How and where to compost in Kansas City. These local organizations make it easy
Whether it’s stinky, moldy or just plain gross, most people don’t love the look or smell of food waste in their homes. It’s tempting to chuck that leftover food in the trash, but choosing to compost can be better for the planet and take only a little bit more effort. Instead of going straight to a landfill, your kitchen scraps can be transformed into nutrient-rich soil that can help more food grow.
“Reducing your food waste by composting is one of the easiest things you can do,” says Coco Castle, Director of Operations at the Kansas City Compost Collective.
Are you interested in composting but not sure how to get started? Organizations right here in Kansas City are making composting as easy as taking out the trash. Here’s a guide to some local composting resources.
This story is from The Star’s new Service Journalism team. We’re here to share information that makes it easier to navigate local challenges and participate in the Kansas City community. Have a question for us? Fill out the form at the bottom of this story.
Why compost?
If you leave a head of lettuce out on the counter, it’ll start rotting away within a week or less. But when that same head of lettuce ends up in the super-compressed environment of a landfill, it can take up to 25 years to decay. This drawn-out rotting process happens in the absence of fresh air, causing it to produce methane: one of the most potent greenhouse gases that contributes to global warming.
Composting adds air back into the equation and speeds up the decay process. This both prevents the production of methane gas and turns the food waste back into nutrient-rich soil that can be used in gardens, parks and farms. Enthusiastic composters can do this at home using an outdoor compost pile or a carefully tended indoor bin. But if you don’t have the space, know-how or resources to do it yourself, here are some local groups ready to help facilitate the process.
Curbside composting services
These organizations run curbside composting services that collect food and lawn waste right from your door. All you have to do is sign up, pay a small weekly or monthly fee and leave your compostable waste out on the curb in the provided compost bucket for pickup.
Compost Collective KC: This organization accepts food waste, non-woody lawn waste like grass clippings and flowers and uncoated paper products like used paper towels, napkins and takeout containers. Curbside pickup is available in the Kansas City area in both Kansas and Missouri. Weekly collection is $30 per month, while biweekly collection is $20 per month.
Food Cycle KC: Serving the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro area, this group offers weekly pickup for $27.50 per month or biweekly pickup for $16.50 per month. You can choose either a 3 gallon or 5 gallon bucket and fill it with food waste, uncoated paper products, and some other organic materials. Lawn waste is not permitted.
Compost Connection: This organization specializes in collecting compostable lawn waste, including woody materials like sticks, tree limbs and Christmas trees. It mostly operates in Missouri, but has partnerships with some towns and homeowners’ associations in Kansas. You can find pricing for one-time and recurring pickups on the group’s website.
Drop-off compost locations
If you prefer to drop off your compostable waste yourself, there are a number of places to do so in the Kansas City area. This option is often more affordable and better suited for those who don’t need regular collection of their compostable waste. Just remember to keep your carbon footprint in mind: driving one container of compost to a faraway drop-off location could produce more greenhouse gasses than it prevents.
KC Can Compost: This nonprofit organization currently runs five drop-off locations in Kansas City. Members of its individual composting program receive a small composting can where they can store food waste, food soiled paper and plant scraps. Membership costs $12.99 per month, and members can deposit their waste at the drop-off locations whenever their can gets full.
Urbavore Urban Farm: Located in southeastern Kansas City this farm runs a year-round composting program that accepts food scraps and lawn clippings from Kansas City residents. You can drop off your compostable waste for free on Tuesdays through Sundays from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Woody lawn waste is not permitted.
Missouri Organic Recycling: This large recycling facility specializes in industrial-scale composting and recycling of organic materials. However, anyone can drop off lawn waste (including woody materials) at the facility’s five locations for a small fee. Residents of Kansas City can drop off lawn waste for free on Saturdays at the facility’s Northland and South Kansas City locations.
Compost Collective Bin Swap: Operated by one of the same groups that does curbside pickup in the Kansas City area, this program has twelve swap locations for participants to choose from. Your first bin costs $10, and every subsequent swap of a full bin for a clean empty bin costs $6. Bins can be filled with food waste, non-woody lawn waste and food soiled paper products.
Do you have a favorite composting program in KC that we didn’t mention? Do you have more questions about getting started with composting, or about something totally different? Our Service Journalism Team is here to help. Send us your thoughts and questions at kcq@kcstar.com or by filling out the form below.
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 1:39 PM.
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