Garrett Park Service Survey 2020 Summary

The Town of Garrett Park conducted an electronic survey of resident interest in Town support for a curbside collection service from June 12-30. The survey results and comments submitted are printed below. Currently at least 18 households use a curbside collection service for $20-30 per month ($240- $360 per year). Informal inquiries of two local commercial vendors and other nearby Towns indicate that the Town could potentially contract for full curbside service for potentially as low as $9.50 per household per month. Another option is to set up a single Town collection point (residents bring compost to the collection point weekly), which would cost approximately 50% less. Both services contacted provide locking bins at an initial setup price and new liners each week. The survey results indicate residents would appreciate additional education and research about how composting works and the benefits and costs.

Survey Question Yes No Do you currently compost food ? 54 66 Do you currently compost food waste using a collection service? 18 103

If Garrett Park offered weekly curbside compost pickup at a significant discount, - $5 - $10 less than the $20 per month currently offered by Compost Crew in Garrett Park, would you use it? 49 68 If Garrett Park offered weekly curbside compost pickup service at no charge, would you use it? 80 39 Do you support Garrett Park paying for a subsidy for curbside compost collection service for residents? 79 40 Would you support cutting back Town trash collection service to one day a week in exchange for one day of compost collection per week? (Weekly collection would continue as normal.) 65 53 Total Responses = 121

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Garrett Park Compost Service Survey 2020 Comments

Comments of Support Comments Expressing Concern Questions or Issues to Consider Having compost collection in Garrett Before the town adopts this Park would be a natural! Very happy While it's true that backyard practice, I would like to see a it is being considered. This household composting reduces greenhouse gas thorough and thoughtful analysis of of five does not need two regular emissions, it's questionable whether the actual reduction--if any--in trash pickup days per week. With curbside composting does so because expected greenhouse gas emissions. compost pickup, we definitely would fossil fuel-emitting vehicles are used not. to pick up the waste and deliver compost. We have our own compost pile and Sorry to not have answers for most don't see the need for pick up. It of your questions, but I would need seems to us that the environmental more information and even then, I'd benefit is negated by the emissions of want to think about it. Compost whatever vehicle is used to collect the collection is not a high priority for . This may make people feel me, but if it were offered at a We did do Compost Crew for about a good about themselves but I doubt it reasonable cost, I might use it. year, but it just was too expensive. will make any significant difference That's the best answer I can give We have tried doing our own environmentally. I think the town has you. composting but with so much shade more Important matters that require we cannot get a very successful funding and do not support the town compost going. paying for this service. And a reminder that the Town has If some residents wish to participate in leaf bins for people to compost a composting service, they could come leaves in would also not go amiss. So I'd be happy to submit a testimonial together and negotiate a reduced much effort (and so many noisy gas- about our experience with price. A composting service is foolish powered leaf blowers) are put into commercial composting any time. where residents have their own yards getting leaves off lawns...when that (I've also done quite a lot of backyard and could invest in a composter. We is free compost right there just composting in my time as well and are absolutely opposed to cutting back waiting to happen. can compare/contrast). trash collection to one day a week. I like, and have trash, for a 2-day per Would we get to use the compost in week pick up. I think that composting our gardens? Would be much more Composting is a good idea. we just attracts rodents, which I"m not a fan interested if so use all of our food waste and could of. I don't think the town needs to probably use more. invest in this service. Otherwise (without analysis of I've answered this without I feel strongly that GP should start benefits despite pickup vehicle researching whether we signed up picking up food waste for residents emissions), this seems like useless for an annual compost collection and bear the responsibility for paying performative virtue signaling when contract or not. That might affect for it. I like the idea of trading off a people in this town could be doing far how soon we could switch over. Any trash pick up. With diligent recycling more substantively helpful things like of the proposed options would save and composting of food waste, the composting in their own backyards us 45% at the minimum assuming a burden of regular trash should and refraining from driving SUVs, container is provided for free. decrease. flying on planes frequently, building

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Comments of Support Comments Expressing Concern Questions or Issues to Consider big new houses, and shopping constantly. I think in addition to considering a compost service, it would be great for the Town to send out periodic reminders to residents as to what can and cannot be recycled. I see so Very happy to see this survey and I emphatically would not support any many garbage bags and other hope it will lead to a town-wide reduction in trash collection to once a problematic items in recycling bins compost service. week. every week. Still don’t totally understand how Absolutely do NOT want to cut trash composting works. For instance, if collection services to one day per you’re clearing scraps off a plate or We agree with cutting back on trash week! peeling vegetables do you need to collection in any case, since twice a run outside to the composting bin week really isn't necessary. each time? Not at all interested in composting at Would town maintenance be this time. Each household can do their responsible for the weekly pickup What a great idea. It’s fitting that own compost pile. Or, pay for their and actual composting? Where Garrett Park, as an arboretum and a own pickup. I grew up in GP - - to the would the material be composted? community renowned for its green best of my knowledge for over 50 If the town decides to subsidize this, places and natural setting, should be years GP families have long been will those who compost their own a pioneer among towns offering doing composting on their own. NO waste be exempt from contributing? composting programs to their NEED for the town to add to this citizens. expense to it's budget! One concern that needs to be addressed: We have a LOT of wildlife in GP—wildlife that gets into composting containers. We have firsthand experience with this. This issue would need to be addressed if there were to be a town-wide weekly composting pickup. Raccoons, deer and foxes would This would be a good first step In my experience the amount of soil have a heyday visiting all the towards an ongoing GP program to created by composting annual scraps compost containers lined up in town address climate change as a is about 1 cubic foot. This does not the night before a scheduled weekly community. We really don't have a justify the $120-180 annual fee for pickup, for example. choice. collecting scraps. Would there be a way to use the Taxpayers should not be supporting a Compost Crew for the town’s composting service for a few composting? I fully support the residents. Taxes are already higher in town’s efforts at composting, but I GP than elsewhere, especially for don’t want them to hurt the existing We almost never put out regular those on fixed incomes who are aging small business already providing trash on Thursday. in place. good service in this area.

