Compost Commons — City-Wide Food Scrap Diversion

The Open Gift Standard

• Open to anyone who walks up — Any camp can join the route; any individual can drop scraps at the depot.
• Findable: Depot at 5:30 & G; barrels city-wide · Depot open daily 8a–12p; route runs every morning
• Marked with the standard placard on the playa
• Separate from camp-only space — The depot is a standalone service yard, not part of any camp's private space.
• Verified annually with photo evidence

The story

Every kitchen in the city produces food scraps, and almost all of it leaves as trash in somebody's truck. Compost Commons puts sealed collection barrels at participating camps, hauls them daily by cargo trike, and delivers the lot to a regional composting facility after the event. Last year we diverted eleven tons from landfill across sixty camps. This budget adds barrels for forty more camps and covers the haul-out. Any camp can join; the collection route and the end-of-event weigh-in are public.

Dust, weather & logistics

Heat plus food waste is unforgiving: barrels must seal properly and the route must run every single day, so we maintain a spare-barrel float and two backup trike haulers. If a barrel fails inspection it leaves the route until replaced.

The budget — every line public

Give your time

Updates

Milestones

1. Approved and listed September 10, 2026
2. Building coming
3. Delivered on the playa coming
4. Verified with photos coming