Sunrise explores residential composting pilots after vendor presentation and community support

The Sunrise City Commission on March 24 heard a presentation on residential composting and discussed options for pilot programs the city could adopt. Dustin DuBois of Filthy Organics described several local models — staffed or keyed drop‑off sites, limited‑subscriber weekly collection and back‑of‑house collection at schools and commercial sites — and said his firm has operated programs in Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Plantation, Southwest Ranches and Coconut Creek.

"We've been at this now for about six years," DuBois said. He described programs that range from a 100‑subscriber, weekly bucket exchange to staffed drop‑off sites open seven days a week. DuBois said processors typically return finished compost to participants or donate it to schools and public gardens.

Several commissioners and residents pushed on design details: Commissioner Joseph Scudo asked whether the city should include a business component and how curbside collection compares to drop‑off models. DuBois and staff said most early programs begin as drop‑off models to reduce hauling costs and contamination and that technology can allow unfunded access control to prevent contamination.

Residents and sustainability volunteers urged pilots and school partnerships. Julie Long of Plantation’s sustainability board said locating bins on public property made adoption easier in her community and encouraged engaging schools as planting and education partners. Monica Elliott, a Southwest Ranches resident participating in a trial, said the service has worked for her household and did not attract pests. Stephanie Jofe noted composting reduces landfill methane and urged Sunrise to adopt a pilot, saying "nearly a third of what we throw away could be composted instead of being sent to a landfill."

Mayor Ryan noted Broward landfills will stop accepting organics in 2027 or 2028 and said Sunrise will need to plan for separate organics management. The commission did not vote on a program that night but asked staff to collect existing surveys from nearby municipalities, assemble program options and return with recommendations and metrics for pilot projects.

Next steps: staff was directed to compile existing program surveys and propose pilot recommendations for future commission consideration.