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Comments of Support Comments Expressing Concern Questions or Issues to Consider I’d like to know if Cost of Veteran’s It makes infinitely more sense to Compost Is competitive. I have never understood why we compost on site which we have done have trash collection 2x a week! for years. I discontinued using Compost Crew (1) I would support cutting the trash because I wasn't happy with the collection to 1 day/wk in order to save service issues. I use Veteran money, not to substitute for Compost now and have been very something else. happy with them, so if there is an (2) In a town where everyone has at RFP process that results from this, I least a quarter-acre of property, in a hope they will be notified! county where compost bins (albeit crude) are supplied for free, there isn't a need for a compost service. Those who care about composting can do it We wholeheartedly support themselves (or they can pay for composting. If done properly, it cuts curbside pickup, without any town down tremendously on trash. It is a subsidy); those who don't care won't no-brainer. use the curbside service and will resent town money going toward it. We are interested and supportive of Details of how it would work and this approach to helping We have been composting for 45 what would be included matter, environment. We have no knowledge years in Garrett Park and putting our since we compost already how to store food waste. We would compost in our garden. Doing it specific guidelines to participate. yourself is no trouble at all. I would love to see more composting, Whether you know it or not there is a Love the idea, however the deliver and we would definitely participate if rodent problem in my block, mainly I should be better thought through. there were no charge, and I would be think because people on this block Thank you! willing to spend up $10 per month if I compost. I have seen rats in my back were to pay for it. yard. We have a regular pest service. I probably wouldn't go to the trouble We would prefer to go back to or expense of signing up for curbside I'm not sure about question 5. It's too Mondays for our trash & recycling composting, but I think it's a great vague. Also iffy on the one day a week pickup. idea and I would love to try it. trash pick-up. Regarding question 5 above. This isn't really a 'yes' or 'no' question, because it depends on how much I would like to know the city's decision the subsidy would be and what I support cutting back trash collection as I consider this a safety and health other budget line would not be to one day a week. Same day as subject as I do not think the residents covered by the town if resources recycling pick up. Do not have a would properly sort their kitchen were shifted to subsidize compost preference for a particular day. waste. pick up. Having trash pickup twice a week is Actually I’m not sure about limiting necessary. Composting would be nice, trash pickup. I don’t know the One trash pickup per week is plenty! but wouldn’t eliminate most trash. impact.

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Comments of Support Comments Expressing Concern Questions or Issues to Consider Check very carefully to see whether As for a subsidy (that is, the town the "trade off" would really net to paying for a service by taxing all even no increase in cost. Several years though not everyone would use the ago, when the town inquired of its service), I am not opposed when there waste pick-up contractor whether is a compelling reason. I see no going to once-a-week trash compelling reason here. Many people collections (omitting Thursdays) in town already compost 70-90% of would save money, the answer was household scraps - for example, we "no" - they need to keep their add everything except animal-based personnel and pay them for a waste to our compost bin (with leaves, week's work, so the annual fee grass clippings, etc.). That remaining would not drop appreciably. That bit would not add up to much - may or may not still be the case, but weekly, monthly, or even annually. To it bears investigating closely - do not the extent that it might encourage assume that there would be a saving more people to compost, it might be that would necessarily offset the worth it; that is a policy question for composting fee. the town. But that decision needs to be guided by (i) the responses to these questions (that is, do the responses indicate that a large proportion of I compost all vegetable waste, coffee people who do not currently compost grounds, tea bags, rice, some would begin doing so if subsidized) with my leaves. I would not pay $10- AND most importantly (ii) the 15 a month to be able to compost unfortunate fiscal realities of current the small amount of meat and dairy I times: owing to widespread economic now dispose of. However, i am in decline, the town's revenues are favor of the Town providing this pretty certain to take a hit. It may not service and I would pay more in taxes be the best time to undertake a new, to support it. unknown expenditure. Question #3 is very vague. Would the discount from Compost Crew's rate be due to a subsidy from the town, a bulk community rate or a lower rate from another company? I would support curbside composting If it is another company, what if we have airtight containers and company is it and how does its some education on what to save for Absolutely no on cutting back a trash business practice differ from that of composting. day. CC? As it is, I actually need recycling to We would like to receive compost for I have a compost pile in my backyard come twice a week, as we don't our yard in return. which explains my answers. generate as much trash

