Being Good Stewards:

How We Handle Trash, Recycling, and Organic Waste at the Community Garden

Kurt Goetzinger, Benson Community Garden

At the Benson Community Garden, we believe that being a steward of the earth goes beyond what we plant in our plots—it extends to how we handle the waste we create. Every home, office, and community garden produces waste, and managing it responsibly is one of the simplest and most powerful ways we can protect the environment. The choices we make about what we throw away, recycle, or compost directly impact the health of our planet and future generations.

That’s why we take waste management seriously here at the garden. We want everyone—new members, returning gardeners, and visitors alike—to understand how we handle trash, recyclable materials, and organic waste. Doing it right is not difficult, but it does require a little attention. Here’s a quick guide to how we do it:

Trash

Anything that cannot be reused, recycled, or composted should go into the black trash can located near the shed. We place this can out at the curb every week for city pickup. Please remember that glass items must go in the black trash can—Omaha’s curbside recycling does not accept glass. If you would like to recycle your glass, we encourage you to take it to one of Omaha’s many glass recycling drop-off sites.

Common Recycling

We are committed recyclers at the garden. Recycling is the process of turning materials that would otherwise become waste into new products—a simple but essential way to conserve resources and reduce pollution.

In Omaha, we use single-stream recycling, which means all recyclables go in one bin and are sorted at a facility. We have a Blue recycling can at the garden. Please place your recyclables here, and we will transfer them to the curbside cart (with the green lid) for collection on our recycling weeks (Week “A” on the city schedule).

A few important reminders:

  • Do NOT put glass in the recycling bin.

  • Only clean, recyclable materials should be placed in the blue can.

  • When in doubt about what’s recyclable, visit www.wasteline.org.

Hefty® ReNew® Program: Going the Extra Mile

If you’d like to take your recycling to the next level, we are proud to participate in Omaha’s Hefty® ReNew® program, which helps recycle hard-to-recycle plastics like candy wrappers, foam takeout containers, and plastic bags.

There is an orange Hefty® ReNew® bag in the shed. You are welcome to place accepted items in this bag. Once it’s full, we will tie it up and set it out for pickup along with our regular recyclables. This small effort keeps countless items out of the landfill and helps turn them into new, usable materials.

Composting and Organic Waste

One of the most important ways we reduce landfill waste is by composting our organic materials. We encourage all gardeners to place weeds, plant clippings, and similar garden debris directly into the compost pile. This helps return nutrients to our soil and reduces the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

If a plant is thick, woody, or viney (such as large sunflower stalks or woody stems), please place it on the ground to the right of the compost pile—these materials break down too slowly in the main compost and are handled separately.

Please do not place trash, synthetic materials, or any kind of treated wood or plastics in the compost pile.

Why It Matters

Recycling and composting are more than tasks—they’re a responsibility.

  • Recycling conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, saves energy, and helps create a cleaner, healthier community. Composting helps return nutrients to our soil and supports a sustainable gardening cycle.
  • According to the EPA, in a single year recycling and reuse activities in the U.S. generated 681,000 jobs, $37.8 billion in wages, and $5.5 billion in tax revenues—proving that sustainability is not only good for the planet but also good for our economy.
  • By managing our waste well at the garden, we help reduce pollution, conserve resources, and model responsible behavior for our community.

Final Thoughts

We ask everyone in the garden to take a few extra moments to sort and manage their waste properly. It is one of the simplest ways we can all contribute to a healthier planet.

If you’d like to learn more about Omaha’s trash and recycling program, visit www.wasteline.org.

Thank you for doing your part—and for helping keep the Benson Community Garden a model of sustainability.

Black for Trash

Blue for Recyclables

Trash Cans in the Community Garden

COMPOSTING:

Turning Garden Waste into Garden Gold

Composting is one of the most valuable things we can do to support the health of our garden—and the planet. It’s a remarkable natural process that transforms what many see as waste—grass clippings, leaves, small twigs, and spent plants—into rich, dark, crumbly compost. This happens through the work of microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, and even tiny insects and worms that break down the materials. With the right balance of nitrogen-rich “greens” (such as fresh grass, weeds from your plot, etc) and carbon-rich “browns” (such as dry leaves), along with moisture and air, these natural decomposers convert organic matter into a powerful soil amendment.

The benefits of composting extend well beyond individual garden plots. Compost improves soil structure, increases nutrient content, enhances water retention, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers—leading to healthier plants and better harvests. Just as importantly, composting diverts organic waste from landfills, helping reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. It also strengthens local ecosystems by supporting beneficial soil life and promoting biodiversity.

By composting, we help close the nutrient loop, returning valuable organic matter to the earth and mimicking nature’s own cycles. At the Benson Community Garden, we encourage everyone to participate. We collect weeds, plant clippings, and similar materials in our compost pile, while thick, woody materials are placed to the right of the pile to break down separately. This simple practice plays an important role in building a more sustainable garden and a healthier environment for all.