The program is a collaborative effort between the city’s Environmental Sustainability Board and Zero Waste Houston, a family-owned, sustainable business operating out of The Woodlands.
The overview
The food waste program will run from March 2 to April 20. Every Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., residents can drop off their food scraps and other organic materials at a temporary drop-off located in the Condit Elementary School parking lot, right across from city hall on South Rice Avenue.
According to the news release, items that are accepted in the drop-off include:
- Food scraps (vegetable peels, fruit cores, coffee grounds, moldy foods, etc.)
- Meat, bones, seafood and shells
- Compostable cups and utensils
- Paper napkins, towels and cut flowers
The background
Composting is the process of breaking down food scraps to make compost, which can be used as fertilizer to build soil health and provide nutrients to plants, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Elena Diiorio, a Bellaire Environmental Sustainability board member, said during a Jan. 6 City Council meeting that the program was created because Bellaire residents showed interest in what they should do with their food waste. Only a small fraction of Bellaire residents are educated on food composting, and very few use their own backyard composting methods, she said.
“We know from our citizen survey that people are interested in recycling [and] they are interested in sustainability,” Diiorio said. “People are interested in what to do with food. You’re taking food waste, what you throw out on a regular basis, ... where does it go? It needs to be diverted in a sustainable way.”
What they’re saying
City Council unanimously approved the proposal to create the food waste program on Jan. 6.
Council member Brian Witt said during the meeting that he has heard of a similar program done by West University and how successful it has been for the community. He said he hopes this is a program that continues beyond the initial eight weeks.
“I think it’s a no-brainer because I do think there is a desire to have this option, and for the city to help facilitate that and make it easier, is a good thing,” Witt said during the meeting.
Youth Board Advisory member Bella Kalra, who is a part of the environmental subcommittee, said that she appreciates hearing City Council’s support and positive comments on the program.
“As a young person, we see how much climate change affects us, and hearing all your comments makes me so happy,” Kalra said.
