Tips for Collecting Food Waste

1. Post Your Compost List

Each Moonshot bin is inscribed with a list of acceptable and unacceptable items on it. However, many homeowners keep their bins somewhere that makes seeing the side of the bins difficult, like in a pullout cabinet. 

If that’s the case at your house, consider printing out a copy (or two) of the list to post in the vicinity of the bins on a message board or stuck to the fridge via magnet. That way you can reference them easily if you’re ever in doubt about a particular food item. 

Print your “What to compost” list

2. If in Doubt, Leave it Out

If you’re still not sure if it composts after checking the list, it’s best to skip it and avoid contaminating the batch. Contaminated batches have to be diverted to landfills, or worse, end up in compost where they may spread harmful chemicals into soil and groundwater.

Feel free to ask us for clarification on what can be composted whenever you need!

3. Remove Those Labels!

Not only do produce stickers not compost, the ones you bring home today on your fruits and vegetables will probably outlive you. Add to this the fact that they’re small, sticky, and universally used across grocery stores around the world, and you’ve got a composter’s worst nightmare. 

It may help you to remember to trash produce stickers if you get into a routine of removing all of them as soon as you get home from the store.

The only ways to avoid them are to shop at farmer’s markets or grow your own produce. Even if you do the former, remember to still be on the lookout for rubber bands and twist ties so that they don’t find their way into your Moonshot bin either.

4. Keep Distance Between Bins

Whenever possible, it’s best to keep your compost bin somewhere separate from your trash and recycling bins. This will help you be more intentional about both composting and recycling, as well as help you avoid contaminating your compost collection with non-compostable materials.