|| Summit County's Community Compost Program
 In 2010, One Ski Hill Place and Vail Resorts Echo presented HC3 with a $10,000 check to support HC3's Community Compost Programs. Thanks to this support and our partnership with Summit County Government, we've come a long way with waste reduction programs in Summit County. Check out some of the things we've accomplished together this year - click here.
 WHY
COMPOST
COMMUNITY COMPOST COLLECTION / DROP OFF
HIGH COUNTRY COMPOST - COMPOST OPERATIONSDIY - BACKYARD
COMPOSTING
DIY - VERMICOMPOSTING
(WORM COMPOSTING)
COMPOST COLLECTION IN SUMMIT SCHOOLS
WORMS
IN THE CLASSROOM
HC3'S MASTER MOUNTAIN COMPOSTER PROGRAM
GREEN EVENTS - HC3'S ZERO WASTE PARTY PACKS
Why Compost?
Most landfills are designed to NOT breakdown organic
waste. Many people mistakenly believe that the landfill
is a giant composting system. In reality, all of your
leftovers, yard clippings, and organic wastes that go
into the garbage do not turn into high-nutrient soil in
the landfill. Organic substances need adequate oxygen,
sunlight, and beneficial microorganisms to recycle naturally
into compost. Landfill conditions foster an anaerobic
(oxygen-depleted) environment where decomposition of food
and other waste produces methane, a
greenhouse gas 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
This is the newest information that blows away the past
reports of methane being 23 times more potent than carbon
dioxide. This hazardous output makes landfills the largest
human-related source of methane emissions (34%) in the
United States. From a climate-change perspective, composting (backyard and commercial collection) is beneficial because it inhibits methane production. How? In a compost pile, oxygen-dependent bacteria break down the organic material, leaving water and carbon - not methane.
Stop
Trashing the Climate (Executive Summary June 08) found
the following:
“Landfills are the largest source of anthropogenic
methane emissions in the U.S., and the impact of landfill
emissions in the short term is grossly underestimated
— methane is 72 times more potent than CO2 over
a 20-year time frame. National data on landfill greenhouse
gas emissions are based on international accounting protocols
that use a 100-year time frame for calculating methane’s
global warming potential. Because methane only stays in
the atmosphere for around 12 years, its impacts are far
greater in the short term. Over a 100-year time frame,
methane is
25 times more potent than CO2. However, methane is 72
times more potent than CO2 over 20 years.”
"Stop
Trashing the Climate," cover and lead story in BioCycle
magazine, August 2008 reported:
“Leading scientists now agree that atmospheric GHG
(Greenhouse Gas) concentrations must decline over the
next 15 years in order to avoid rapid and widespread climate
change. Unfortunately, widely used tools to measure greenhouse
gases evaluate the effects of the gases over 100 year…
But on a 20-year time horizon (reflecting the need for
significant reduction over the next 15 years as just noted),
this global warming potential jumps to 72 times that of
CO2. What does this mean? It means, for instance, that
the impact of methane emissions from landfills in the
short term are almost three times higher than reported.
And it point to the need to target methane now.”
As you can see, there is a link between waste and climate
change. Because greenhouse gases are largely responsible
for climate change (or global warming), reducing the amount
of organic waste going to the landfill also combats climate
change. Compost has the remarkable power to absorb carbon
emissions. Currently, around a quarter of the world’s
carbon emissions are absorbed by the earth’s soil.
However, climate change is damaging the soil’s ability
to absorb carbon emissions. It seems to be a Catch 22!
Compost is the answer. Compost provides an ideal environment
for methanotrophic bacteria (bacteria that uses methane
as carbon and energy). The EPA found that a blanket of
compost on a landfill can help reduce methane emissions
by as much as 100 percent! Compost can also be used to
enhance the nutrients in existing soil and therefore,
improve soil damaged by climate change.
Download
GrassRoots Recycling Networks handout on "Burying Organics
Stinks: The Compost Solution"
Download
EPA's "Cover Up with Compost" Fact Sheet
Download
Stop Trashing the Climate Execuite Summary, June 2008
Excerpt from "A Nation of Farmers" on Compost as a Solution for Climate Change
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|| Compost Collection and Drop-Off Programs
 In the summer of 2011, HC3 and Summit County Recycling launched the first compost pilot program in Summit County at the Frisco Recycling Center. We had over 60 locals participate in the program. Thanks to the success of the program, HC3 will be working with a local business, Faction & Company, to continue compost collection at the Frisco Recycling Center with the goal to expand collection across the county next year (including the new Breckenridge Recycling Facility). Faction & Company will continue the collection for the same monthly fee as the pilot project (please see below for details). In addition, Faction & Company offers recycling, compost, and trash collection services for residents and businesses. Please click here for more info about these services.
