ITHACA, N.Y.—Compost collection sites throughout the county will no longer distribute free biodegradable bin liners starting Nov 1.
The county-run composting program has distributed biodegradable plastic bags free of charge for much of its decade-long existence, according to program coordinator Jeremy Betterley. Package Bags
“[The bags] aren’t required for residents to use and they never have been, but we did provide them for added convenience,” Betterley said. “So this was something we identified that we could eliminate that could reduce the cost of the program, because we do need to implement some cost cutting measures.”
Betterley said the Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management, which manages the composting program, has seen some revenue streams decline in recent years.
“One of our funding sources is the sale of recyclable materials and the markets for recyclable materials can fluctuate,” Betterley said. “We happen to be in a down market right now.”
In 2021, China, once a major importer of recyclable materials from the U.S., implemented a total ban on solid waste imports, which may have contributed to overall global market decline.
The bulk of the agency’s revenue comes from annual waste fees paid by property owners, plus other disposal fees, though these revenue sources may not see as much fluctuation.
Betterley said that the decision to do away with the free bags is so far the only outward facing cost cutting measure the county agency plans to implement. Betterley said no drop spots are slated to close.
Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management has expanded the composting program since its inception 10 years ago, including a compost drop spot in Enfield which recently opened.
Betterley said the county had initially offered the bags to help people ease into the idea of composting, participation in the program has grown over the years.
Betterley said that people are still welcome to use compostable bin liners they purchase on their own as long as they are marked as “BPI certified” — it may not be enough for bags to be marked “biodegradable.”
Compost drop-off attendant Tom Britt said that there’s a possibility that households may resort to using non-biodegradable plastic bags in lieu of the county-provided liners.
“As far as drop spot attendants, we will need to be more vigilant to make sure no plastic bags end up in the compost system,” Britt said.
Conventional plastic bags can take many years to decompose and can leach microplastics, hindering the composting process. Manufacturers of some compostable bags claim their product can break down in a matter of weeks in an industrial composting facility.
Residents can also use paper bags or a piece of newsprint to line compost pails, or they can go liner-free. For paper liners, Betterley suggests adding a drop of dish soap in the bottom of the pail to prevent the paper from sticking. He said residents can also freeze food scraps to reduce smells or unsavory leakage before compost drop day.
You can view a list of locations and drop off times for household food scraps online here.
Update 10/10/2023: A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to compostable bags as “city-provided”. The bags are distributed by the county.
Megan Zerez is a general assignment reporter at the Ithaca Voice. Reach her via email mzerez@ithacavoice.org or social media @meganzerez More by Megan Zerez
The Ithaca Voice's nonprofit newsroom is committed to serving our readers with in-depth local reporting and resources to keep our community informed and better able to engage in the civic life of our incredible place. The Ithaca Voice is a 501c3 nonprofit news organization. (EIN 46-5495365)
Flat Bottom Pouch 121 E Seneca Street 2nd Floor Ithaca, New York 14850 607-391-0327 tips@ithacavoice.org