Resources for Buying Compostable/Recyclable Packaging Materials
NOTE: This information is available as a PDF as well. Email composting@charlottesville.org to request it.
For the second consecutive year, the Charlottesville City Market will serve as a drop-off point for citizens to bring their food scraps, compostable food-related items such as paper towels, and certified compostable service-ware. Local non-profit GreenBlue will lead the effort. As part of this effort and to support the City’s sustainability goals, the City is working with GreenBlue to also divert market-generated waste from the landfill as much as possible through recycling and composting.
What is compostable?
Any and all food scraps and vegetable matter (our commercial composter will accept meat, bones, and dairy)
Uncoated paper like napkins, tissues, paper towels (wax paper is ok)
Certified compostable cups, lids, straws, plates, bowls, trays, to-go containers, and utensils. *PLEASE NOTE items with recycled content, conventional paper cups and plates, and/or those called “biodegradable” are not the same as certified compostable. Look for the BPI certification label.
DISCOURAGED ITEMS (these are not currently recyclable or compostable in our area):
Foam plates, clamshells and cups.
Hot beverage cups and plastic-coated paper plates (they have a plastic lining unless certified compostable).
Difficult to separate combinations, like a wax paper-aluminum foil combination or non-compostable plastic utensils + compostable plates.
SOURCES of COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING
Special City Market Vendors’ Ordering Portal at http://www.zerowasteevents.com/events.html:
To support market vendors’ use of sustainable packaging, GreenBlue and Eco-products have set up this portal as an easy way to find certified-compostable materials at a competitive price.
Orders through this portal and the City Market Event area, will get a 15% discount and free shipping for anything over $99.
Special Code: Charlottesville2016@
