SSO & Contamination

Source Separation of Organics (SSO) is the practice of separating food scraps, yard debris, and other organic materials non-compostable materials at the point where they are generated—such as homes, businesses, institutions, or farms. This creates clean streams of organic materials for compost. Contamination of non-compostable items like plastic, glass, or metal can hinder the composting process, degrade the quality of the final product, and pose risks to soil health, plant growth, and the environment. Common sources of contamination include improper sorting of waste, consumer confusion about compostable materials, and inadequate monitoring during collection and processing.

Explore the videos below to learn more about SSO, preventing contamination, and improving the quality of collected organics.