Community Compost Collectors

Provide compost to support urban agriculture and healthy food, and provide job training for youth. Communities can create micro -grants to fund a pedal-powered community compost system providing a food scrap collection service to schools, faith communities and restaurants and turning food waste into premium soil amendments for gardeners.

Approximately one-third of waste collected for landfills is organic waste that has potential for composting, with moisture content about 70% and containing valuable plant nutrients (UF data).  Some cities are composting, however in most communities the potential resource for composting is underutilized.   Additionally, the leaf litter volume in some urban areas creates a problem in the storm drainage system.  A community composting system will minimize this problem by collecting the leaves for compost bins. In fact correctly composting decreases the possible problem of vermin vectors. Education is needed to inform youth of the benefits of composting.

English botanist Albert Howard believed “Every generation has the sacred duty of handing over unimpaired to the next generation the heritage of a fertile soil.”  Howard T. Odum, whose energy systems theory models cities as consumers and farms as producers, also emphasizes soil ecology is a focus. For five years a composting start-up in Gainesville FL used bicycled powered collection.  Community Supported Compost memberships allowed local gardeners to receive regular helpings of locally-made compost and worm castings teas to build healthy and productive garden soil.  The compost product was also marketed, yet growth and scale is needed for economic efficiencies. 

Community Compost Collectors will benefit local gardeners. Local government will benefit through opportunities to innovate and save landfill space and costs, a savings that will also benefit the business community. Schools benefit with sustainability education and more opportunities for vocational youth training.  Local Work Force Boards will benefit when at-risk youth are offered (after school) work training opportunities. County extension agents can assist as technical experts. “The Corps Network" has incentive to support proposal to include more opportunities for youth training and employment, and more positive benefit for the environment.   The Compost Council is an important deployment contact.

Calculate hours worked by youth - # hours 4 person bicycle crews collects organic waste to make compost

Calculate volume of organic waste collected - Volume of organic waste collected by 4 person crew

Number of contacts established and maintained via Compost Council and other networks - Number of community composting organizations in information network

E.F.Schumacher wrote in Good Work, “let us mobilize at least a small part of our intellectual and other resources to create a technology that does fit the smaller places.” Organic waste is re-purposed into compost to replenish urban soils for gardens, therefore this project will lead to positive impact on the local food supply. 

To begin, from a local source, a diner or school, food waste is collected and is transported by bicycle to a school where composting is set-up on site.  School cafeteria food waste is also composted.  The finished compost will be used in community and school gardens. 

This composting system can be adapted to local social systems. Recent work by the USDA for food systems planning and Department of Interior “Get Outdoors” Initiative will be utilized to determine the best system possible to maximize youth training opportunities and community food system benefits. At-risk youth are offered part time summer and after school work training opportunities. . A stationary pedal powered system with a turning vessel increases compost efficiency and reduces risk of work injuries. Youth will learn to grow food and how to work in community groups. Garden and education decisions can be made by the community.

Website webinars and technical assistance via telephone.  For example-

  http://www.instructables.com/i... (Posted by Steve Gerber)

This shows how to build a trommel (rotary screen) for sifting compost or shredded leaves (to separate coarse unfinished compost materials from the finished product or to separate out trash and debris). Leaves are then placed in a huge pile and allowed to decompose.  Sifting also makes organic materials appear more uniform which is desirable if you are using them as a top dressing or mulch. At a cost of $500 - $1000 the system may include a pedal powered turning vessel like this one:

Team members are professionals working on sustainability in various roles:

Kathleen Walston Pagan, AICP, Alachua County (Florida) Growth Management Senior Planner;

Chris Cano, Gainesville Compost & Betterme Productions/ Business Entrepreneur. (Bilingual- English/Spanish)

Both team members work in other jobs as well as supporting this effort. Funding is needed to continue research and development.  

Per the ecological model of H.T. Odum, limiting factors of the community compost collectors include amount of rain and sun, and money to support the project.

The bicycling infrastructure in communities will also impact the feasibility of the solution.  Safe and connected bike lanes are crucial.

The cost of educations videos is an important part of the proposed solution. This would allow sharing the idea and technical support via the Internet.  Therefore $50,000 annually is included in the budget for this technology.

https://www.facebook.com/GainesvilleCompost/app/149617611727514/

Need technical input from SOLVE experts to optimize locations for crews and routes for collection system.  Gainesville FL community requires funding for a 4 person crew ($56,500 based on 20 hours minimum wage weekly.  Includes insurance/liability and needed equipment (bikes with trailers, uniforms, tools including compost bins)

Participants listed for Community Compost Collectors have assisted local community efforts for a Farm to School project (working with special needs students) and a community food hub project (Working Food).  Both network with the BioEnergy and Sustainable Technology group at University of Florida.