Today is the 40th Earth Day. I can’t believe 1970 was 40 years ago but that’s probably best discussed in a different post.
I’m a little cynical about Earth Day – it seems to be filled with celebrations that generate a lot of trash and companies are throwing the term Earth Day around in order to sell products that really aren’t that green. I also think that Earth Day should be “celebrated” every day.
I don’t eat meat, I try to eat and shop locally, I don’t drive or own a car, I live in a small apartment, I am careful with my utility usage, and I spend a lot of time considering how my choices impact the world around me.
One thing that I wasn’t doing was composting. I don’t have an outdoor area to do so and I wasn’t too keen on the worm solution since I don’t even have a balcony. So, I wasn’t composting and I was feeling guilty about it. And, it was odd to not be composting, as I grew up in a rural area where we could basically throw the food scraps out the window ;-)
In February I found out about Bennett Compost here in Philadelphia. For only $10 a month, Tim Bennett gives me a compost bucket and picks it up once a week. He comes by late evening so I put it out on the porch and in the morning I go out and get and it’s been emptied. (I’ve been a little worried that the bucket would be stolen because I actually had someone steal my doorbell! Imagine the thief’s disappointment, however, when he discovers a stinky bucket full of vegetable scraps and coffee grounds.)
I met Tim when I signed up and he brought the bucket and we chatted a little. I asked how he was even making enough charging so little because of the cost of gas, etc. He said he has space at a local farm to do the composting and once business picks up he will be selling the compost on the other end. I haven’t seen him since we first met because he comes after 10pm. I suppose, however, that he does know what I’m eating ;-)
Bennett Compost has quite a few customers. As of this week, 150 households and 6 businesses are participating. In March. we kept over 4,000 pounds of organic material out of landfills that will end up being used as compost at a local farm – whoo!
People have asked me if it smells. Nope – the lid seals tightly and it’s only indoors for a week before being emptied. Since I don’t go through much regular trash, I have the same bag in the kitchen for at least a week so there really isn’t a difference.
It really is an awesome service and is providing options for urban dwellers like me who don’t have outdoor space so we can do the right thing.
photo credit: rcolin j.
photo credit: suavehouse113
That does sound like a very environmentally friendly service. I really hadn’t thought much of composting either, but it sounds like a good inexpensive service to take advantage of to be helpful on Earth Day!
.-= Kristi´s last blog ..7 Ways Your Business Can Help the Environment =-.
Hi Kristi – When I first contacted Tim I was really surprised at the price – I thought it would be a lot more. It really solved a problem for me and makes composting super simple. I’m almost done to 2 bags of trash per month – yay!
“I’m a little cynical about Earth Day – it seems to be filled with celebrations that generate a lot of trash.”
Hmm. I haven’t thought about that. It’s true. But then again, if it raises awareness..
.-= vered – blogger for hire´s last blog ..R.I.P Phoebe Prince, Or: Why Do People Bully? =-.
Hi Vered – Well, if people aren’t aware of the Earth yet ;-) No, I tend to forget that people don’t know about the same things I do.
I’ve found that Earth Day is turning into another shopping holiday – ugh. I asked my daughter if they were talking about it school and she said no. Seems like a missed opportunity for fun environmental education to me.
Overall my lifestyle is conducive to green. I work from home, plant a large garden, burn wood in the winter, use solar from windows whenever possible. I had one of my sons finally build a compost bin, but we have been composting into the garden for years. Hopefully being more focused on just the career side will give me some outdoor time… not yet but soon.
.-= Julie Walraven | Resume Services´s last blog ..Why I Moved to Headway =-.
Hi Julie – A lot of things I don’t have control over because I rent. And I don’t want to own. I think if I decide to live in a house it will be when I move to Vermont and live with my brother. My heat is gas and I can’t change it.
I would love to have a real garden – we are trying to do some container gardening – more as a learning experience for Alex. The first bean sprout that we replanted out front in the little dirt patch got pulled up by some meanie :( But we have more sprouts coming …
Our community uses the trash to make art and Procession of the Species Parade…It is truly a recycling event.
We have a compost bin and worm bin because we recycle food scrapes back into our garden, but our city picks up folks food scrapes weekly too in a neat bucket with a lid – my partner has one one at the office.
I think you are celebrating the earth every day…now hopefully Earth Day will impact and teach even more folks?
