Are you a member telling all your friends about your food scrap pick-up service? Well, send them your referral link and get a free month of service.* Check out the quick how-to video below for where to find your link!
*free month of service = $32 off on your next bill
Updated: Apr 8
Contamination in the compost world is when we find an item that doesn’t break down, release CO2 and supply useful nutrients to our plants and soil.
If you come to our Community Sift Days you may have the job of pulling bits and pieces of plastic, string, stickers and what we call, crunchy plastics, out of our finished compost. These are what we call contaminants.
Contaminants don’t usually start out small either. But once they enter our compost system they get covered in rotting food, break apart and physically deteriorate from the turning and high temperatures of our piles. Yet, it is unlikely these materials will fully break down in our lifetime or add any benefits to our soil. Even if a material seems to disappear we aren’t sure if it left a toxic residue behind or just broke down to smaller than the eye can see.
While we all want to do the right thing and feel good about composting the most we can, when non compostable materials are put in our system it can take much more energy to remove it (if still possible). We are on a mission to reduce contamination and we hope you will help us.
Please review the list below and spread the word in your household.
Our favorite motto: When in doubt, keep it out!
Contaminants
Colorful cardboard-like materials such as food packaging and soda can boxes - many of these have plastic films on them and it has become too difficult to discern between the infinite brands.
“Compostable” green bags - since we have not seen the brand or box they came in we cannot be sure that the bags are truly compostable in our system. We typically end up sifting and throwing them out. If using these bags in your small countertop system please empty the food contents into your bucket and dispose of the bag.
Produce stickers - these are typically PLASTIC and much easier to remove or cut off of firm, fresh produce than on soggy, decomposing produce.
Tea bags - too many brands, too much plastic - beware of dipping plastic tea bags in boiling water too. We suggest using loose leaf in a tea infuser or a french press
Rubber bands - these commonly bundle up your herbs and produce so please remove before putting in your bucket, they become much more difficult to remove after food has become rotten and soft.
Rubber or latex gloves - these are not compostable and can be thrown in the trash
Wax paper, pastry paper, wet wipes, etc. - while we can accept common white kitchen paper towels, we are finding more and more different types of “paper towel” like materials that are not compostable.
Cooked and raw foods
Fruits and vegetable scraps
Coffee grounds and filters
Rice, bread, oatmeal, grains
Meat, bones, fish, crustaceans*
Dairy products including cheese*
Sauces, syrup, and oil*
Loose leaf tea and tea bags (no plastic/nylon)
Herbs, spices, dried fruit
Small-kind green waste/household plants
Tortillas, potato chips, popcorn
Stale crackers, bread, cereal, pretzels, pasta
Nuts and shells
Tofu and tempeh
Hair (pet or human)
Paper plates, bags, & to-go boxes (no bioplastics)
Newspaper (remove plastic/shiny inserts)
*Keep under 5% of total.
Glass
Liquids
PLASTIC
Dryer lint (polyester is plastic)
Very salty foods
Aluminum cans or foil
Latex or rubber gloves
Produce stickers/label & rubber bands
Paper plates or coffee cups with wax coating
Fats, grease, oil, candy
Cloth and clothing
Bioplastics:
Items labeled biodegradable
Items labeled BPI Certified Compostable
Items labeled ASTM D6400 or D6868
Styrofoam
Baby wipes
Pet food
Cigarette butts
Dead animals
Whether you’re off island, camping at Polihale, or simply didn’t use your bucket this week - the “Skip Service” tool is the best way to let us know that you don’t need your bucket picked up.
The Skip Service tool:
Saves you money! Each time you skip service, a $3 credit is applied to your next monthly bill.
Saves our driver fuel and time.
How To Skip Pickup Service
Go to our website www.compostkauai.org and sign in to the member portal using your login information.
In the member dashboard, click on “Skip Service” in the top right corner.
On the Service Calendar page, you’ll see a list of upcoming service dates on the right hand side. Click the “skip service” button next to the date that you do not need your bucket picked up.
Click “yes” and then “ok” on the pop up windows.
All done!
This will let us know to not pick up your bucket on the date you selected and a $3 credit will automatically be applied to your next monthly bill.