By Robyn Miller-Tarnoff
Next time you eat at the Temple, instead of tossing your leftover food, plate, fork and napkin in a garbage can, drop them in one of the new green composting bins – you’ll be doing a mitzvah!
As part of our commitment to climate action and reducing food waste, Temple Sinai recently launched a composting program for food scraps and paper goods. Each week, the contents of the green bins will be collected by Compost Crew, our local contractor, and converted into soil that can be used for gardening or landscaping. The Green Team will be tracking the amounts composted and reporting back on the positive environmental impact of reducing food waste.
Why is composting important?
According to the United Nations, food loss and waste generates around 8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions each year – about the same as the global tourism industry. Composting protects the earth by reducing the emissions that cause climate change.
What’s the history of this project?
In November of 2019, the Temple Sinai Green team hosted a listening session on environmental issues and composting emerged as a top priority. In the fall of 2020, the Green Team led a drive to sign up members of the congregation for residential composting. Thirty-four households signed up, including 21 that began composting for the first time. Plus, we earned at $210 credit toward future composting in the Temple building.
More recently, as a key component of Temple Sinai’s Climate Acton Plan, a subcommittee of the Green Team began working with TSWR President Sally Greenberg, Temple Sinai Executive Director Ellen Agler, and the custodial staff to initiate a composting program in the Temple building. The goals are to reduce waste/greenhouse gas emissions by composting at all Temple events/activities where food is served, to educate the congregation about composting, and to encourage more members to compost at home.
How do you know if something is compostable?
Please take the time to learn what can and can’t go in the green bins and pay attention to the signage. In general, all food and paper goods that Temple Sinai provides are compostable. However, plastic bottles and food packaging materials (such as aluminum foil and plastic wrap) are not. If you’re not sure whether something can be composted, it’s better to leave it out of the green bins (if in doubt, leave it out). See our comprehensive list of composting dos and don’ts.
Watch a Virtual Training & Become a Composting Champion
Compost Crew held a virtual training session for Temple Sinai members at the end of April. To view a recording of that hour-long training session, please click here.
Once you watch the training, you’ll be a Composting Champion! we’d appreciate your help monitoring the green bins at upcoming temple events. Sign up to be a compost bin monitor here. Questions? Contact Robyn Miller-Tarnoff.
