The Only In My Backyard™ program is available to communities exclusively through Zero Waste, Inc. The program offers homeowners the means to easily and cost-effectively divert 100% of their food scraps and yard trimmings safely on their own property. It offers municipalities a means of achieving 100% diversion of organic materials from 1- to 3-unit residences without costly curbside collection.

Whether your community is a large metropolitan city with many neighborhoods or a small rural community, the Only In My Backyard program is an economical and environmentally sound means to substantial organics diversion while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Only In My Backyard program is designed to achieve sustainable behavior change. It utilizes social-based marketing techniques and seeks to quickly and effectively achieve a tipping point within targeted community sectors in order to spread change. The program utilizes Green Cone digesters for empowering households to manage their food scraps on site. Options for on-site diversion of lawn and garden materials are integrated into the programming as desired and reasonable given the location.

Two test programs in Vermont communities found that participants felt the process of separating food scraps was very easy and no inconvenience (85% and 100%, respectively), and they would recommend the system to others (93% and 92%).

Essential Program Components

• Community-based meetings are held to introduce residents to the Only In My Backyard program and encourage attendee participation.
• Green Cones are typically underwritten or discounted by the sponsoring municipality or agency. Participating households are asked to provide data on their experience to the sponsoring organization for a specified period of time (usually several months.)
• Feedback is provided to the participants and the larger community through a Web-based forum and the local media, and the data and results are posted on the sponsoring agency's Web site. These steps help to raise awareness, sustain participant interest, and encourage expansion of the program beyond those early adopters who were quickly willing to try something new.
• Technical assistance for Green Cone installation and use is provided by trained local staff and/or officials. Early participants are encouraged to volunteer testimony at public meetings and events to encourage others to take part.

Several program options are available. Please contact us for details.