Greener Bay Compost featured in The Business News

We are excited to announce that Greener Bay Compost has been featured in an article by The Business News’ Matthew Day, dated 12/18/2023, regarding our upcoming Public-Private Partnership with the City of De Pere.

You may view the article in full at: https://thebusinessnews.com/article/de-pere-greener-bay-compost-team-up-to-fight-food-waste-

Greener Bay Compost featured on the New Leaf Foods blog

We are excited to announce that Greener Bay Compost has been featured in a blog post by New Lead Foods’ Braedon Richlen, dated 11/2/2023, regarding our one-of-a-kind Compost Pickup Services.

You may view the article in full at: https://newleaffoods.org/blog/f/a-greener-future-with-greener-bay-compost

Significant improvements to our Waste Reduction Rewards Program, effective 8/1/2023

Effective 8/1/2023, we will be making one of the most significant improvements we have ever made to our Waste Reduction Rewards Program (which is just one of three rewards programs we offer to our Residential subscribers, which you can learn more about at www.GBCompost.com/Rewards).

Effective 8/1/2023, Residential subscribers pounds diverted from landfill, which we track publicly via the Greener Bay Compost Leaderboard at www.GBCompost.com/Leaderboard, will be converted to “Compost Points,” which can be redeemed (or “cashed in”) with us, in either 100 or 500 point increments, for bags of our finely sifted, premium compost (which, for those who don’t know, we sell year-round at www.GBCompost.com/Compost).

100 Points = (1) Gallon bag of compost

500 Points = (1) Cubic Foot bag of compost

(For reference, a cubic foot of compost is equivalent to just shy of six and a half gallons of compost)

Please note: As per our current Waste Reduction Rewards Program terms, we will provide Points to subscribers only in exchange for the contents of 100% contaminant-free buckets, on the basis of one Point per each qualifying pound. Simply put, contaminated bucket contents = no Compost Points (and so now may be a good time to review our List of Acceptable and Not Acceptable Materials, located at www.GBCompost.com/List).

We are able to make this improvement to our Waste Reduction Rewards Program in large part due to the fact that in our second year of existence (August 2022 to present), we more than doubled the volume of food waste (and other organics) we divert from landfill each week (thanks in large part to the massive amounts of waste we pick up each week from our Commercial subscribers, which include Glass Nickel Pizza, Kavarna Coffeehouse, Bellin Hospital & Psychiatric Center, and St. Vincent Hospital), compared to our first year (August 2021 to August 2022), as well as to the introduction of our Gallon-sized bags of compost this past November.

This is a very exciting development for us, because it enables a much larger percentage of our Residential subscribers to earn compost from us, in a much shorter period of time, so more of you can experience the awesomeness of our amazing soil amendment/plant superfood for yourselves (or gift it to your loved ones).

Once this improvement takes effect, the Leaderboard will be updated to reflect subscribers “Compost Points Accrued,” rather than “LBS. OF WASTE DIVERTED FROM LANDFILL SINCE 6/1/22”.

Assuming subscribers contact us to advise us they would like to redeem/”cash in” their Points, we will endeavor to distribute their earned compost to them, free of charge and as soon as possible, on one of their future Bucket Swap/Compost Pickup days.

Please note: Once the above-mentioned Leaderboard update is completed, subscribers will be expected to proactively visit the Leaderboard (www.GBCompost.com/Leaderboard) and to contact us, at their convenience, using any of the contact methods available at www.GBCompost.com/Contact, to advise us as to when/how they would like to redeem their Compost Points. Effective 8/1/2023, will no longer be sending individual emails to subscribers to notify them that they have “earned compost” (or accrued a certain number of Compost Points), with rare exception.

Please also note that our compost is, as always, subject to availability, which means we may or may not always have it available, in certain bag sizes, or at certain points in time. That said, we work very hard to ensure our compost is available year-round, in both Gallon and Cubic Foot bags, for both sale and as a reward for our subscribers, and will always do our best to fulfill any requests our subscribers may make to redeem/”cash in” their points (even if such requests are made in the middle of winter).

