More and more businesses are realizing that composting is cost effective and earth-friendly. Control your disposal costs by removing the heavy stuff from the trash.

By participating, your business will help preserve landfill space and reduce climate change by avoiding methane emissions from organic decay in landfills. The compostable materials are turned into nutrient rich soil that helps grow fresh food.

• Background information
• How does composting work?
• What is compostable?
• What is not compostable?
• Participating businesses (Support them!)
• Drop-off Program for Residents
• Food to Flowers (school composting)

Want to start composting?
Contact Save That Stuff at 617.241.9998 or adam@savethatstuff.com. View the brochure and training poster.

Background Information

The City received a MassDEP grant to work with our business recycling hauler Save That Stuff, to offer food waste recycling services to Cambridge businesses including universities, supermarkets, hotels, cafeterias (hospitals & assisted living homes), restaurants, bars, florists, and coffee shops.

Collection began in September and our goal is to collect 10-15 tons/day 5-6 days/week. Save That Stuff has developed pricing options that are the same or less than the current price paid by the customer for trash disposal. John Connolly, a consultant with extensive experience implementing organics programs, was been hired to help recruit and train customers.

Diverting organics from the waste stream helps the City meet the goals of the Cambridge Climate Protection Plan and the goals of the Massachusetts Solid Waste Master Plan. This service will also be offered to the public schools participating in CitySprouts in the 2006-2007 school year.

• 2007 Final Report, Attachments
• Biocycle Magazine Article
• 2006 Interim Report
• Powerpoint Presentation

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How does composting work?

Join the supermarkets, flower shops, cafes and restaurants across the state that are composting almost half of their waste. Composting is easy—it rarely poses a space problem and it can save businesses money. Any business that generates compostable material can participate.

Save That Stuff provide customers with secure, leak-proof covered carts. Pickup service is available six days per week. Free multilingual posters and training is available

In addition, Save That Stuff will work with you to develop a pickup schedule that helps you minimize the amount of time the organic materials are stored at your location.

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What’s compostable?

All Food Scraps: kitchen trimmings, plate scrapings, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, meat, bones, fish dairy products and baked goods. Food Soiled Paper: paper cups and paper plates, placemats, milk cartons, waxed cardboard boxes and saw dust. Plants: yard trimmings and floral clippings.

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What’s not compostable?
Glass, plastic, styrofoam, metal, liquids, grease, and other nonbiodegradable items.

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Cambridge businesses, institutions and schools that are composting!
(in alphabetical order, continually updated)

1. Abt Associates
2. Atwoods
3. Basta Pasta Trattoria
4. Berry Line
5. BoLoco
6. Boston Research Center
7. Boston Tea Stop
8. Bukowski's Tavern
9. Cambridge Brewing Company
10. Cambridge Common
11. Central Square Florist
12. Cellars Wine
13. Charles Hotel
14. Charlie's Kitchen
15. Craigie on Main
16. Christopher's
17. Crema Cafe
18. Dunkin Donuts (JFK St)
19. EF Education First
20. Felipe's Taquaria
21. Formaggio Kitchen
22. Four Burgers
23. Genzyme
24. Grendel's Den
25. Harding House
26. Harvard University
27. Harvest Co-op Market
28. Hong Kong Restaurant
29. Hot Off the Press
30. Hungry Mother Restaurant
31. International School of Boston
32. Irving House at Harvard
33. Jose's Mexican Restaurant
34. Kabloom (1668 Mass Ave)
35. King Open School
36. Lesley University
37. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
38. Market in the Square
39. MIT
40. Museum of Science
41. Oleana Restaurant
42. Ole Mexican Grill
43. Pfizer
44. Portugalia Restaurant
45. Redline
46. Rendevous in Central Square
47. S & H Construction
48. Schlumberger Tech Corp
49. Shaw's Market (Sidney St)
50. Sheraton Commander
51. Shire
52. Sofra Bakery
53. 1369 Coffeehouse
54. West Side Lounge
55. Whole Foods (Fresh Pond)
56. Whole Foods (Prospect St)
57. Whole Foods (River St)
58. Veggie Planet
59. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
60. Zing Pizza