🌱 The Sticker Problem That's Threatening Our Composting Program

At first glance, a produce sticker seems like a harmless little dot — a tiny tag telling you that your banana is organic, your apple is from Washington, or your avocado is a certain variety. But when it comes to composting, that tiny sticker packs a disproportionately huge punch.

And right now, it’s hurting our community composting program — a lot.

🗑️ So What’s the Big Deal About Produce Stickers?

Most produce stickers are made of plastic or vinyl, with synthetic adhesives that do not break down in compost systems. That means when you toss an orange peel or a banana skin with the sticker still on, that sticker becomes contamination in what should be clean, organic compost.

Even industrial-scale compost facilities struggle to deal with them. For small, community-run systems like ours, it’s even more damaging.

😟 The Impact on Our Program

We’ve been thrilled to see so many of you participate in our compost drop-off program. But over the last few months, we’ve noticed a serious uptick in contamination due to PLU (Price Look-Up) stickers — and it’s starting to take a toll:

• Volunteers are spending hours sorting through food waste by hand to remove stickers before composting can even begin.

• Finished compost batches are being downgraded or even discarded due to visible sticker contamination.

• Morale is dropping. It’s disheartening to see otherwise beautiful compost ruined by tiny pieces of plastic.

• We are at risk of having to reduce or pause the service if contamination continues at this level.

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💔 It Only Takes One…

Did you know that even a single sticker can spoil an entire batch of compost — making it unusable for certified organic gardens and farms? That’s how serious this is.

Our mission has always been to turn food scraps into soil, not microplastic mulch.

👏 The Good News: You Can Help — Easily!

The solution is simple and totally doable:👉 Please peel off any stickers before putting produce waste in your compost bucket.

Yes, even if it’s “just one.”Yes, even if it feels small.Yes, every time.

We also recommend tearing off the sticker-bearing portion of a peel or using a small composting bowl where you “prep” your scraps before tossing them in the collection bin.

🐛 Our Soil Critters Thank You

Imagine a worm, a mushroom, a beetle, and a happy fungus all jamming together underground in a healthy, plastic-free compost party.Now imagine that party getting interrupted by a shiny sticker that won’t decompose.

Let’s make sure our soil stays sticker-free — and our composting program alive, well, and thriving.

❤️ From All of Us on the Compost Crew:

We love what we’re building together with this community. Your participation is what makes it work. Please help us keep going strong by taking a second to peel those stickers off before you compost.

We’re counting on you. And our worms are too.