Posted: Sep 11, 2012 3:59 PM by Marisa Breese Updated: Sep 15,
2012 2:26 PM COLUMBIA - According to EPA, 27% of the United
States waste stream is made up of yard trimmings and food waste
that Americans could be composting. Right now, the city Columbia
collects the food waste of local Walmarts and Sam's Clubs. The
waste is then brought to the city's compost facility, where it
is broken down over a few weeks or a few months before it ready
for commercial use as compost. Landfill superintendent Cynthia
Mitchell says although these two these two stores are large
providers, they would like other businesses on board. A concern,
however, is that a lot of the waste comes from individual
households. While many communities have home collection services
available for yard waste, but officials say it is more difficult
to offer the same option with food waste, because it takes more
effort to separate the food from other trash. "It does take a
segregated waste stream. We can't have different trash mixed up
with it, it has