Compost bins disappear throughout neighborhoods in Hyattsville

Compost is organic material that has been decomposed and broken down into nutrient rich fertilizer (Stock Photo)

Ward 2 Councilmember, Danny Schaible began advocating for the compost program after being waitlisted for the program when he first moved to Hyattsville.

The compost program provides residents with bins and biodegradable bags and includes pickup, as is done for trash and recycling. “When I moved to Hyattsville there was a pilot compost program that only serviced 2% of Hyattsville and I wanted to compost. I was on the waiting list for 3 years and they were reluctant to expand the program,” he said.

This reluctance stemmed from a fear of the program being unsustainable financially. While running, Schaible noticed that the compost could be picked up with yard waste which the city of Hyattsville already collects. Compost consists of biodegradable organic material and is a means of reducing the waste production. During his run for City Council, Schaible made efficient composting one of his platforms. He wanted to make sure that people who wanted to take it a step above standard recycling and had the resources to do so.

However, shortly after being appointed as a council member and facilitating a more accessible compost program, Schaible started receiving complaints from participating residents that the compost bins were being stolen. The bins were also taken with all of the composted material inside of them. 

April Downs is a resident of Hyattsville and has experienced compost bin theft herself firsthand.

“I left my home at about 8:30 AM and saw the bin was missing. I saw the compost truck at about 9:20 AM and told the driver that my bin had been taken. The truck was coming for the compost so I realized they took the bin full of rotting garbage. Our compost program includes meat, so it will smell when opened,” said Downs

Schaible is not sure why people would want to take bins full of unrecyclable materials such as eggshells and apple cores. He believes that the bins going missing alone makes a bit more sense.

“There is kind of accepted practice in Hyattsville that if something is on the curb, you can go and take it,” he said.

Schaible worries that the theft will discourage people from continuing to participate in the program.

People who  “do it out of a sense of benevolence … just to be good,” said Schaible.

There is no monetary gain for people who decide to compost and when the bins go missing, the residents have to replace them themselves.

“They have to go to Home Depot, get the bin and risk getting it stolen together,” he said.

Schaible has expressed his concerns to police, who cannot do anything until a proper police report is filed, but he understands that it is not the most pressing crime on their radar but admits it is frustrating.

“It’s not the most important issue but it’s a nuisance and it’s undermining people’s willingness to participate,” said Schaible.