Written by Rachele Terranova, Images sourced from https://www.instagram.com/corcompost/
Adding new earth-friendly habits into your life can be easier than you think. If there is one thing that we all do, it’s create food waste. This may seem like something that just happens and we have no control over it, but there is an easy way to be more mindful of your wastefulness and live in a more cyclical way.
Composting may seem like a far-off concept, but there is a very accessible way to get started. COR (Code of Return) Compost was created by two Savannah residents, Michael and Maria, who had a vision for a cycle of return that tackled not only environmental issues but issues facing the waste and food industry.
It started at Forsyth Farmers Market where people in the Savannah community could buy into the composting service for $10 and receive a bucket for drop-off service each week. Since then, COR has expanded to make composting easier and more accessible to the broader community. There are two free self-service drop-off locations where you can take your bucket, weigh your food waste and dump it in the bin to be collected. You can also continue dropping off at Forsyth Farmers Market each week for a $1 operation fee. COR is adding a new curbside pickup service that will be $15 a month for biweekly pickup and $20 a month for weekly pickup. Included is a bucket with a lid, footprint tracker, liners, and instructions.
In 2020, Savannah residents diverted 57,720 lbs of food waste from landfills back into organic soil through the Forsyth Farmers Market. That’s not even including commercial businesses that utilize COR or the local residents that decided to take COR’s knowledge and make a compost bin of their own at home.
How can this be accessible for students? I have been composting with COR for over a year now and have found that it couldn’t be easier. The biggest concerns I had going into it, and I know for many other students, are space and smell. With the bucket I received when I bought into the program I have been able to find a corner around each of my apartments to tuck it into — whether it’s the back stairwell, out on a balcony, under the sink, etc.
When the lid to the bucket is on, there are no issues with smells especially if you are diligent with regularly emptying it and cleaning it out! To keep it sanitary, I try to empty as often as possible, wash it out every time, and minimize the amount of time the lid stays open. Plus, putting your coffee grounds on top helps mitigate the smell.
Do’s and Don’ts for the compost bin:
DO
Fruits and vegetables (including rotten, cores and pulp)
Bread, pasta, pastries (anything made from flour) and
grains (cooked or uncooked)
Dairy products (cheese, butter, yogurt, sour cream, etc.)
Spices and herbs
Coffee grounds, coffee filters and tea bags
Eggshells (crushed)
Paper napkins, towels and paper
Plant trimmings and leaves
Stale pantry items
Nut shells
Cotton balls and cotton swabs
DON’T
Meat or meat waste (fat, bones, grease, etc.)
Fish or fish waste
Fats, grease or oils
Liquids
Old plants
Pet waste and cat litter
Glossy paper
Plastic, metal, glass and Styrofoam
Not only are these products slow to break down, they can cause an imbalance in the nutrient rich structure of the other foods. Plus, these items attract maggots, scavenging rodents and just smell!
To learn more about Michael, Maria and COR , visit the COR website
Or, take a look behind the scenes of COR and to keep up to date on all the new things happening on their Instagram.
