In the midst of a bustling summer season, Mackinac Island, Michigan, reveals its quaint charm and steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship through its unique waste management system. Amidst the tourist throngs who traverse the vehicle free streets by foot, bicycle, and horse-drawn carriage, a noteworthy sight commands attention: sanitation workers guiding a horse-drawn cart, integral to the island’s mission of “Keeping Mackinac Beautiful,” pausing to collect refuse and compost materials.

The picturesque Great Lakes retreat has been steadfast in its composting efforts since the 1990s, a practice that onlookers may dismiss as mere novelty, yet on closer examination, it exemplifies a pioneering spirit in sustainable waste management. The local initiative stands as a striking contrast to the recent, more publicized composting programs in metropolises like New York City and the state wide mandates for composting seen in California aimed at curtailing emissions.

Mackinac Island’s geographic position—nestled at the peak of Lake Huron, off Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—along with its icy isolation in winter months, paints a portrait of a community that is not only resilient but also innovatively adaptive. The absence of motor vehicles, a policy in place since the late 19th century, complements its historic allure and underlines the island’s dedication to preserving its past.

The composting program here stands as a testament to the possibility of a sustainable future, even in small scale environments. As the island’s population ebbs and flows, with a mere 400 residents braving the winters and a surge of visitors and seasonal workers in the summers, the waste system here manages to accommodate the fluctuating demand. Mackinac Island’s success in composting is a living example for communities nationwide, showcasing that sustainability efforts can be as enduring as they are effective.”

Mackinac Island’s geographical seclusion and its unique ban on motor vehicles present significant challenges for waste disposal, as Allen Burt, the director of Mackinac Department of Public Works, indicates. The cost and complexity of transporting waste to the mainland make waste reduction efforts not just beneficial, but essential for the island.

Tom Lewand, a seasoned summer dweller on the island, observes how composting has become an ingrained habit within the community. “From the youngest to the oldest, everyone knows the drill—green bags for compost, black for trash,” he states, highlighting the simplicity and effectiveness of the system that even children understand.

Mackinac Island Navigates Waste Challenges with Innovative Composting Program

The heart of this operation lies within a discrete facility amidst the island’s hills and forests, where organic waste is transformed into nutrient rich soil. This is in contrast to a broader national trend, as urban centers are more likely to have the necessary infrastructure for composting programs, reports Linda Norris-Waldt, deputy director of the U.S. Composting Council.

Rural composting presents financial and logistical hurdles due to the sprawling distances between homes, Norris-Waldt explains. Hence, personal and farm-based composting become practical alternatives. Despite the growth of composting facilities, with half of the full scale food waste composting sites concentrated in seven states, many areas, especially in the central, Mountain, and Southwest regions, remain “composting deserts,” she says.

The BioCycle study also highlights that while yard waste composting is relatively widespread, food waste composting—more expensive and laborious—has seen a significant rise in the past 20 years. Yet, the implementation of food waste programs often starts with voluntary participation rather than mandatory, owing to the complexities of educating the public on correct sorting methods and the risks of contamination.

Mackinac Island’s success, however, showcases a community’s ability to overcome these national trends, leveraging its historical commitment to preservation into an exemplary sustainable practice.”

“Composting: A Sustainable Tradition on Mackinac Island

In an initiative that started in the 1990s, well before the national surge in food waste programs, Mackinac Island set a precedent in waste management as it transitioned from onsite dumps, believed to be closed due to capacity and pollution issues, to a structured composting system. Allen Burt reflects on the changeover, noting that now the island exports non-compostable material to the mainland.

Composting on Mackinac has evolved into more than just a practice—it’s a lifestyle for residents and businesses alike. With environmental sustainability at the forefront of national discourse, the island’s composting efforts resonate on a deeper level, integrating with everyday life. Islanders utilize special green bags, priced at $2 to motivate sorting, to collect compostables like paper goods, food scraps, and particularly manure, in contrast to the more costly $4.50 trash bags.

Gabe Cowell, overseeing the island’s solid waste operations, details how a historic “dray” horse-drawn wagon makes rounds to collect compost bags, while a “slop wagon” services the island’s prominent hotels in the high season for kitchen refuse.

The waste journey continues uphill to a solid waste facility, where it undergoes a month-long composting process, meticulously managed by city workers. Cowell, dedicated to his craft, diligently stirs the compost piles and transfers them weekly within the bays.

