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Plaistow advisory committee hears Black Earth Composting pitch, recommends Select Board see briefing
Summary
On Feb. 20, 2025, representatives from Black Earth Composting told the Plaistow TRAC committee that about 47% of household trash is compostable and that the company collects roughly 350 tons of compostable material weekly; the committee recommended the Select Board receive the same presentation.
Jon Laurie and Justin Taylor of Black Earth Composting presented to the Plaistow TRAC (Trash Recycling Advisory Committee) on Feb. 20, 2025, describing local composting options and services. "The core mission of Black Earth Compost is to act as a community network to locally recycle the nutrients in food scraps back into the ground," the presenters said during a PowerPoint briefing.
Laurie and Taylor told the committee that roughly 47% of municipal trash is compostable and that an average household generates about 10 pounds of compostable material each week. They said Black Earth currently collects about 350 tons of compostable materials per week and emphasized environmental benefits including improved soil health, increased rainwater infiltration and the potential to sequester carbon.
The presenters outlined program delivery models including curbside pickup and centralized drop-off locations, giving the example of placing composting bins at the Public Works garage for resident use. They also described ancillary services the company offers, such as collection programs for textiles, yard waste, electronics and plastic films, and noted that their website includes a customer-account dashboard.
Committee members responded positively and agreed there was value in having the Select Board hear the same presentation. Chair Jay DeRoche said he would pass along the recommendation that the Select Board be scheduled for a briefing. The committee thanked Black Earth for the presentation.
