East Lansing Launches Free Composting Program for Residents

Things in East Lansing are about to get a whole lot greener.

The City of East Lansing has launched a brand new pilot program to collect food waste and organics from its residents. If you're the type of person who meticulously recycles and has considered composting—or maybe you already do—this type of program is right up your alley.

Why East Lansing Is Launching This Composting Pilot

This pilot program is part of a city initiative to give the community the chance to "divert organic waste from the landfill". And the best part? It's free to use!

Since this is just a pilot program, they're starting small, placing just a few bins throughout the city.

Where to Find Compost Collection Bins in East Lansing

Those bins can be found at East Lansing City Hall, East Lansing Hannah Community Center, East Lansing Public Library, and East Lansing Department of Public Works.

Cliff Walls, the environmental sustainability and resiliency manager for the City of East Lansing, says that the "goal is to gauge community interest and demand, watch for any issues with odor or pests and identify other challenges before potentially scaling up to neighborhood drop-off sites". So, we won't see them inside neighborhoods just yet. They will, however, be shifting the location of the bins as they learn what works and what doesn't.

What You Can Compost

If you're interested in composting and using this new public service, take a look at what they accept and what they don't. They accept:

• fruits and veggies
• dairy products
• tea bags
• coffee grounds & filters
• breads & grains
• unbleached napkins and paper towels
• meats/bones
• grease
• eggshells
• Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) labeled products

Here's what they DON'T accept:

• glass
• metal
• plastic
• condiment packages
• bleached napkins & paper towels
• pet waste

If you want to start composting, head to one of those collections sites. Just look for the bright green bins labeled "compostables only".