Home LifestyleHoboken 101 Hoboken Composting: Everything You Need to Know

Hoboken Composting: Everything You Need to Know

by Steph
Steph
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Did you know Hoboken has a community compost? The Community Compost Company made its way to the Mile Square City back in 2015. Since then, the Hoboken compost has given residents and businesses a chance to donate food scraps and recycling to a safe place, ensuring sustainable practices with little to no negative environmental effects. A compost refers to the process of organic matter decomposing. Instead of tossing food scraps like eggshells, gone-bad lettuce, or the peels and stems of fruit or veggies, these scraps are compostable. Over time, the organic matter will decompose and become soil, which is a sustainable alternative to scraps going to the landfill. Compost soil can be used for gardening and helps reduce carbon footprint. “Compost improves the health of our soil, which grows the food that we eat. By restoring the quality of our food, we’re keeping ourselves, our loved ones, and our community healthy,” Andrea Rodriguez, Program Director of Community Compost Company, told The Hoboken Girl in 2021. Keep reading to find out more about Hoboken’s environmental efforts for community composting.

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What Does a Compost Do?

Compost breaks down organic materials into fresh, usable soil. That’s a much more sustainable option than sending the organic matter to landfills with other trash. Apart from recycling organic matter, composts do a lot for our environment.

There are a ton of benefits to composting, but here are three main reasons CCC customers joined the compost movement:

●  To fight climate change — when food scraps, yard waste, and paper products reach the landfill, they don’t have the oxygen needed to break down properly and are forced to decompose without it (anaerobically). This process produces methane, a gas 20-30x more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

●  To reduce landfilled waste — 22% of our everyday trash is food and can be recycled. According to the EPA, more food reaches landfills and incinerators than any other single material.

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●  To improve our soil health and grow healthy food — as mentioned above.

Read More: A Closer Look at Hoboken’s Department of Climate Action + Innovation

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How Did Community Compost Company Get Started?

According to Andrea, “CCC was founded in 2013 and is a Certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise that provides residential and commercial food scrap collection in Hoboken, Jersey City, and the Hudson Valley of NY. Our founder, Eileen Banyra, was a city planner for 14 years, and for five of those years, CCC was her side hustle.”

With a passion for restoring soil through the art of food recycling and composting, Eileen launched the Hudson Valley Farm Business Incubator Program at Glynwood in New Paltz. Next, she saw the need for food scrap pick-up in Hoboken and Jersey City.

“Unlike most of New Jersey, the majority of us don’t have access to outdoor space to be able to compost on our own,” Andrea told HG.

After the food scraps are collected, they are composted in Kerhonkson, NY, CCC HQ. The finished compost is then available for purchase in bags (and bulk) through Hudson Soil Co., the soil products division of the company.

 


 

Which Businesses Participate in the Hoboken Compost?

The Community Compost is available to all — residents and businesses alike. Businesses can partner up with CCC to reduce the amount of waste they create as well. Restaurants and even schools throughout the Mile Square and Jersey City are committed to reducing landfill waste and therefore rely on CCC to help them produce local, healthy soil amendments to benefit our agricultural system and take action against climate change.

That’s not all. CCC has also partnered with the City of Hoboken to provide a residential pick-up service and compost pick-up for local businesses. Learn more about the residential services here.

For local businesses interested in composting in Hoboken, the City provides free curbside pickup of food scraps.

Does Compost Smell?

It’s a top concern of people just getting into the whole compost thing: smell. But don’t fret — CCC is committed to making sure composting is a stink-free process.

“The number one thing I want everyone in Hoboken and Jersey City to know about our service is that… it won’t stink,” Andrea says. “This is without a doubt the number one concern we hear. Once you sign up, we provide you with an air-tight 5-gallon bucket to store your food scraps. As long as you keep the lid sealed, you won’t smell a thing.”

Tips For Compost Beginners

New to composting? That’s okay. It doesn’t have to be intimidating. Just remember: You’ve already made a conscious decision to help the environment. You’re nearly there.

●  Store your food scraps in a reusable container or paper bag and keep them in the freezer. Transfer the contents into your bucket the night before service.

●  Don’t forget to add your food-soiled paper — paper bags, napkins, paper towels, and even torn-up pizza boxes help absorb moisture from the scraps.

●  Add a few sprinkles of baking soda to your bucket after each fill.

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How Can You Get Involved?

If you’re interested in getting involved with the Community Compost Company, you can sign up directly through the website and they will come to you to pick up any food scraps. You’ll get a five-gallon bucket to fill with all acceptable materials (list included above) and then CCC will come to your doorstep, leaving you a clean bucket for every pick-up. CCC gives back compost twice a year for residents’ houseplants and/or gardens or you can opt to have your compost share donated to a local organization.

See More: The Ultimate Guide to Recycling in Montclair

Composting Drop-Off Options for Hoboken Residents

The City of Hoboken and Community Compost Company have residential compost drop-off locations at the following sites:

  • City Hall (near patio behind City Hall on Bloomfield Street between Newark + First Streets)
  • Church Square Park (near restrooms in the center of the park)
  • Elysian Park (near restrooms on the north side of the park)
  • 7th + Jackson Plaza (near Portland Loo restroom on 7th Street between Monroe + Jackson Streets)
  • Columbus Park (near 9th + Clinton Street)
  • Harborside Park (near shade structure in the center of the park)
  • Jackson Street Community Garden
  • Maxwell Park (near Boathouse)
  • Multi-Service Center (near rink on 2nd Street between Grand + Adams Streets)
  • Southwest Park (on Harrison Street between Observer Highway + Paterson Avenue)
  • Stevens Park (on 4th Street at River Street)
  • Viaduct (14th Street at Adams Street)

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