Program overview
The 2011 Compost Pilot Program will continue through September 20. During the month of September, Ethan Mason and Erick Becerril from Faction & Company will be at the Frisco Recycling Center during regular drop off times to talk to participants about continuing the program. HC3 will help facilitate the transition of the program under Faction & Company. If you would like to continue the program or sign up for the first time, please contact Jen for more information.
Service Includes: Participants receive a 4.5 gallon compost collection bucket, a training, and have access to dropping off food scraps and non-recyclable paper waste at the Frisco Recycling Center at scheduled drop off times.
Cost: $17 a month for compost services (just over $4/week!).
Current Compost Drop Off Times: Every Monday 4pm - 7pm and Thursday 10am - 1pm
Download the Compost guidelines HERE
|| High Country Compost - Commercial Compost Operations
 FALL CLEARANCE PRICING & NEW EXCITING PRODUCT!
Announcing High Country Compost's NEW ¼" Screened Top Dressing Compost for $30 CY (cubic yard). Their high grade class 1 compost screened to ¼" is perfect to top off your fall beds and is a great amendment for potting soil or even worm vermiculture beds. And remember, there is a 25% discount on both HCC & NOBS compost on sale now thru 12/31/11 for $20.25 CY. Scroll down for more info about these compost products.
Please call ahead for orders of 5CY or more - 970-468-9263X0. Click here for more info.
Compost is now available for purchase at the Summit Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP) at the Summit County Landfill in Keystone!
A little history of the program: The High Country Compost program was developed in conjunction with the Snake River & the Upper Blue wastewater treatment plants primarily to deal locally with our pine beetle epidemic and to also divert biosolids and food waste from the landfill. The High Country Composting Facility produces two types of compost; both products are equally great for soil amendments. High Country Compost (HCC) is made with biosolids - and the second - No Biosolid HCC is made from food waste. Both products are mixed with chips from mountain pine beetle kill - one solution to deal with a substantial amount of the tree kill.
 Summit County Government has graciously donated compost and soil from the High Country Compost operations to community garden projects including Silvana's Community Garden, Nancy's Community Garden, and The Living Classroom. The unique closed-loop system includes compost collection from zero waste events, school lunch waste, and participating restaurants into a nutrient-rich soil that is contributed back into the community through the above community garden projects.
Close the Loop - Buy locally. High Country Compost is a class 1 high quality compost, stabilized organic materials that have passed all state requirements for unrestricted use and can be used with all plant types in any type of soil (sandy or clay). These materials are screened to half inch & meet EPA 40 CFR 50. In addition to these products, SCRAP supplies blended topsoil and a composted mulch product.
Please call ahead (970-468-9263x0) to schedule pickups for loads larger than 5 cubic yards. Bagged & cubic yard pricing is available. SCRAP accepts cash and check only, no credit or debit cards accepted. Compost is available Monday - Friday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Current Pricing Schedule
Application & Use Information
Classification Information
Compost/Soil Amendment Classifications
Please help us keep our compost program plastic-free: National Eco-Cycle research reveals micro-plastics in compost threaten humans and our environment. Many U.S. compost programs are inadvertently polluting our soils with plastic fragments by trying to compost plastic-coated paper products, according to new research from Eco-Cycle and partner Woods End Laboratories. These small plastic fragments threaten marine and soil ecosystems, wildlife and even humans, enough to call for a ban on plastic-coated plastic products from composting. Read more about the findings here and please help the High Country Compost Facility keep plastic out of our compost by adhering to the compost guidelines.
Thanks for your interest and please call 970-468-9263 x0 with any other questions.
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|| Backyard
Composting
Download
the Basics to Backyard Composting Fact Sheet
Download
a Comparison of Backyard Composting Bins
Download
a Composting in Bear Country Fact Sheet
Composting is possible
in a high altitude, cold weather climate!
It may take a little longer,
but not much. A compost pile that freezes will begin
composting again upon thawing and typically will decompose
quickly, as the cells have been broken by ice crystals,
giving it a jump start on decomposition.
If you would rather keep
the pile active all winter, you can prevent freezing by:
- Insulate the sides of the bin with
straw bales or foam board
- Add a lid of plywood to keep the
snow off of the pile
- Stir it often during the cold months
(this will keep it hot)
- Add "hot" wastes, such
as: horse manure, fruit pulp (free at juice bars),
lobster/crab shells, and seaweed.
|| Vermicomposting
(or worm composting)
Download
a Vermicomposting Fact Sheet
Download
a Build Your Own Worm Bin Fact Sheet
Why compost with
worms? Here are some benefits:
- Worm composting is faster than backyard
composting - worms produce compost every day!
- You can compost year-round with worms... no more frozen
compost bins
- Some consider worm castings (another
name for the compost they create) to be even more fertile
than typical backyard compost
- Worm bins can be kept in very small
spaces indoors, so people without yards can do it...
it is great for apartment/condo dwellers and classrooms!
