Office Composting: How to Use a Compost Bin To Turn Business Trash into “Treasures”

Article Summary: Office composting can be an excellent way to decrease your business’s environmental footprint and comply with new California legislation Senate Bill 1383, which requires businesses to compost their organic waste and haul them off or use their jurisdictions’ organic waste collection services. Leading brands like Rubbermaid create high-quality office compost bins, which can be used to break down coffee grounds, paper towels, and more.

Coffee grounds, paper towels, shredded paper—they all make their way to your office’s trash cans daily. But what if we told you these daily wastebasket visitors may be more valuable to your business than you realize—and all thanks to composting?

Businesses across California and other parts of the U.S. are increasingly adopting green practices, like office composting, for several reasons. First, sustainability efforts may draw more customers who desire to support environmentally responsible companies, possibly boosting sales. Second, the push to go “green” can boost a business’s brand image, resulting in higher sales due to greater customer loyalty.

Finally, sustainable companies that embrace office composting might encounter fewer risks tied to noncompliance with regulations like California’s new Senate Bill 1383, or the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Law. The bill began requiring companies in 2022 to have compost bins and jurisdictions to offer organic waste collection services to businesses to reduce organic waste levels in landfills.

How does a compost bin work in an office setting? Let’s explore how to use a compost bin for office composting.

Materials That Work For Business Composting

Introducing composting to your office can be an excellent way to decrease waste, bolstering your sustainability efforts. The office materials you can compost can be divided into green materials and brown materials. 

Green materials, which are nitrogen-rich, include the following:

• Coffee filters
• Veggie and fruit scraps from mid-day snacks and noon or evening meals
• Workplace plant trimmings

Brown materials, which are carbon-rich, include the following:

• Non-glossy paper that’s been shredded
• Paper towels not tainted with chemicals
• Cardboard containers that don’t feature plastic lining
• Natural fibers, like paper bags or cotton balls

During the office composting process, fungi and bacteria break down nitrogen-rich compounds so that plants can more easily absorb them. Meanwhile, the carbon found in brown materials serves as the fuel that composting microorganisms need to operate efficiently. If carbon is lacking, the process of decomposition may slow down drastically. 

Keep in mind that various items break down at different rates. For instance, food pieces generally decompose more quickly than paper goods.

How to Use a Compost Bin

How does a compost bin work? Successful office composting requires regular aeration, a mix of brown and green materials, and proper moisture. Here are the top tips for using a compost bin.

First, select a compost bin and compostable trash liners appropriate for the size of your office and how much organic waste the office creates. 

Next, place your bin in an area where organic waste can readily be added. 

Third, place the bin in an area that doesn’t receive excessive rain or direct sunlight. 

Now, you can place brown items, like cardboard or shredded paper, in the bin’s bottom area. This generates air pockets and absorbs excess moisture, allowing for greater aeration.

Add greens (e.g., coffee grounds, food scraps) after creating your brown layer. 

Your next step in using a compost bin involves keeping your compost at a moisture level that’s like a damp sponge. If the compost is too dry, water needs to be added. Excessively wet compost will need more brown materials to even things out.

Next, stir your compost regularly to aerate the mix and make the decomposition quicker. You can achieve this using a reliable compost turner. 

Finally, pay close attention to your compost: Alter the ratio of green and brown materials to ensure proper moisture and aeration if the compost isn’t decomposing or smells terrible.

How to Source a Bin For Office Composting

An important part of mastering how to use a compost bin for your business is learning how to choose the right bin. For instance, consider the Rubbermaid Configure 23-gallon compost container, which offers a personalized recycling solution with curved edges and smooth surfaces. The stiff plastic liner also includes built-in slots to facilitate airflow. 

The 15-gallon option is another popular office composting solution thanks to its heavy steel construction, damage-resistant finish, and convenient magnetic connections designed to keep multiple bins perfectly aligned for a sleek, professional appearance in the workplace.

Consider also taking advantage of the Rubbermaid 15-gallon Sustain compost bin. This green container features a modular architecture that allows the composting system to be changed and expanded to meet your recycling program’s unique needs. Labeling and colored lids make recycling easier for employees and customers alike. Adjustable feet that are easy to glide allow you to seamlessly move your container while ensuring level bin installation.

Why Choose Rubbermaid Compost Bins?

This brand’s compost bins are popular due to their user-friendliness (they’re simple to clean) and durability (they can easily withstand regular cleaning and use). Their labels are also permanent, creating the reliable visual cues needed for efficient composting. 

Rubbermaid compost containers comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) safe weight requirements, too. That’s because the bins are designed to hold under 50 pounds of compost.

Ramp Up Office Composting With Help From Unisan

At Unisan, we’re excited to be the leading provider of personal protective equipment, facility and sanitary equipment, and supplies to businesses in multiple industries, including hospitality, medical, education, and manufacturing. Our products include high-quality office composting bins. We can easily show you how to use a compost bin to maximize your workplace’s composting experience.

With more than 25 years of experience, our family-owned and operated business has earned a long-standing reputation for our trusted and reliable inventory and supply chain, as well as our consistent quality. We also stand out for our stellar customer service, as we pursue relationships with our clients, not just transactions. Our competitive prices are another reason why we have developed a loyal client base across the U.S.

We exclusively distribute in the Southern California area and have our own delivery trucks and warehouse in Bell, California. However, we can cater to you wherever your business operates. We also have a network of partners throughout North America for warehousing and deliveries for our national clients. 

Get in touch with the pros to request a quote today!