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