- Compost tea (the liquid produced
during the process) is easy to harvest from most worm
bins and can be used on houseplants (or any other plants)
as a liquid fertilizer
- Kids love it!
- They are the easiest pets to care
for! You can go on vacation for 2 weeks without
getting a "worm sitter!"
- There is less maintenance involved
- no mixing needed!
 Not
just any worm can do the job!! Although most species
of worms will break down organics to some degree, red wigglers
(a.k.a. red worms or Eisenia fetida) are the best
for processing large amounts of organics quickly.
They also reproduce quickly and are tough enough to survive
minor temperature fluctuations.
Nightcrawlers are earthworkers,
meaning that they work deep underground on soil and are
not too interested in organics.
Contact Jen to learn how to start your own bin. We also sell red worms!
We host vermi workshops
a couple of times a year. Please visit our events
and workshops page to find out the date of our next
worm workshop!
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|| Compost Collection in Summit Schools
Download an Info Sheet about the School Compost Program
Download a list of Acceptable Compostable Items
Acceptable Compostable Items in Spanish
Download a Short Video of Summit Cove Composting
 Vail Resorts Echo Supports Compost Collection and Education in Summit Schools
Vail Resorts Echo, the Company’s social responsibility and environmental stewardship program, enables Vail Resorts to preserve and care for Colorado’s spectacular natural environment and support local community-based environmental programs.
Thanks to the support of Vail Resorts Echo, the Composting in the Schools Program provided all six local elementary schools and Summit High School with compost, recycling, and trash bins for the cafeteria as well as signage and educational materials for students, teachers, and parents. In 2010, HC3 worked directly with Summit County elementary school students, school staff, faculty and administrators, to provide lunchroom and classroom education about the science, environmental benefits, and methods of composting.
 The lunch waste collected from the schools are transported to the High Country Compost Facility at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park where its transformed into dark rich soil in a matter of weeks.
The Compost in the Schools Program also teaches students and parents to aim for a waste-free lunch. Even with recycling and composting efforts in place in the lunchroom, kids are still bringing sandwiches wrapped in plastic packaging, unrecyclable juice boxes, chip bags, and disposable plastic forks. These items are unfortunately destined for our landfills. Parents can minimize food and packaging waste by packing a waste-free lunch using reusable, recyclable, and compostable materials. Click here to learn more about waste-free lunches.
The Composting in the Schools Program has benefited the entire community—and our environment—by reducing the waste generated in local schools. With the help of the County’s High Country Compost Facility, schools have achieved, on average, over 70% in waste diversion (including recycling and composting). Furthermore, the Composting in the Schools program has fostered environmental benefits such as reductions of greenhouse gas emissions (through methane reductions from landfill gas) and the production of a local soil amendment for backyard and community gardens and reclamation projects.
 Composting in the Schools Highlights
- HC3 facilitated compost collection in five Summit County elementary schools and the high school. HC3 will start compost collection at the middle school this fall.
- HC3 reached over 1,500 students with composting education through lunchroom presentations, classroom presentations, or tours at the High Country Compost Facility
- In 2010, three new Summit County small businesses implemented a commercial composting program
- The Composting in the Schools program has (thus far) collected 13.2 tons of compost or 26,480 pounds of materials through composting.
- This program avoided 30.7 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 5 cars off the road for a year.
- This program avoided 3,807 pounds of substances that threaten human health, including carcinogens, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.
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Believe it or not, worms have a magical power to draw students
in while teaching them about nature and the environment,
waste and recycling, science and decomposition, math, creative
writing… and more. There are many ways to incorporate
the worms into teacher's lesson plans. We are happy to provide
you with sample lesson plans ranging from preschool to high
school.
Through Worms in the Classroom, HC3's staff will visit classrooms
with a worm bin and composting materials. Classroom visits
range from 30 minutes to an hour and include a short presentation
about red worms and composting. Students will also have
the opportunity to learn about red worm biology and explore
compost piles. It is a hands-on experience fun for all ages!
Worms in the Classroom is also working to
provide classrooms with permanent classroom worm bins. Through
our sponsorship program, Summit County locals and businesses
can sponsor a worm bin in a Summit County classroom. If
you have parents or partners that may be interested in the
Worms in the Classroom sponsorship program, let us know!
Sponsorship is only $30 and will provide a classroom with
worms, a bin, educational materials, and a mini-workshop
on how to take care of your worms.
We are currently scheduling classrooms to
participate in Worms in the Classroom. Teachers, if you
are interested in having HC3 bring worms
to your classroom or want your own classroom worm bin, contact
jen@highcountryconservation.org
for more information or call 668-5703. Sponsors may also download
the sponsorship letter and application.
Join the new Worms
in the Classroom Google Group to stay in the
loop about classroom worm composting and to download classroom
materials.
Download
the WIC Sponsorship Letter and
Application
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