To the Editor:

It’s important that the food-composting program be kept alive. Princetonians have put 18 months of work into the separated compostable waste program to cut down on trash going into the landfill, and have proven that it is entirely workable and environmentally sound. We understand that we are diverting about 20 tons a month from the landfill to a sustainable composting site. Four hundred sixty families already participate and many more want to sign up but must now wait until we hear if this program is to continue in 2013.

The program is straightforward: Food and everything compostable goes into our separate green wheelie bins. The big trash bins are almost empty.

This program is also compelling for economic reasons because if our curbside food collection stops, we will actually pay higher taxes since the weight of our garbage going into the landfill will be heavier. As local landfills fill up, solid waste will have to be trucked to the midwest, increasing our costs even more, whereas food waste can continue to be processed locally.

Other communities are watching us to see if they too can save money by implementing the program that Princeton is testing. Why not ask the contractor who wins the bid to take our separated trash or amend Princeton’s bid request immediately to include a food-composting pickup for all contractors?

New administration in 2013: please continue to provide this separate pickup. We will be Princeton New Jersey, and we can make this important pioneering program successful.

Lindy and Zvi Eiref

Dodds Lane