COMPOSTING SERVICES

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

Composting services around the region aim to reduce the amount of scraps and uneaten food reaching landfi lls. Here are several companies and programs that will help you do your part to fi ght food waste. —AIESHA D. LITTLE

Back2TheDirt

Located in Anderson Township, this home-based business provides quality worm castings (an organic form of fertilizer produced from earthworms) and compost collection services to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky residents. Cost: $10 a month, $29 every three months, or $55 every six months. back2thedirt.com

CompostNow

CompostNow offers collection services in several cities, including Cincinnati. The company picks up the four-gallon bin and swaps it out for a clean container weekly or biweekly. Unlike most local services, the list of compostables includes meat and dairy. Cost: $19-$39 a month. compostnow.org

Findlay Market Residential Composting Program

Shoppers can rent five-gallon containers from the Market for at-home use and then drop off their food waste as part of the Greening the Market Sustainability Program. Cost: $10 a month or $55 for six months. findlaymarket.org/ compostingprogram

GoZERO

A nonprofit based in London, Ohio, GoZERO helps consumers organize composting “stations” (64-gallon bins) across the state. Local stations include Rooted Juicery in Oakley, Mad Llama Coffee in Madisonville, and Melink Corporation in Milford. Cost: $10 a month plus one-time $20 bucket and lid delivery fee. gozero.org

Local Compost

This Burlingtonbased company offers pick-up compost services throughout Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati as well as a drop-off option at Covington’s Redden Gardens, turning the composted materials into nutrient-rich soil, a portion of which is offered back to the customer at no charge. Cost: $25 a month. local-compost.com

Queen City Commons

QCC’s Compost Drop-Off Program, which operates dropoff sites in a variety of neighborhoods, including Walnut Hills, Over-the-Rhine, and Northside, provides Cincinnatians with an affordable residential composting option that offers daily access to compost collection bins. Cost: A sliding scale of between $5 and $15 a month. queencitycommons.com