If you have any questions or concerns about the content of this announcement, please do not hesitate to contact us using any of the contact methods available at www.GBCompost.com/Contact.

Until next time, best wishes & happy composting!

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: We are moving to a Wait List based system with regard to our Residential Compost Pickup and Drop-Off Services

Due to overwhelming demand for our services, and effective immediately, we are moving to a Wait List based system with regard to our Residential Compost Pickup and Drop-Off Services.

What this means is that, going forward, we will not be accepting any new Residential subscribers, until/unless we lose a commensurate number of our existing Residential subscribers.

Pursuant to this decision, we have created a Residential Wait List individuals may sign up for, if they are interested in becoming a Residential subscriber of ours, which may be found by clicking on any of the “Subscribe Now” buttons at www.GBCompost.com/Residential. Should a spot for a new subscriber open up, we will offer said spot, via email, to whomever may be first in line on this Wait List.

What this means for our current Residential subscribers is that should they cancel and take leave of our service, whether it be for a short period of time (i.e.: a month or two) or long-term (i.e.: for years, or “permanently”), they will not necessarily be able to sign back up with us in the future, if/when they decide to return to us. Instead, they will need to sign up for our Wait List and wait to be notified by us of when we have an opening for a new subscriber.

Should anyone on our Wait List receive an offer to sign up with us, which will include a link to a page on this site where they can do so, and assuming we are able to service their location, they will have 48 hours to sign up with us. If they do not sign up within this time frame, they will receive an email from us notifying them that they have been removed from the Wait List, but that they may choose to re-sign-up for the Wait List at any time.

Thank you to all of our Residential and Commercial subscribers who have enabled us to grow to the point where a Wait List has become a necessity for us. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you in the months (and hopefully) years ahead!

If you have any questions about our Wait List, you may contact us using any of the contact methods available at www.GBCompost.com/Contact.

Greener Bay Compost featured in the Green Bay Press-Gazette

We are excited to announce that Greener Bay Compost has been featured in an article by the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Ariel Perez, dated 2/23/2023, highlighting our partnership with companies such as Bellin Health and NWTC.

You may view the article in full at: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/money/2023/02/23/nwtc-bellin-health-use-green-bay-compost-service-to-reduce-food-waste/69848007007/

New $15/month Residential Compost Pickup & Drop-Off Services debuting January 1st, 2023

As a follow-up to our “Price Changes” announcement from yesterday, we are happy to announce that, effective January 1st, 2023, we will be debuting new, Once-a-Month versions of our Residential Compost Pickup and Drop-Off Services, so that we can continue to provide service to Residential subscribers who are unable to pay more than $15.00/month for our services.

These new services will see us perform just one Bucket Swap/Compost Pickup for subscribers to them per month, for just $15.00/month.

We believe that many of our current subscribers may be a good fit for these new plans, especially those whose households routinely produce less than 10 pounds of organic waste each week.

That said, if you reside in a household that produces, on average, 15-20+ pounds of waste each week, we highly recommend sticking with one of our $20/month services (either our Residential Compost Pickup Service, or our Residential Compost Drop-Off Service) going into the new year, as for just $5 extra per month, you will be entitled to at least two Bucket Swap/Compost Pickups each month under these plans.

If you would like to switch, as January of 2023 (or whenever your first renewal date will be in the new year) to one of these new, less expensive plans, all you need to do is contact us using any of the contact methods available at www.GBCompost.com/Contact to let us know that you would like to make the switch and we will set up the switch to occur automatically and coordinate your new Bucket Swap/Compost Pickup schedule with you as we get closer to your transition date.

