1. Initiating a Composting Program
Maryland Department of the Environment
Initiating a Composting Program
Justin Creswell Facilities Manager MD Department of the Environment 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 505 Baltimore MD   (Cell)  (Office)  (fax)

2. Information Gathering Call/ Research Vendors Internal Collection Procedures/ Infrastructure Education

3. Information Gathering
Leased or owned building?
Leased
Landlord cooperation
Landlord participation
Cleaning crew collaboration
Billing/ invoicing
Placement of outside bins
Placement of inside bins
Purchasing of supplies, i.e., bags
Owned Building
Placement of bins
Purchasing of supplies
Participation
All tenants participate
Plan to change the culture

4. Information Gathering Cont.
How much food waste is thrown away daily?
Observe yourself
Observe coworkers and ask them to observe as well
Collection locations
Identify locations with the most food waste
Breakrooms
Cafeteria
Kitchens
Place bins in area with populations
Place bins in full view with clear signage

5. Call/ Research Vendors
Call vendors
Many vendors take the organic material to the same facility
Find out where the waste is taken
How often do they pick up the waste
Once per week
Twice per week
Try not to let the waste sit over the weekend
What size bins/ totes do they provide
35 gallon
65 gallon
95 gallon
How many bins do you need/ can they provide
Do they replace the bins with clean ones
Who cleans the bins
Do they support a roll-out program/ presentation
Do they weigh the waste
Provide totals
When are totals given
PRICE

6. Internal Collection Procedures
Location of bins
Frequency of collection
Daily
Weekly
Bin Type
Stainless steel
Lid
Open without hands
Signage
Provided by vendor
Provided by you
Size of sign
Keep it simple
Who collects the waste
Who maintains the containers
ASTM 6400 bags

10. ASTM D6400-12 ASTM- American Society for Testing and Materials
Standard specification for labeling of
plastics designed to be aerobically
composted in municipal or industrial
facilities.

11. Education Does the vendor provide on-site training
Brown Bag lunch
An / handout
You provide the training
Bring examples and quiz on what is acceptable
Show examples of the signs and explain
CREATE THE CULTURE