A new compost drop-off site in Barrington will be open to the public starting Monday, Dec. 11.

The site is the creation of Barrington High School students Sabine Cladis and Emma Pautz — earlier this year, the two young residents approached town officials with the idea for a new compost drop-off site and after receiving approval they went to work building the facility. It is located near the Barrington Senior Center parking lot, just east of Wood’s Pond.

Pautz and Cladis said Barrington residents Mark and Mary Hanchar played a key role in helping with the project. The Hanchars paid for the design and materials for the compost drop-off site.

“Thank you so much to our donors, Mark and Mary Hanchar for funding this project! They have provided us with the tools and resources to make this dream a reality and we are forever grateful to them,” Cladis and Pautz said in a recent press release. “We would also like to thank the Town Hall, Town Manager Phil Hervey and Jean Bellm, for coordinating with us to make this project a reality. And a munity Depot.”

The students said their project to bring an additional compost drop-off site to Barrington is intended to make composting easier and more accessible. They hope the drop-off site inspires more residents to “pick up environmentally-conscious habits.”

Barrington has two other compost drop-off sites: one is located at Barrington Farm School near the intersection of Federal Road and Middle Highway, and another is at the Kent Street tennis courts. 

“Although there are several organizations that are willing to pick up compost, compost drop-off

What to compost

Cladis and Pautz offered a quick guide to help residents as they begin to navigate composting their food scraps.

● OK to compost: Vegetables, fruits, egg shells, coffee grounds and filters, seafood shells, brown paper towels and brown napkins.

● Do not compost: Dairy products, meat, processed foods, compostable bags, compostable take-out containers, paper towels, pet waste and cat litter, and store-bought flowers. 

“Composting plays a crucial role in ensuring healthy soils and a healthy community,” stated the press release.