Please note: Our Add-a-Bucket option will be available to subscribers of either of these new plans, at the same price as they will be to all other Residential subscribers, which is $12.50/month, per bucket. Also, If you are currently signed up for email reminders with us, you will continue to receive email reminders from us on the day prior to your monthly Bucket Swap/Compost Pickup days under this new plan.

If you have any questions about these new plans, you may contact us using any of the contact methods available at www.GBCompost.com/Contact.

Until next time, best wishes and happy composting!

Greener Bay Compost featured in the Press Times for its Recycling Excellence Award win

We are excited to announce that Greener Bay Compost has been featured in an article by the City of Green Bay’s official newspaper, the Press Times, dated 11/28/2022, highlighting our 2022 Wisconsin DNR Recycling Excellence Award win.

You may view the article in full at: https://gopresstimes.com/2022/11/28/two-green-bay-businesses-receive-wisconsin-recycling-excellence-awards/

Greener Bay Compost wins Wisconsin DNR’s 2022 Recycling Excellence Award for “Overall Program”

We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) 2022 Recycling Excellence Award for “Overall Program,” thanks in large part to our cornerstone Residential Compost Pickup Service.

Per the Wisconsin’s DNR’s website:

The Department of Natural Resources recognizes outstanding recycling and waste minimization efforts through its annual Recycling Excellence Award program.

The DNR offers the Recycling Excellence Awards not only in recognition of efforts made but also as a way of highlighting ideas with proven track records that others might use to improve their recycling endeavors.

The “Overall Program” category of the Awards recognizes programs that are robust and constantly improving, demonstrating a commitment to advance the overall recycling/diversion program.

To read more about our winning of this award, you may visit the following websites:

Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Awards (Wisconsin DNR)

Two Green Bay Programs Receive Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Award (Green Bay News Network)

DNR Celebrates Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Award Winners On America Recycles Day (Baldwin Bulletin)

Sign-Up for Greener Bay Compost’s 2nd Annual Pumpkin Drive Has Begun!

This year, Greener Bay Compost is proud to host our 2nd Annual Pumpkin Drive event, which will see us pick up and sustainably dispose of pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, and Indian corn by composting them, 100% FREE OF CHARGE, through the first three weekends of November 2022, for anyone residing in Green Bay, Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Bellevue, De Pere, Hobart, Howard, Ledgeview, or Suamico!

Subscribers to our Residential or Small Business Compost Pickup or Drop-Off Services will receive weight-based credit, under our Waste Reduction Rewards Program, for any and all pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, and Indian corn they provide to us during this event.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR PICKUP OF YOUR PUMPKINS, GOURDS, CORN STALKS, AND INDIAN CORN TODAY!

PLEASE NOTE: We will NOT be picking up any of the above-named items if they contain tea lights or are decorated with paint, marker, glitter, or any other type of chemical or contaminant. Additionally we will NOT be picking up any straw or hay bales, due to how large/bulky they are. Items we do not take can be taken to your local Yard Waste site, as listed below:

• Green Bay Yard Waste information: https://greenbaywi.gov/YardWaste
• Allouez Yard Waste Information: https://www.villageofallouezwi.gov/depts/public-works/yard-waste-and-waste-oil-drop-off-site/
• Ashwaubenon Yard Waste Information: https://ashwaubenon.gov/government/departments/public-works-streets/yard-waste-disposal/
• Bellevue Yard Waste Information: https://www.villageofbellevuewi.gov/departments/public_works/garbage__recycling___yard_waste/yard_waste
• De Pere Yard Waste Information: https://www.deperewi.gov/topic/index.php?topicid=278&structureid=88
• Hobart Yard Waste Information: https://www.hobart-wi.org/public-works
• Howard Yard Waste Information: http://www.villageofhoward.com/174/Yard-Waste-Removal
• Ledgeview Yard Waste Information: https://www.ledgeviewwisconsin.com/departments/public-works/yard-waste/
• Suamico Yard Waste Information: https://www.suamico.org/departments/public_works_engineering/yard_waste_site.php

