Three New Community Compost Hubs Are Installed, At McDonald, Villa, and Allendale Parks

Pasadena’s Department of Pubic Works has started installing three new community compost hubs at McDonald, Villa Parke and Allendale parks to provide the community with another option for composting their organic waste.

Public Works Director Tony Olmos said his department has collaborated with the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCS) and teamed up with the Pasadena Municipal Assistance, Solutions, and Hiring (MASH) program to identify the hub locations and build the compost hubs.

The Department has also hosted neighborhood meetings at the park locations to dialogue with the community and discuss the placement of the compost sites.

Starting in January 2022, Pasadena and all California communities were required to comply with SB 1383, the state’s Short Lived Climate Pollutants Law, which requires a 75-percent reduction in statewide organic waste disposal and a 20-percent increase in edible food recovery by 2025.

Since January 1, Pasadena residents and business are required to arrange for organic waste collection through the City or through an approved Pasadena franchise hauler.

Residential refuse customers should place organic food waste into their green yard waste container to be recycled. The food waste must be placed in a separate plastic or compostable bag so that it can be separated later for conversion to biofuels.

By helping recycle food waste or composting them, residents can help reduce the most potent greenhouse gases, such as methane, and help reduce the impacts of climate change.

Olmos said a total of eight compost hub locations are planned for City parks. MASH will complete installation of at least two compost hubs by Dec. 31 and a third location in January 2023. He added MASH has committed to install one compost hub every month after the New Year’s activities are over, until all eight are completed.