Additionally, by adding one 1 pound of compost to 99 pounds of regular soil, you can increase the material’s water holding capacity by 33 pounds, or about 4 gallons. Composting can also help stop red tides, algae blooms, and fish die-offs by providing an alternative to synthetic fertilizers that can run off into our waterways.
As a certified Green City, Hollywood’s Sustainability Action Plan includes implementing a composting pilot program to encourage residents to compost food and yard waste. The pilot program is slated to launch this fall - the first 400 households to register will receive a free composting bin, as well as access to educational classes to learn how to compost at home. Registered users of the program will receive airtight composting bins that are swapped with clean, empty bins every pick-up day. Fill out the interest form to receive more information.
What to Compost
- Accepted: Compostable products, tree mulch, shredded paper, cardboard, wood shavings, dry leaves, paper products, kelp & seaweed, fruits and vegetable, grass clippings, fish waste, coffee grounds, meat and bones.
- Items NOT accepted: Stickers, plastic, animal waste, toxic materials, and coated paper.
How the Program Works
- Step 1: Sign up here for the composting program.
- Step 2: Receive the Renuable bucket and airtight lid.
- Step 3: Fill the bin with compostable materials.
- Step 4: Place out bucket for pick up or drop off at composting station.
Program Costs
- 1,000 Drop Off Station Memberships $10/month per resident (10 stations serviced up to 5 days a week).
- 1,000 Bi-weekly Valet Pickup Membership- $19/month per resident (bins swapped every other week).
- 1,000 Weekly Valet Pickup Membership- $29/month per resident (bins swapped weekly).
Low Input Gardening
Low-input gardening methods reduce the amount of water, fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide needed to grow and maintain plants. People who use these techniques spend less time, money and effort producing healthy, abundant harvests while supporting native habitat and our pollinators.
Low-input gardening helps close the loop on resource use. Food scraps from the kitchen can be used to make compost that feeds the plants. Yard waste can be added to the compost or used as mulch to conserve water and protect the soil, improving plant health and vigor.
Anyone can use these methods, even for patio and container gardening. See the presentation slides from the joint Low Input Gardening workshop for residents of the Cities of Hollywood and Hallandale Beach, held on December 15, 2019, to learn more.
Read more: https://www.hollywoodfl.org/1237/Gardening-Composting