Composting in Office

In several of our offices (including Seattle)... it's the law. Seattle Public Utilities has some good resources for commercial customers. A key thing to ask is what can actually be composted by your collector. Not every facility can handle compostable utensils, cups and more. Supposing you sign up and they cannot take those, but your employees aren't aware... then they're ordering potentially more expensive and much more well-intentioned supplies, but creating more waste (vs. say using stainless silverware and washing them in the office).  All that said, the law makes a pretty easy business case for us (i.e. not getting fined).

Our Houston office collects compost that gets utilized in a company garden on site. The business case hasn't been the primary driver but it has had 1) marketing value in being able to show clients that we're trying to walk the walk, and 2) positive impacts on our carbon footprint, which means less money we have to spend on offsets to reach carbon neutrality at the end of the year.

We have a food-only compost collection bin in our break room kitchens. In Portland, Ore the commercial waste haulers accept food scrap compost, but no paper (napkins, towels) or compostable utensils or packaging is allowed.  Before commercial composting service was available I heard we had a dedicated volunteer who took the bundle home to their backyard bin. 

We have incorporated composting in several of our offices, even in cities where it is not required - Philadelphia, Boston, St. Louis, to name a few.  Our argument was that it would reduce the amount of landfill waste pickups (which it did), but economically it is still a slight surcharge because we have to pay for commercial pickup of composting (relatively large offices).  To echo David's note above - it's really important to discuss logistics with the composter - ours in Philadelphia is also adamant about not taking paper or "compostable" plastics - the paper does not offer any value to the compost, and the plastics are not really compostable - they end up getting screened out and sent to landfill.  Their comment to us - "don't waste your money on compostable plastics.  Just use reusables and compost the food waste."  Our composter can take animal products but many only take plant based compost - worth checking.   It is also a different calculus when you are a single tenant (Philadelphia) versus one of many tenants (Boston) - different negotiations required with base building team. And you need to communicate, communicate, communicate.  Lots of people just don't think about what they're putting in a receptacle.  Especially in this age where recycling and composting are costing money, we need to avoid wishful thinking about what is happening with our waste. All of our signage encourages if folks are unsure they should use the "landfill" bin.   Happy to discuss more off line if you're interested.  I can get into the weeds real quickly!

Our main office has been composting for years.  Originally we had a number of employees that would take the compost home for use in their gardens, but we grew and more people started composting it became too much for the few employees.  We now have a service that takes the compost.  Photos with descriptions above the receptacles (especially in break rooms) is really helpful in training people.  Also, being willing to say something to co-workers and bosses, when they're about to toss something in the wrong container helps.  Good luck!  

Agreed