On Sunday, November 3, 2019, a free public forum on the how and why of composting will be held at the Watertown Public Library from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Almost half of the “trash” thrown away in the U.S. could be composted instead of taken to landfills, and almost half of that is food. It is estimated that American families produce an average of 20 pounds of food waste per month. If not composted, all of this waste has to be transported from individual homes to landfills, a process that requires a large amount of fossil fuel; once the food waste reaches the landfill, it is sealed in airtight enclosures that emit greenhouse gases. Every pound of food thrown away results in 3.8 pound of greenhouse gas emissions. Composting is one way for ordinary people to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel and the production of greenhouse gases.
This forum is an opportunity for members of the public to learn about methods and strategies for removing compostable materials from their trash, including bins, curbside pick up, community drop off, and municipal and commercial services. There will be presentations on the connection between organic waste recycling and climate change. Information will be available at resource tables. Light refreshments will be served.
The forum is co-sponsored by the Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee (W3EC), Watertown Faces Climate Change, Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment, Progressive Watertown, the Watertown Public Schools, Watertown Community Gardens, Neighborhood Solar, and Town Councilors Caroline Bays and Tony Polumba.