Huntington Woods Buckets For Compost

Community: Huntington Woods
Population: 2,500-9,999

Huntington Woods residents can take advantage of free compost courtesy of yard waste composting operations by SOCRRA (South Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority). But getting the compost from the Department of Public Works (DPW) yard to the garden can be a chore. Resident Kim Bateman recognized that empty Purina cat litter buckets were the perfect size to transport compost and they are stackable and durable. Bateman suggested that the city collect them on behalf of residents who need a container and keep them at the DPW for ready access. Thanks to Bateman and others, the city now has 60 containers for residents to use and then return for the next compost user. Finally, when a bucket reaches the end of its useful life, the city will take it to SOCRRA to recycle in SOCRRA’s new “bulk plastic” receptacle, making sure it stays out of the landfill.


Replicability:

This project can be replicated by cities that offer free compost or road salt to residents. Since cats are common pets and they need litter, asking residents to donate empty cat litter buckets is a simple request. That means the city can provide this convenient service at no cost. Plus, the buckets don't require a lot of room for storage since they are stackable.

Creativity and Originality:

Using kitty litter buckets is an innovative way to encourage the use of a sustainable resource (compost) and promote recycling by keeping plastic out of landfills. Because it is a unique project, the DPW created stickers for the buckets with our logo so residents understand what the buckets are for. The sticker says: Borrow-a-Bucket for Compost Please return the bucket to the compost pile so it can be used by someone else!

Community Impact:

Our residents have a high recycling rate and finding new ways to recycle and reuse are always appreciated. Plus, it's a practical solution to the problem of moving compost from the city site to the garden.

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