BENEFITS OF UTILIZING THIS 100% FREE SERVICE:
	Avoid the Inconvenience of Needing to Take Your Pumpkins, Gourds, Corn Stalks, or Indian Corn to your local Yard Waste site		Fast, Friendly, Efficient Service from a Small, Local, Family-Run Business
	Feel Good Knowing Your Fall Decorations Will Become Nutrient-Rich Compost for Local Gardens		Support Us and Our One-of-a-Kind Compost Pickup and Drop-Off Services with Wonderful Sources of Both Nitrogen and Carbon

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UPDATE: Major changes to our policy on waste provided to us outside of our buckets

We are, today, making the following changes to our policies regarding waste provided to us outside of our buckets:

Effective immediately, we will be enforcing a stricter ban on materials provided to us outside of our buckets on Bucket Swap/Compost Pickup days, with the exception of plain/matte pizza boxes, the following list of dry, “high carbon” materials (assuming they can fit inside no more than (2) paper or plastic bags which are no larger than traditional grocery store bags), and any materials we have authorized a subscriber to provide to us outside of their buckets (via a written exception):

1. Plain/matte paper and cardboard items (including, for example, clean or soiled pizza boxes, clean or soiled fast food takeout bags, soiled paper towels and napkins that have not been in contact with chemicals, paper grocery bags, toilet paper and paper towel tubes, egg cartons, newspapers with glossy inserts removed, etc.), with all tape, stickers, staples, and other contaminants removed
2. Fall/autumn leaves (as long as they are not mixed/intermingled with grass/lawn mower clippings, brush, and/or copious amounts of sticks, pinecones, etc.)

As an aside, please note that we still do not accept receipts, as they are made of toxic thermal paper. Going forward, we will also no longer be accepting “junk mail,” including unopened junk mail envelopes and/or their contents, as “junk mail” takes an inordinate amount of time for us to process/sort, compared to the other materials listed above, and pose a far greater risk of contamination to our compost.

Accordingly:

• Receipts should be thrown in the trash.
• “Junk mail” should be recycled.
• Also, please throw any “Snotty” Kleenex/facial tissues (as opposed to paper towels, napkins, etc. soiled with food) in the trash.

But what about dead flowers, corn husks, etc.?

Until recently, we were accepting outside of our buckets materials we considered “dry,” including dead/dead-headed flowers, certain types of garden waste, and corn husks.

Unfortunately, our definitions of “wet” and “dry” have proven to be confusing for our subscribers and have needlessly complicated our policies. Accordingly, and as implied earlier, these materials will only be accepted inside of our buckets from this day forward.

So, what can a subscriber expect, going forward, if they provide material to us outside of our buckets, which should be inside of our buckets?

Should we be provided, outside of our buckets, at any time following this announcement, materials other than those identified above as materials we accept outside of our buckets, we reserve the right to refuse said materials/leave said materials on a subscribers property, without further explanation (and it should be noted that it is our intent to do so).

If, for whatever reason, we decide to take said material from a subscribers property, despite it having been provided to us in what we consider to be an unacceptable manner, our taking of said materials should not be interpreted to mean that we have changed the above-mentioned policy or made an exception to it.

On a related note, and importantly, we will no longer be providing weight-based credit (under our Waste Reduction Rewards Program) relative to materials provided to us in non-compliance with the above-mentioned policy (regardless of whether we take said materials or refuse/leave them on a subscribers property).

Should we take from a subscribers property a bag of what we initially believe to be filled with acceptable, dry, “high carbon” materials, which we later determine to be filled with a mix/combination of acceptable materials and materials we only accept inside of our buckets (for example, a pile of garden waste covered with or obscured by newspaper or Fall leaves), we will, likewise, provide no weight-based credit relative to the contents of said bag.

