Colonie Compost Project

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 510 Albany Shaker Rd., Loundonville, NY

Thanks to a generous grant from the Albany County Legislature, the volunteers at the non-profit Zero Waste Capital District have worked with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the Town of Colonie, and building consultant Rich Daley of Sunray Sustainability to create a community food scraps drop off site at the Church that can serve approximately 60 families.  The site allows local residents to drop off their food scraps in locked bins any time that’s convenient, 24/7.  From the bins, the food scraps are taken to be composted at Vermiluv, a worm composting operation nearby.  At the launch, Albany County Legislators from Colonie, plus representatives from the Town, Good Shepherd Church, and previously-trained residents will be depositing their first pail of collected food scraps.

“Separating out food scraps from our other waste is a triple win” says Tina Lieberman, Chair of Zero Waste Capital District.  “It helps us reduce landfill waste, lessen greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill, and make local compost – an incredibly valuable fertilizer for our gardens and lawns.”

Those who wish to participate in the Colonie Compost Project must first attend a one-hour training run by Zero Waste volunteer and Colonie resident, Glen Culbertson.  At the end of the training, participants take a brief quiz to assure they know what goes in the bin and what stays out.  They then get the combination to the mobile storage unit that houses the food scrap collection bins in the Church parking lot. 

“The most important thing to remember is not to put plastics of any kind in the bin.  Even so-called ‘compostables’ are not allowed,” explains Glen.  “We need to avoid putting microplastics and chemicals into our food supply.  Besides, the worms won’t eat them.”  Approximately 15 families will begin the program this spring.  Then another group of 15 families will be trained in early summer.  A free will donation of $2 per drop off is requested but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. 

The next training is online and scheduled for Wednesday April 29 at 7 pm via Zoom.  Register at https://www.zerowastecd.org/composting/colonie-compost-project. 

Susan Laurilliard, Albany County Legislator for Colonie said, "It's only a matter of time until our local landfills, and really, all landfills run out of space, and composting represents one of the most realistic, cost-effective and environmentally sound answers to this ever-mounting problem. The teamwork exhibited here, from the years of effort by Glen Culbertson and Dave Esmond to the generous hosting of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church to Tina's dedication at Zero Waste Capital District, is exactly what's going to help us move forward and meet even our thorniest problems with real, workable solutions."

Ellen Rosano, Albany County Legislator for Colonie said, "This is exactly the kind of work that legislator grants from Albany County are best-suited to seed and support, and I couldn't be prouder that I was able to play a part in introducing a composting program in Colonie. Composting this way represents an extraordinary marriage of the wisdom humans have understood for thousands of years and ultra-modern technology, and today they are coming together to provide a safe, simple and environmentally friendly solution to the truly vexing problem of an ever-growing flood of solid waste into our landfills and methane into our atmosphere."

Dave Mayo, Albany County Legislator for Colonie said, "This is the kind of program that, once planted, could grow into something truly phenomenal for the community over time. It's a pilot project, a small solution that has the potential to have a real impact on a problem, solid waste, that we can't look away from. For years environmental advocates have preached the gospel of composting, so it's only fitting that the message be translated into action at this gracious church. We are starting with 60 families, and the firm intention to grow and grow this composting program, to take those first small steps that are the only way to make a big difference, and to do so together, as a community, with every resource at our disposal."