The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works to ensure that environmental stewardship is integral to U.S. policies. On January 27th, 2022, the agency announced the Institute for Local Self-Reliance as an awardee in the Food Recovery Challenge’s Regional Grantee category. It recognizes ILSR for building resilient and healthy communities, advancing local composting, and enhancing soils for local food production.
The EPA released a statement commending ILSR’s work:
In 2020, ILSR focused its efforts on the mid-Atlantic region. In Philadelphia, it collaborated with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department to offer training and support to its newly launched Community Compost Network Program. In Baltimore, together with the Office of Sustainability, ILSR established a dozen community-scale compost demonstration systems at urban farms and community gardens, which, when fully implemented, will serve as education sites and models for replication. In Montgomery County, Maryland, ILSR supported the development of compost education hubs. And, in the District of Columbia, ILSR worked with the D.C. Department of Public Works to run its home composting training and rebate program.
“EPA congratulates the Institute for Local Self-Reliance for their notable achievements and innovative approach to reduce residential food waste in Philadelphia and Baltimore communities,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “By addressing food waste, there is an opportunity to lower our carbon footprint and increase climate resilience, while also addressing inequities in food security and public health.”
Read more about ILSR’s Composting for Community work here.
