Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Compost…
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Yes!
While in backyard compost pile, meat and dairy can have the potential to spread diseases like salmonella and e-coli. As of January, 2019 we CAN accept green bins with meat or dairy products.
Industrial composting methods produce enough heat to kill food born bacteria and pathogens in meat and dairy.
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No.
Pet waste needs to be treated and sterilized before it comes in contact with garden grade compost. For this reason we do not accept pet waste.
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Yes!
Rancid, moldy, or rotten food is acceptable. In fact, it has already started the composting process.
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Maybe.
Small amounts of oil/grease is okay. Greasy food or cured food like Jerky will compost. Napkins and paper towels with grease on them are also acceptable.
However, we cannot accept buckets of fryer grease/oil. This drastically slows down the composting process.
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No.
These stickers are not compostable but everything else about fruit is.
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Maybe.
Any cardboard that is shiny or has a coating on it is not compostable due to the protective coating.
Uncoated brown cardboard, pizza boxes, newspaper, brown craft paper, and leaf bags are all compostable.
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No.
Wax and wax coated items both hinder the breakdown process and can introduce small amounts of hydrocarbons into the compost pile. Hydrocarbons are well known for their carcinogenic effects that cans easily make their way into food if high enough concentration is present in agricultural soil.
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No.
Paper that does not have a gloss finish can be composted.
However, anything with a glossy shine or heavy ink cannot be composted. This includes wrapping paper, magazines, photographs, stickers, and even glossy cardboard products.
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No.
Most clothes nowadays are made out of synthetic material that does not decompose and can add toxins in the compost soil.
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Maybe.
All wood must be unpainted to be composted. Raw pallets, boards, lumber, tree branches and stumps can come to a commercial composting facility.
Nails and other metals will be screened out or pulled out with magnets after the composting process.
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Yes!
Grass trimmings, sod, rock free soil, prunnings and leaves can go to a commercial composting facility as well. Marijuana trimmings, plants, and planting material like used potting mix are acceptable too.
Facilities that use tub grinders like Garden City Compost in Missoula do not have size restrictions on the tree waste that comes in, but it should be free of rocks that can damage their machinery.
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Yes!
Weed seeds and roots are cooked out during the commercial composting process.
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Yes!
Food scraps of all sorts are compostable in commercial composting facilities. Large seeds like avocado seeds and peach pits are good to go. Any nuts and nut shells can all be composted.
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No.
While ash can be composted, it creates a potential fire hazard. For this reason, we do not accept ash.
About Curbside Composting:
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Curbside composting is the collection of organic waste materials just like normal collections heading to the landfill. However, instead of bringing material to the landfill, we transport all collections to Missoula’s Industrial Composting facility.
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You put organic material in your green bin and put it out on the curb on your service areas pick up day. Bio bags are not required.
We pick up weekly.
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All organic materials can be composted. If it grows, it can go. Missoula also practices industrial composting which includes the collection of meat, bones, dairy, and eggs. Disposables BPI certified can also be discarded in your compost bin.
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Anything artificially produced can not be composted. Basically anything waxy, glossy, metal, and disposables not BPI certified. Manure and ash are also not accepted because they may cause liability issues.
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Check out our “Residential” tab to view our service area map.
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For commercial clients click the “Commercial” tab, residential click “Residential” tab, and event services click the “Event” tab under Collections. There are forms at the bottom of each page. Simply fill these out to start composting.
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Missoula Compost picks up weekly.
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Yes, separation at the source of disposal is critical for effective composting. Help keep our compost chain clean by removing any trash or recyclable material.
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You can use biodegradable bags for curbside composting. Sell 3 gallon bags for the kitchen and larger 13 gallon bags. Using bio bags help keep your green container clean.
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After Missoula Compost collects your organic material we head to Garden City Compost where all our collections are composted by the city. Your material never gets further than 10 miles from the pick up location and we never take trips to the landfill.
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Curbside composting may attract the occasional pest and cause odor if not balanced well. However, it will attract far less pests than back yard methods.
To mitigate potential pests, keep your bin in a closed area like a garage. We also provide bear bins for customers in forested areas. As for odors, simply make sure you are balancing the amount of fresh green materials (nitrogen rich) and wood based materials like cardboard or sawdust (carbon rich). The carbon material will soak up a lot of liquids and odors.
If you have especially potent material, you can freeze it and put it out on your collection day to avoid all odors from food waste.
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If you have issues with your compost services please contact us either through
email at info@missoulacompost.com or
call 406-370-5876; click Lara’s extension as Sean is often out on business errands.
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Yes! We love to compost yard waste. Throw it right in your green bin or set it beside. Every three bags or equivalent beside your bin will cost an additional $5.
We ask that small material is either in a brown paper bag or bio bag. If it is loose it often blows away or causes a fiasco when trying to load it in our truck.
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Curbside composting is more cost effective especially when factoring in start up costs, time, and energy needed for alternative methods.
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Curbside composting rescues resources from becoming toxic in the landfill, recycles them into usable soil to fuel new growth and stabilize soil. Composting also reduces methane emissions significantly that are often caused by non-oxygenated decomposition of organic material.
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Yes, industrial composted soil is wonderful for gardens. The soil is guaranteed to be fully composted and carbon/nitrogen balanced. Nutrients from organics all around the city nourish your garden and build its resilience to many environmental factors.
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Unfortunately, the city does not have a municipal compost collection service. Missoula Compost was created to fill this gap. Because of this, it is hard to develop many incentives or discounts without the city's support. We do what we can and have been working on giving back to our customers.
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Yes! Missoula Compost is capable of transporting a lot of organic waste. We love having our commercial customers. Especially in industries that produce a lot of organic waste. Regardless, everything counts when it comes to composting, large or small.
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Help create awareness by talking about composting and provide information without judgment. Changing habits is hard, be patient and available. Be a source for support for our community and advocate for our resources.
