ANCA and Clarkson University Partnership Strengthens Regional Food Waste Reduction Efforts

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Clarkson University and Compost for Good (CfG), a program of the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA), have been awarded a Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will help them expand community compost awareness and action campaigns across the North Country.

In the coming months, individuals passionate about supporting healthy local food systems and reducing food waste will be trained as "Compost Catalysts" to help communities divert wasted food from landfills. Supported by Susan Powers, Director of Clarkson's Institute for a Sustainable Environment, ANCA Organics Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Perry, and Project Coordinators Dustin Bowman and Francesca McClure, Compost Catalysts will learn to develop projects and outreach events that serve communities in St. Lawrence, Franklin, Essex, and Clinton Counties.

"This grant support comes at a critical time as engagement in food waste reduction and community composting continues to grow in our region," said Powers. "The expansion of outreach and education about community-scale composting will not only help food waste generators comply with state regulations, it will also help new and established composting businesses connect with clients. It's a win-win for local businesses and communities who care about reducing the amount of organic waste in landfills and creating nutrient-rich compost for local farms and gardens."

Outreach will include tabling at events, informational presentations, one-on-one consultations with food waste generators, classroom activities, and more. The program's goals are to increase awareness and understanding of food waste generation in residential, institutional or commercial facilities and to help them adopt food waste reduction and recycling strategies.

In addition to outreach campaigns, Catalysts, coordinators and student interns will conduct food waste assessments at commercial or school district generators to identify opportunities to divert wasted food from landfills through actions such as reducing food waste, partnering with a local composting business, or donating to food pantries or farms.

This work is critical to support both state and federal goals to significantly reduce wasted food. In New York, businesses estimated to generate more than two tons of food waste per week, including commercial restaurants, grocery stores and other food related businesses, are required by law to divert waste from landfills through recovery options like food pantries or recycle waste through compost or anaerobic digestion processes. The law has recently been revised, reducing the waste diversion requirement to businesses that generate one ton per week, impacting smaller food service, restaurant and grocery businesses. With funds from this USDA grant, program leaders and Compost Catalysts will help generators navigate the new regulations and prepare for compliance.

Led by Compost for Good, the project team is also supporting local businesses engaged in food scrap hauling and composting. Perry said the number of businesses supporting community-scale composting efforts continues to grow throughout the region, noting there are now eight members of Compost for Good's North Country Community Composting Coalition (N4C).

"These businesses are eager to support your food waste recycling goals," she said. "Food waste diversion and compost generation creates tremendous rural business opportunities."

Jon Norman, owner and operator at River Valley Regeneratives LLC (RiVR) in Redford, N.Y., added, "The N4C group and the outreach efforts of Clarkson and Compost for Good helped our business see a 150 percent increase in the volume of wasted food processed last year."

Individuals interested in learning more about becoming a Compost Catalyst and food waste generators interested in a free food waste assessment are invited to contact [email protected] for more information.

ANCA is a regional nonprofit and economic hub building shared prosperity across northern New York. Focused on small businesses, climate & energy, local food systems, and welcoming & belonging, ANCA works to ensure the long-term viability of the North Country, empowering individual wellbeing, economic strength, and regional stewardship. ANCA works with individuals, groups, and communities across 14 counties to navigate resources, cultivate networks, generate economic and community solutions, build shared capacity, and shape region-boosting narratives.

Compost for Good is a program of ANCA with a mission to promote the re-imagining and repurposing of "waste" as a valuable, soil health building resource.