Responding to my email query, Karen Bouquillon of the Northampton Department of Public Works reports 225 of Northampton’s more than eleven thousand households have diverted about 2.9 tons (5,789 pounds) of food waste in the first seven weeks of the DPW‘s pilot composting program. That averages out to about 827 pounds per week and projects to almost exactly 21.5 tons (43,004 pounds) per year, all things held constant. That’s a total of about 26 pounds per participating household, which averages out to about 3.7 pounds diverted per week.
The city has shipped (yes, burning fossil fuels along the way I presume) the waste to Farmer’s Friend Composting Facility in Belchertown, a growing community east of Northampton. I could not find information online about this facility with a basic search. Nor did I ask how much this costs the city, but I will, or someone else can.
According to Bouquillon, volunteer Rose Weiss has been working on an analysis of surveys from program participants and the results are pending.
Residents can sign up for the program by stopping in at the DPW Landfill Desk office. Hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. A 2010-2011 vehicle permit is required to participate. Call 413-587-1570 for more information.
Bouquillon plans to provide more data next week.