Manure is a significant compost component, thanks to the island’s dependence on equine transportation. Burt highlights the seasonal spike in horse numbers and the consequent increase in manure production, which substantially contributes to the facility’s inputs.

Once matured, the compost is sifted, shredded, and made available for island use at $10 a yard. This fertile by-product is particularly valuable to Mackinac’s residents, who face the challenge of growing on predominantly gravelly ground with little topsoil, Burt explains. The compost, rich in organic matter, offers a remedy, enriching the soil and promoting healthy growth, vital for sustaining gardens and lawns in such terrain.

As Linda Norris-Waldt of the U.S. Composting Council states, compost not only enriches soil but also aids in its resilience against weather extremes, from droughts to floods, making it an indispensable resource for the Mackinac community.”

“Transforming Mackinac Island: The Blossoming Impact of Composting

The verdant gardens of Mackinac Island stand as a testament to a successful composting program that has been running for decades, altering not only the terrain but also the socio-economic fabric of the community. Tom Lewand, who began visiting Mackinac in the early ’70s, now enjoys the blooms of a lush garden at his summer home, which mirrors the transformation seen across the island’s famous summer cottages.

Linda Norris-Waldt of the U.S. Composting Council points out that beyond enriching the soil, composting initiatives like Mackinac’s can stimulate local economies by creating jobs and fostering economic activity. The island’s dedication to waste management is exemplified by a four-person team that operates the solid waste facility during the peak summer season, alongside larger waste management teams employed by some resorts and hotels.

Allen Burt sheds light on the scale of operations required for larger businesses, highlighting the constant need for dedicated waste management personnel as enterprises expand.

Yet, the journey to a greener community is strewn with challenges. A major hurdle that Mackinac and similar programs nationwide face is contamination of compost material. Common contaminants include persistent herbicides, non compostable items, and per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can undermine the efficacy of composting efforts.

Norris-Waldt emphasizes the crucial role of education and communication in mitigating these issues. She underscores the necessity for close coordination between composting facilities, community members, and local businesses to ensure that only appropriate waste is processed. Each composting operation has unique requirements and restrictions, making it imperative for all stakeholders to be well-informed and in sync.

Education and communication

For instance, Mackinac’s Mission Point Resort recently identified a lack of understanding of the solid waste facility’s procedures and timelines among its staff, which led to operational inefficiencies and frustration. The resort, which is heavily involved in composting through the collection of cardboard, manure, and kitchen scraps, found that improving knowledge and communication was key to enhancing its waste management strategy.

Norris-Waldt reiterates that fostering a successful composting culture requires time, education, and a strong commitment from the entire community. It is this community spirit and dedication to sustainability that continues to keep Mackinac Island blooming, both in its gardens and its commitment to environmental stewardship.”

“Mission Point Resort and Mackinac DPW: A Case Study in Efficiency and Collaboration

Stan Antkoviak, the director of facilities at Mission Point Resort, expressed a keen interest in improving the resort’s waste management practices. After consulting with the Mackinac Department of Public Works (DPW), the resort recognized the labor-intensive process involved in handling cardboard waste. As a result, they invested in a cardboard bailer to streamline operations.

The partnership between the resort and the DPW is being hailed as a resounding success. The resort’s recycling manager now conducts annual training sessions for the staff, enhancing their understanding of best practices in waste management and maintaining an open-door policy for inquiries.

Sarah Ombry, Mission Point’s public relations and marketing manager, credits the team’s success in making recycling and composting second nature to the resort’s routine by explaining processes in terms everyone can understand.

At the heart of the solid waste facility’s operations, collaboration is key, according to Allen Burt. He emphasizes the importance of involving ground staff in decision-making, acknowledging that they are the ones who implement daily operational choices. Without their input, he suggests, any top-down process changes might fail to deliver the intended results.

Mackinac Island’s journey to a well-integrated composting program wasn’t without challenges, but perseverance has paid off, making composting a standard aspect of island life. Still, the DPW encounters ongoing hurdles, such as the financial burden of new equipment and the need to stay abreast of changing policies.

Burt stresses the importance of continuous learning and engagement with broader community practices to stay ahead. “It’s about keeping informed, connecting with others in the field, and investing effort to discover new and better ways of managing waste,” he advocates. While composting may not always make headlines, Burt views it as a crucial area deserving of attention and innovation.”