New York City and San Francisco are including curbside organics collection among essential public services. But fallout from COVID-19 has meant dramatic changes for small-scale composters.

E.A. Crunden@eacrunden reports for WasteDive

Measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 are affecting organics recycling, with small-scale community efforts hit particularly hard. City and state governments are also shifting their approach to organics collection, implementing safety measures and in some cases scaling back or suspending programs. 

In areas where food scrap recycling access was somewhat limited to begin with, the fallout is already taking a toll. Lynne Serpe, who runs the New Orleans-based Compost NOW, told Waste Dive she typically collects 4,000 pounds of food scraps on a weekly basis. Those volumes have decreased to 1,200 pounds. 

The situation could become increasingly untenable as municipalities escalate clampdown policies aimed at protecting public health. “We will keep things going for as long as we can,” Serpe said

Those trends come as the pandemic’s impacts on the waste sector have differed somewhat across the country. While trash collection is largely considered a public health necessity, some areas are suspending their recycling programs amid worker safety concerns and economic realities. Organics recycling, which is still far from widespread, is also facing tense times.

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In New Orleans, Serpe said her operation largely relies on universities and libraries. In an effort to reduce emissions from miles traveled, the program usually hosts 11 drop-off sites around the city during most days of the week. But measures associated with the pandemic have drastically changed that. “Last week, I hosted collection at my house,” she said.

Small-scale composting can rely on volunteer labor that often skews older. With that demographic among the most vulnerable to the virus, many are now staying home, leaving such efforts without labor on hand. That decline has hit Serpe’s program, along with a “stay-at-home” directive in place across New Orleans. But Serpe said she is working to adapt and keep her project alive through a combination of measures, including scaling down operations. She has also asked some local farms to allow residents to directly drop off scraps, while seeking other ways to offer multiple collection sites. 

“We’re also making sure in all of our messaging… not to encourage people to make a special trip just for this,” Serpe said, emphasizing residents should drop off food scraps “if you’re out on an essential run” for groceries or similar necessities. People are also being asked to stand six feet apart when they do come, in keeping with social distancing recommendations, while additional efforts to wipe down bins have been implemented.  

Another key factor in Serpe’s push are local partners including Schmelly’s Dirt Farm, an organics hauler and delivery team. The company offers commercial pickup in addition to partnering with residential food scrap drop-off programs. Serpe said Compost NOW’s relationship with the hauler has historically allowed for more operational flexibility, as well as increased tonnage compared to what might otherwise be feasible. That partnership is proving especially helpful now, easing the burden of transporting material to local farms. 

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