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How Composting Fits In To Vermont's Recycling Conversation

Vermont Public | By Lynne McCrea,

Published October 7, 2019 at 5:04 PM EDT

A woman uses a pitchfork to move compost in a backyard garden. — Nearly a quarter of Vermont's trash is compostable organics. By July 2020 Vermont will ban food scraps from the trash.

Brave Little State just told us all about where Vermont's recyclables go, and how many of the plastic, metal and paper items get re-used once recycled. But what about the 60,000 tons of compostable organics that make up roughly 24 percent of Vermont's trash?

Josh Kelley oversees the implementation of Vermont's Universal Recycling law for the Department of Environmental Conservation. He joins Vermont Edition to discuss how composting and an upcoming July 2020 ban of food scraps from the trash fit into the broader goals of Vermont's waste stream.

Broadcast live on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

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Lynne McCrea

Lynne worked for Vermont Public from 2002 to 2022 as a producer/reporter for special news projects.

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Jane Lindholm

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.

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Matthew F Smith

Originally from Delaware, Matt moved to Alaska in 2010 for his first job in radio. He spent five years working as a radio and television reporter, radio producer, talk show host, and news director. His reporting received awards from the Alaska Press Club and the Alaska Broadcasters Association. Relocating to southwest Florida, he was a producer for television news and NPR member station WGCU for their daily radio show, Gulf Coast Live. He joined Vermont Public in October 2017 as producer of Vermont Edition.

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