Talking trash in Leisure World

SENIORS FOR PEACE

by Nancy Goldstein

LW contributor

On July 6, the Seniors for Peace Club presented a program on composting from Nancy Cuyon, a representative from Athens Waste Management. Cuyon titled her presentation “Talking Trash.” The meeting room was filled to capacity with over 50 people. Cuyon was immediately confronted with hands up for questions, which continued for almost two hours.

It was apparent that those attending wanted to participate in composting but felt that the information they had been provided was lacking and welcomed the opportunity to find out more.

Most of the queries were about what was considered “compostable” and what kind of bags are allowed. There was good news with the latter question: The speaker advised that most grocerystore fruit and vegetable bags are compostable and can be dumped into the bins, and they are free, thus eliminating the necessity to purchase special bags.

Many residents commented on the unpleasent look and smell of the compost containers, which Cuyonr said could be replaced if the container’s condition became really bad.

The composted waste is trucked to the OC Waste Management facility where it goes through a filtering process to get rid of unwanted or non-compostable elements.Then “Mother Nature” takes care of the process of decomposing after which it is again filtered and made available as compost to protect and nourish plants, trees and the like. Composting helps avoid clogging landfills, which contributes to methane gases that are hazardous to the planet.

The club chose to highlight this topic because it believes that as the earth warms, all people are charged with the responsibility to do their part to take care of mother Earth for their own sakes as well as generations to come.