, and a banana peel.

We need your help keeping plastics out of the compost bins at CUCC.

We have heard from our CompostNow partners that, over the past month, four times our rolling Compost Now bins have contained considerable plastic.  If we continue to have plastic in our bins they will have to cancel our composting service.  We need to keep plastics out of the fellowship hall compost can and the two Compost Now rolling bins in the courtyard.

 

Items found in CUCC's composting bin which contaminate the compost include two large green plastic bags, an oreo wrapper, a plastic bottle, a plastic can, a waxed cardboard drink carton, a plastic-coated frozen food box, and a black plastic container.

How you can help

  • Only put compostables in the bin.  Here is the list of what can be composted.    When in doubt, throw it out.
  • If  you see something in the bin that looks incorrect, either pull it out and put it in the landfill trash bin or contact anyone on JCC so we can remove it.
  • If you see someone putting something in the bin that looks incorrect, ask them about it (kindly, of course).  Or alert anyone on the JCC and we’ll check in with the person.

You say, “No plastics.”  But what about compostable plastic?

If you purchased bin liners or tableware marked “compostable,” those may go in the compost bin. They must say they are “compostable.”  “Compostable” = YES.  “Biodegradable” = NO.

A lime green cartoon bacterium with tiny feet and hands waves hello. Aeri, the Aerobic bacterium, is CUCC's composting mascot. Aeri says "I can't eat plastic."How can I get involved in CUCC’s compost program or other climate justice work?

Talk to anyone on the Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force.  Our work is limited only by how many people we have to do it, and we would love to have your energy and ideas, too.  All of us are in Breeze.  Gary Smith (chair), Glenda Chen, Greg Eades, Bill Gretsch, Judy Kiel, Paul Kiel, Marty Lamb, Annabel Lewis, Jane Smith, Jim Smith, Skip Stoddard

Category: News