Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

Composting options help environment, manage rising trash costs

The Sustainable Green Committee is reminding residents to be mindful of food waste during the holidays and consider options like composting when throwing away leftovers.

SGC member Christine Coffman stated that during the holidays, “Everybody’s generating more food waste than normal.” She and the SGC recommend diverting that waste into compost.

“Food scraps and compost shouldn’t be trash, because they are reusable resources,” said Coffman. According to the HopGreen website, composting generates rich fertilizer and can contribute to healthy environments for vegetation and soil-dwelling animals.

Coffman explained that composting also helps address rising trash costs in town. “The cost of getting rid of our trash is only going to get higher as capacity at landfills and incinerators we use is maxing out,” she said. She added that about 25-30% of household waste is compostable.

There are three options available to residents interested in composting their food scraps. Private composting is allowed, and the town contracts with Black Earth Compost for residential service. While a subscription to Black Earth is $240 per year, the town will provide the necessary composting bins.

The newest option the SGC has organized is free compost drop-off. Residents can drop off food waste into designated Black Earth bins set up at the Hopkinton Senior Center. Coffman cautioned residents to make sure that no plastic is included, as the collected compost may not be picked up.

The goal of these options is to give all residents the capacity to recycle their food scraps, Coffman explained.

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

At its meeting Monday night, the Zoning Advisory Committee reviewed options for adapting the town’s existing MBTA Communities zoning following a notice of partial compliance from the state.

The Hopkinton High School football team is gearing up for its “last shot” of the season with the annual Thanksgiving Day game against Ashland.

Our latest Move in Style Athlete Spotlight shines on boys cross-country senior Sean Finnegan, who this year became the first Hopkinton runner to win a sectional individual title.

This week’s Senior Snippets features information on the next book club selection, an art auction exhibit and a garden therapy program.

In the latest Professional Insights, Jason Schadler of Affordable Junk Removal discusses how homeowners can work with a removal service to re-home unwanted items.

Photo of the Day

Scouts and troop leaders pose with the holiday tree they installed at the Town Common this past Sunday. The tree was donated by Boy Scout Troop 1 and is about 17 feet tall. Pictured are (from left) Karen Bograd, Geoff Krapf, Owen Krapf, Ryan McDaniel, Dillon Araya, Aadit Kasturia, Adam McFarland, Colin Bartley and Gideon McFarland.

PHOTO/JIM ARAYA