Compost BG is collecting non-perishable food items for the Barren River Area Safe Space throughout December. 

Charlie O’Connell, creator of Compost BG, said the focus of the company is to help recycle organic material, just like how other materials are recycled. O’Connel explained that their customers have receptacles where they put their organic material to be collected to be composted. 

“We take any organic material and recycle it through composting,” O’Connell said.

The company has routes in which it collects organic material from homes and businesses in Bowling Green, taking it from their homes so that it can be more easily composted. Items collected include various food scraps which would otherwise be put into a landfill. 

“Like recycling plastic, there is a correct and incorrect way to do it,” O’Connell said. 

With the holidays coming up and people having extra nonperishables around the house, the company wanted to do something more with those items, O’Connell said. Extra cans or dry foods collected throughout the year may be sitting around with no use, and Compost BG is trying to make sure they go to those who need them. 

Compost BG will not only be collecting organic materials for compost this month, but will also have a separate receptacle for nonperishable goods for customers to donate. 

The food items collected will be donated to the Barren River Area Safe Space (BRASS), O’Connell said. The main focus of BRASS is to help individuals who are victims of domestic violence. 

Most times, these individuals are in need, so with food donations, it is one less thing that they have to worry about. 

“They collect food for people in need, so there is a connection for those who experience domestic violence and those who need a hand,” O’Connell said. 

The food drive will be focused on Compost BG customers, collecting canned, dry and shelf stable goods, but there are plenty of other places to donate items within Bowling Green if desired.

“We are just trying to do our part, we have access to a large number of people and we are trying to make it convenient for them,” O’Connell said.

The core focus of Compost BG is composting and recycling organic material, O’Connell said, but with nonperishable items, “if we do a little more extra work we can get it to a better location.”

More information on Compost BG can be found on their website, https://www.compostbg.com/. 

News reporter Molly Dobberstein can be reached at [email protected]