In an effort to reduce waste and provide good soil for gardens, the Wrangell Cooperative Association is encouraging people to bring their compostable waste to the community garden, out by City Park. The WCA took over the composting project about a year ago, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic things got put on hold.
“In 2018 Chris Hatton (of WCA) completed a solid waste assessment, and in those findings she discovered that 40% of our waste that is being shipped is compostable,” said Kim Wickman, with the WCA. “We had big plans, then COVID happened. So things got delayed a bit.”
Wickman said the community composting program is easy to use. People need to gather their “greens” (such as fruits, vegetables or coffee grounds) and “browns” (such as shredded paper or cardboard, straw or fall leaves) and add them to the compost bin labeled “Add” at the community garden.
For every one container of greens, people need to add three equal containers of browns to the mix, Wickman said.
There are also some items that should not be added to the compost.
“We ask that people not deposit any meat, fats, breads or potatoes,” she said. “Store-bought potatoes can carry different types of funguses … which can cause your soil to attack your potatoes for years and years to come.”
For the foreseeable future, Wickman said the Cooperative Association is going to use the compost to help revitalize the community garden. This will take about a year, she estimated. Afterward, they plan to start bagging up the compost and either giving it away or selling it at a minimal price.
Anyone with questions on composting can contact the WCA at 874-4304.
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