Lydia Maguire 
Montclair may very well be known for its chic boutiques, trendy cafes, and eye candy for house hunters, but it’s also a town that cares deeply about its community and the world we live in. Which is why the township makes it easy for its residents to compost their kitchen and garden scraps, complete with discounted composting gear, pick-up services, and even a town “Rotline” with helpful information. Whether you are sustainability-minded, compost curious, or just looking for ways to enrich your own garden soil, read on for full details on how to compost in Montclair.
Why Should I Compost?
Composting is more than just throwing a banana peel in a bin. It’s a simple, uncomplicated action anyone can take to make this world a little bit greener and a little bit safer for the next generation. Food waste is inevitable. And food waste will either end up in a landfill where it breaks down without oxygen and emits harmful greenhouse gases resulting in 58% of methane emissions in Municipal Waste Landfills, or it can be turned into nutrient-rich soil that improves the health of plants, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and makes your food taste better. The choice is yours, and it’s as easy as tossing your scraps in a compost bin instead of the trash. Plus, you have the option to reap all the benefits in your own backyard.
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What Can I Compost?
Most everyday kitchen waste can go in the compost bin (although it might be best to avoid meat and dairy items because they get stinky). Any fruit and vegetable scraps like the tops of strawberries, bell pepper cores, rinds, and peels, as well as food that has gone bad, coffee grounds, tea bags (not the plastic ones, obviously), eggshells, and even shredded paper towels and napkins can go straight to the compost. You can also toss in things like dead house plants, uncoated cardboard pieces (rip them up, don’t just chuck the whole box in), and dry leaves and grass cuttings. Basically anything that was once alive (but not breathing) is probably compostable. Once you start composting, you might notice you’re taking out the trash less too. That’s because, according to a 2019 study by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), composting can cut down what we send to landfills and incinerators by about 30%. Sure, that’s a broad statistic, but it gives you an idea of the real-world difference it can make at home.
Getting Started
the Township of Montclair’s Office of Sustainability provides “The Earth Machine”, a home compost bin that usually retails for $90-$100, at cost for $59.95 to residents. Residents can call the Office of Sustainability at 973-509-5721 to schedule a pickup. You can also purchase an aerator (a turning tool that usually sells for $30-$35 and takes all the thinking out of the equation) from the town for $20. We like to have a tiny bin on our kitchen counter for ease when chopping veggies, and it’s not uncommon for next-door neighbors to split the cost and keep the bin at the fence line in between them.
What Do I Do With My Compost?
A Garden Glow-Up
The beauty of a compost bin is that Mother Nature does all the work. You just have to feed her (and turn it, which is why we mentioned the aerator above). Once your backyard bin is full of all that delicious, nutrient-rich garden gold, there are a few different options for your compost. The first option is to use it yourself as soil for your own garden. If doing it for yourself, then try to balance out the green “wet” kitchen scraps with the brown “dry” compost materials so you have a nice, dark, crumbly soil. Sprinkle it around your flower beds, or mix it into raised garden beds, dig it into your veggie patch, or even mix it into the soil of your potted plants to boost soil health. Another easy suggestion is to spread the compost around your lawn and specifically under your trees. It helps aid water retention, improves the health of your soil, and acts like a slow-release fertilizer for happier and healthier plants.
Drop-Off + Curbside
Perhaps gardening is not really your thing, but you are environmentally-minded, and now you have a full bin of compost material that you don’t know what to do with. Insert Java’s Compost. This family-run business had the brilliant idea to provide environmentally-friendly folks like yourself with not only drop-off locations all over Essex County, but curbside pickup as well. You can get a subscription and use Java’s buckets and BPI bags and the drivers will come by at the same time every week to take away your compost. In the spring, customers can choose whether they want to receive compost themselves or donate it to Java’s non-profit partner, Urban Agricultural Cooperative, who work with local growers to provide fresh, locally-grown food to our communities. Check out this handy sheet for a quick look at what Java’s Compost can and cannot accept in their facilities.
Love Thy Neighbor
If you aren’t quite ready to invest in composting via your own backyard or a pickup service, there are still options for you. The Montclair Backyard Compost Co-Op is a Facebook group that connects people who want to compost with neighbors who already have a system set up. It’s a community effort to reduce waste, and this group shares resources, composting hacks, gardening tips, and encourages each other to keep up the good fight.
And that’s about it. It really is that simple, and the town of Montclair, along with its residents, is full of resources and information to help you get started and stay on track in your composting journey. Whether you’re leveling up your garden, teaming up with a neighbor, dropping off scraps, or having it picked up, composting is a small change that makes a big difference. For any and all questions, or to receive written information about composting in your backyard, call the Office of Sustainability’s hotline, or “Rotline” as it is affectionately called, 973-509-5721. The flowers (and worms) say thank you.
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