I do know that some cities don’t even realize the damage their celebrations can also do….a small farm town nearby celebrates with home brewed beer this day – they have ended earth day with a gun fight and someone being seriously injured the last 3 years in a row…
Hopefully more and more folks will understand and learn?
.-= Patricia´s last blog ..Oh for the Beauty of the Earth – Earth Day 2010 =-.
Hi Patricia – I would love to see that parade. :-)
I was thinking about the Live Earth thing or whatever it was that Al Gore did a couple of years ago. The energy consumed to bring attention to energy consumption must have been enormous.
I think certain people will always be idiots – those are probably the same guys who blow off their fingers on the 4th of July …
I admire you, Kim for all your green efforts. I have picked up some good habits, but could do more.
Great bucket plan Bennett has!
I stopped composting when it drew rats to my open-air chickenwire bin in a back corner of the yard. Rats — yuck! I want to get some kind of plastic composting bin, but they all seem so expensive. Have any ideas for a home-made one.
But wait! STOLE your doorbell!?? What the heck??
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..____ will ____ you (a poem) =-.
Hi Jannie – OMG! Rats would do me in. I don’t mind many bugs or other critters but rats really gross me out.
I don’t know much about the larger bins … there must be an affordable solution … ok – I got curious and found this
http://organicgardening.about.com/od/pestcontrol/a/ratsincompost.htm
And it seems that the Bokashi solution for food scraps before putting into the compost works best.
They aren’t super cheap but aren’t really outrageous either.
http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-home-outdoor/household/kitchen/all+food+recycling+compost+kit+with+bokashi.do
The first article also says that planting mint around the compost seems to keep the rats away.
And, yeah, my doorbell. Since I have the indoor part of it, it is a completely useless thing to steal … people are nuts sometimes.
I admire you for your efforts on composting, even in an urban setting. But how ingenious is Tim for coming up with a service like that? That is awesome.
I agree with you about how Earth Day has become so commercial. I blogged about that today too. I spent my day, quiet, without purchasing any Earth Day related items, or giving into “giveaways” and “sales”. I got sick of seeing banner ads on the computer “FREE stuff for Earth Day” Give me a break!
Having said, my EcoEtsy team (I’m a co-leader) is having Handmade for Earth Day auction to raise money to donate to World Wildlife Fund. Now that, I’ll bid to try to win since all proceeds will go to the organization that works for the environment.
Great post!
Hi Karen – Tim saw a need and found a way to fill it. Like with a lot of great ideas, it seems so simple why wasn’t someone already doing it.
The consumerism surrounding Earth Day is really frustrating me – it’s become just another opportunity to buy something that you don’t need. And no matter what the product, buying something is never good for the environment.
You’re Etsy idea is wonderful!
I agree with you in saying that Earth Day isn’t really that green and there are alot of companies trying to cashin on being “greener.” Its so the catch phrase now. I think that if we are all just a little more conscious of how we care for and utilize the space where we are right now, the world will be a better place in the long run.
Hi Carol – Green has become the new marketing term. Buying something, no matter how green it may be, is never going to be better than buying nothing at all.
I’m finding it all very frustrating.
I think all of the big holidays nowadays just became a convenient way for merchants to sell and sell their products. It’s not just the Earth Day that’s being exploited these days. And yes, people who say they’re all about green, most of the times just litter left and right and don’t even think about composting and recycling, so…. What can ya do?
.-= Elena´s last blog ..Submit And Share Your Russianized Images =-.
Hi Elena – I agree. Every holiday has become a time for a sale and buying something. And a lot of people who say they are “green” are far from being green.
Just goes to show how many different ways there are to make money. This guy saw a need and he created a business around it., now that’s smart.
I’m with you in that people should be thinking green every day not just once a year. What’s with that anyway, is it just so we can feel good about ourselves once a year but every other day we can be the exact opposite?
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Scientific Revelation Explaining Why Some A Listers Are Assholes =-.
Hi Sire – It’s a great idea! There’s another person doing it in Philly too but he only does one area. I hope he does well enough with it to make it his full time job.
That’s a fantastic idea. I wish we had that in Chicago, and if we do I wish someone would tell me about it! I would love to help reduce my carbon footprint.
PS: Your burglar could have been a female. :)
Hi Jimmy – I’ve heard that some cities actually collect it like recycling.
Maybe you could give someone a great business idea for your area.
It could have been female but statistically it was most likely a male :-)