Composting: Municipal Curbside Program
Title: Composting: Municipal Curbside Program
Resource type: Case study
Topics: Agriculture, Communities
Keywords: compost, wet-bag, recycling, brush, leaves
Audience: Business, Government
Region: Central
Summary: The city of Hutchinson, MN collects organic waste (yard waste, food scraps) from citizens for recycling (composting) along with other recyclables and trash. Finished compost is sold by the city.
Content: In May 2001 collection rates for trash and recyclables were a very reasonable $12.87/month, and a very high 60% of residential waste is collected for recycling. Organic waste recycling is voluntary for citizens. Food scraps are placed in compostable bags in people's kitchens, and the bags put in a curb-side box along with brush and leaves.
Compostable material goes to a computerized in-vessel composting facility, with the latest technology in screening equipment, telescoping conveying systems, direct truck-to-truck transfer systems, high speed bagging, and the largest in-vessel composting system in the US to date.
More details from Gary Plotz, City Administrator at 320/587-5151 or see the June 2001 issue of BioCycle Magazine (search the article database for "Hutchinson" at http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jgpress/advancedsearch.html and confine date options to June 2001). Previously published articles are available online at this site for $3 each.
A comprehensive case study written in July 2001 by Ernie Diedrich and Lola Schoenrich describing Hutchinson's composting activities can be found at http://www.composter.com/rcm/Hutch-diedrich.pdf
Suggested by: Philipp Muessig
Added: 05/15/01
Updated: 05/6/08
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