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Comments of Support Comments Expressing Concern Questions or Issues to Consider I would like to see the Although we would not mind cutting waste/recycling done on Monday as back to once-a-week trash collection, I it was done previously. It is very think it is not a good idea. We are a inconvenient to do recycling small household and can easily "hold" Thursday. I think Sunday is an easier I support composting but my tiny stuff for a week. Larger households, day to do clean up around the house household doesn't generate enough with children, etc., would have a and put out recycling than a to make a service worthwhile. harder time going a full week between Wednesday evening or early pick ups, especially in the summer Thursday morning. If there is For question #5 I answered no but it when hotter weather makes it more composting, it would also be good if would be a qualified yes if there was difficult to accumulate trash without that is on a Monday. For people enthusiastic demand from a majority generating odor problems and the who work outside of the home, the of residents and an active education like. If the remaining once-a-week weekdays are too hectic. Thanks for campaign to get people on board. In pick up day is Monday, that means your efforts. other words I'd support subsidizing if that several times each year a full two there was an assurance that most weeks would elapse between pick ups people would make use of it. (to account for holidays). I look forward to the opportunity to Have my own large compost bin & Also at this time my recycling bin is compost more food waste and other spread the matured compost every too small for all my containers. Are organic materials year-round. Spring there larger ones available? Composting is great. However for We already have a rodent problem. I my family to gather food scraps, I have seen rats in my back yard. We would need a container of some sort In addition to fully supporting have a regular pest company to deal to store the materials on a weekly composting for all town residents we with this problem. If there is food basis. Issues with smell, bugs and would love to see the town offer waste to be picked up, I think it would vermin, come to mind if families had multiple community gardening only increase the problem. I want no varying ways of storing composting locations. part of it. materials for once a week pick up. I’m interested in helping I have been composting my own Should we consider a change (while environment. I heard from friends vegetable waste for over 20 years in a we are addressing change) to ask that so much trash comes from small backyard bin. It’s easy, residents to bring rolling trash cans compost trash. Honestly I have no inexpensive and supplies my garden to curb, like many neighborhoods idea how and what to sort. That said, with all the compost it needs. I would around Montgomery county, to this is a great idea. Thanks for encourage residents to do it facilitate pickup? We bring recycle initiating this project. themselves. to curb. I think it would be helpful before rolling anything like this out if there Composting stinks, literally, and most is some more education about people do not know what can, and composting "best practices" and what cannot go into composting. In how do this well, i.e. what kind of addition, this would lead to a raccoon containers do we need to use, how problem and potential for rabies. I am to prevent animals from getting the We are excited to have compost very much against compost collection waste, what kinds of waste go in collection in Garrett Park! by the city. compost bin, etc. With chickens, we have no need for a I am currently taking my compost to composting service. Overnight Mom’s. composting!

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Comments of Support Comments Expressing Concern Questions or Issues to Consider on # 6, I would answer "yes" with an I use a composter in my backyard and asterisk. The raccoon problem near then return compost to my yard. us is such a nuisance that we really There are many home compost cannot leave garbage out, even in a systems that are clean and easy to garbage can, as they are dexterous manage. I feel this would continue to enough to open our cans no matter be easier than keeping another bin at how we tie the lid down. We don't my house, taking that bin to the street generate enough garbage in our weekly and enduring yet another large house for 2 collections/week, except noisy truck running through town and for the raccoon issue. the site of yet another row of bins sitting at the curb. Of course I would love to see everyone keep their leaves too. That leaf sucker truck spews out I am in favor of compost curb pick up clouds of dust and is so loud! I learned about composting from my father when I was a kid. He was an avid vegetable gardener and built a compost bin at the edge of the woods in our back yard in Massachusetts. I have been I shop and cook wisely so rarely have composting here in GP forever. Thanks so much for this initiative! food waste to compost. We have been composting all kitchen I am not sure we would use the waste for decades. Therefore we compost service...but I am tempted. aren't interested in paying to have someone take it away. In a proper economy, people would be paid for providing such rich organic material. This would make more sense in a high density area with a lot of apartment buildings and condos. But here in GP, most people have back yards. Thus, in our opinion, if people want to have curbside pickup of organic waste (as we do now for yard waste, much of which could also be composted), it should be on a subscription basis and not imposed or subsidized. It might be better to promote proper on site mulching. Here's a poem I wrote a while back that speaks to the issue: (See below table)

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Mulching Gaia Mulching is for me a religious act A pious offering, a giving back A ritual begun with a shovel A solemn disposal of kitchen rubble Stalks, skins, seeds and pits, peelings, pulp and rind Apple cores, egg shells, tea bags, coffee grinds Kept under the sink in a covered jar to be later buried in the back yard Bulked up with dead leaves, grass clippings and straw Spiked with what probably passed through a cow Turned over and watered (if rain is slack) Transformed by worms into scat – rich, black Excrement that, when eventually spread On the garden or the strawberry bed Nurtures Her body from which I take eat Thus rendering the ritual complete.

Town of Garrett Park

July 11, 2020

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