Contrary to popular belief, composting in cities does not cause rodent problems. This guide shows how composting food scraps, instead of dumping them in the trash, has the power to mitigate rodent pressures in urban neighborhoods.… Read More
Across the U.S., the effects of 2022’s record high heat temperatures are widespread as climate change continues to exacerbate rising temperatures, intensifying heat-induced dangers to the public health and wellbeing of urban communities, Baltimore included. While the corporate sector is responsible for the majority of emissions causing rapid climate change, there are some green infrastructure and waste-reduction practices to enlist at the local level that can help curb the impacts of the warming climate.… Read More
On this episode of Building Local Power, hosts Reggie Rucker and Luke Gannon are joined by the Director and Project Manager of the Composting for Community Initiative, Brenda Platt and Linda Bilsens Brolis respectively. They discuss waste imperialism, composting equity, and the necessary paradigm shift within our consumer culture.… Read More
A per-ton surcharge on waste disposed is a funding mechanism with a proven track record of raising funds to reduce and recycle waste. This model bill serves to address the need for state investment into waste reduction and diversion programs and infrastructure by establishing major grant funding based on a nominal surcharge on waste disposal. This document is intended for use as a template for a bill that any state can adapt and introduce.… Read More
Are you a local government interested in reducing and recycling wasted food and curious to learn how you can help spur community-scale composting? Or perhaps you are a community-oriented composter or micro hauler searching for public-private partnerships. This webinar series is for you! View the recordings now!… Read More
With momentum from the wins for composting achieved during Maryland’s 2021 legislative session, ILSR’s Composting Initiative team supported three composting-related bills during Maryland’s 2022 legislative session. Our team continues to push to advance necessary and visionary policy on composting, waste diversion, and healthy soils in Maryland.… Read More
On this episode of the Building Local Power Podcast, host Jess Del Fiacco is joined by her colleague Brenda Platt who leads the Composting Initiative and guests Sarah Boltwala-Mesina, Monique Figueiredo, and Kourtnii Brown who each run composting programs. They discuss solid waste franchising and how it impacts community composting. … Read More
ILSR’s Composting for Community team has worked closely with Delegate Regina T. Boyce to introduce the Solid Waste Disposal and Diversion and On-Farm Composting and Compost Use bill (HB 1070) for Maryland’s 2022 legislative session.… Read More
More than 42 million tons of food scraps are landfilled or burned in the US each year, as estimated by the EPA. One reason among many is lack of adequate funding to prevent, rescue, and recycle wasted food. One funding mechanism with a proven track record of raising funds to reduce and recycle waste is the establishment of a per-ton surcharge on waste landfilled or incinerated. This article features ten examples of existing regulations that allocate revenue from waste disposal surcharges to fund waste diversion, reuse, recycling, composting, and other sustainability efforts, and extracts best practices and possible roadblocks that may help to guide the development of new legislation to fund composting and divert waste.… Read More
