Rietze offers door-to-door compost pickup
Entrepreneur Genny Rietze has spearheaded Haines’ first door-to-door compost service for local business and residential subscription. Haines Compost will begin collection on October 5, servicing town, Mud Bay, Lutak, and up to 7 Mile on the Haines Highway. A monthly membership costs $30, but those who sign up before Oct. 1 receive a five-dollar discount for life.
“Our mission is to help you save money and support your community/earth by collecting and converting organic waste into usable soil material instead of sending it to landfill,” Haines Compost’s website reads.
Included in a monthly membership is weekly pickup from a home or business, five-gallon compost buckets with gamma seal lids to prevent smell, and free access to the compost once it’s available. For those uninterested in their compost, Haines Compost facilitates donations to local farms. Subscribers also get a fridge magnet that lists compostable items, instructions on the service, and a window sticker.
For business memberships, participants also receive quarterly reports on how much waste their organization has diverted, and highlights on Haines Compost’s social media channels. Additionally, Rietze will perform one-time employee training on how to use the service.
“It’s pretty basic, but if you don’t have experience with composting, it’s good to have that introduction,” Rietze told CVN. She will operate Haines Compost solo, and create the compost in her backyard.
Once a week, Haines Compost will come for a scheduled pick-up. Each week, members will get a new liner for their buckets.
“A lot of people want to compost but they don’t have the time or they don’t want to do it themselves,” she said.
To sign up for Haines Compost service, visit https://www.hainescompost.com/about/.
Southeast tour company buys local land
A tour company that operates out of Sitka, Ketchikan and Juneau recently purchased property on borough land in William Henry Bay, opposite of Berners Bay.
Allen Marine Tours purchased 159 acres from private owners in August. Allen Marine offers whale watching, glacier and sightseeing day tours to its visitors out of Juneau. They also operate an overnight cruise company, Alaska Dream Cruises. Many of the large cruise lines book trips with the company. The tour company brings guests to its Orca Point lodge on Colt Island.
Zak Kirkpatrick, Allen Marine Tours Director of Marketing and Public Relations, said the company has no details to provide presently, but they’re eyeing future visitor use. “We really don’t have anything to report other than we bought some land,” Kirkpatrick said. “We’re just considering a lot of options right now. A timeline is also being worked out.”
Kirkpatrick said when the company has concrete details to report, they’d be “happy to talk about it.”
The 159 acres of land is assessed at $238,500 according to Haines Borough data. The purchase could be a boon to borough coffers through property tax and sales tax on potential tours, borough manager Debra Schnabel said.