In a nutshell: From this point on, for a subscriber to receive weight-based credit for the weight of the materials they provide to us, the materials must, first, be considered Acceptable by us (meaning they are found on the Acceptable side of our list of Acceptable and Not Acceptable Materials) and, second, be either 1) provided to us inside of our buckets or 2) provided to us inside of the up to (2) bags of dry, “high carbon” materials we accept outside of our buckets.

This means that while we reserve the right to accept bags outside of our buckets in excess of the (2) bag limit described above (as we have sometimes done in the past, if the space in our pickup vehicles permitted us to do so), we will only be providing weight-based credit for the contents of (2) bags per each Bucket Swap/Compost Pickup we perform.

So, what can a subscriber do if they have more waste than can fit in their bucket(s)?

Should any Residential subscriber have more organic waste they would like to provide us than what they can reasonably fit inside our buckets or the (2) bags mentioned above, and should they wish to receive weight-based credit for said waste, they can either purchase a Special, One-Time Swap from us or subscribe to our Add-A-Bucket option at www.GBCompost.com/Residential.

Similarly, should any Small Business subscriber have more organic waste they would like to provide us than what they can reasonably fit inside our buckets or the (2) bags mentioned above, and should they wish to receive weight-based credit for said waste, they can subscribe to our Add-A-Bucket option at www.GBCompost.com/Commercial.

Please note: There is no limit to how many Special, One-Time Swaps a Residential subscriber can purchase or number of times a Residential or Small Business subscriber can subscribe for an extra bucket from us under our Add-A-Bucket options. Also, it should be noted that the Add-A-Bucket options can be canceled at any time.

What if a subscriber doesn’t want to pay extra for us to take their excess organic waste?

If a subscriber does not wish to pay for a Special, One-Time Swap or an Add-a-Bucket subscription (which, it should be noted, supports us/helps us stay in business, grow, and expand), they have a few other options when it comes to what they can do with their excess organic waste:

Assuming the excess waste is considered yard waste by the subscribers Municipality, the subscriber may be able to take said waste to their local yard waste site, free of charge (please note that most Municipalities consider garden waste/refuse to be yard waste).

• Green Bay Yard Waste information: https://greenbaywi.gov/YardWaste
• Allouez Yard Waste Information: https://www.villageofallouezwi.gov/depts/public-works/yard-waste-and-waste-oil-drop-off-site/
• Ashwaubenon Yard Waste Information: https://ashwaubenon.gov/government/departments/public-works-streets/yard-waste-disposal/
• Bellevue Yard Waste Information: https://www.villageofbellevuewi.gov/departments/public_works/garbage__recycling___yard_waste/yard_waste
• De Pere Yard Waste Information: https://www.deperewi.gov/topic/index.php?topicid=278&structureid=88
• Hobart Yard Waste Information: https://www.hobart-wi.org/public-works
• Howard Yard Waste Information: http://www.villageofhoward.com/174/Yard-Waste-Removal
• Ledgeview Yard Waste Information: https://www.ledgeviewwisconsin.com/departments/public-works/yard-waste/
• Suamico Yard Waste Information: https://www.suamico.org/departments/public_works_engineering/yard_waste_site.php

Assuming the excess waste is food waste, the subscriber may save the waste for a later bucket by freezing it (such as in a gallon-sized freezer bag), or, if absolutely necessary, dispose of it in the trash (although this is something we do not support doing, for obvious reasons)

Please note: It has been illegal in the State of Wisconsin, since 1993, to dispose of yard waste (including pumpkins, potted plants, etc.) in the trash. For more information, visit https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/287/II/07#:~:text=Beginning%20on%20January%203%2C%201993%2C%20no%20person%20may,waste%20facility%20in%20this%20state.%20%283%29%20Waste%20tires.

If you have any questions or concerns about the above-mentioned policy changes, you may contact us using any of the contact methods available at www.GBCompost.com/Contact.

Until next time, best wishes and happy composting!