Pittsburgh receives a $ 90,000 grant for composting and meals waste discount undertaking

Pittsburgh received a $ 90,000 grant to fund a two-year pilot project that focused on community composting and reducing food waste.

The US Department of Agriculture awarded the grant for the pilot project to reduce compost and food waste in the community, the city said on Thursday.

The pilot project revolves around the collection of research results on composting in the region. It will also focus on determining which of the three approaches to composting – public composting at city events, mechanical composting, and traditional composting in urban facilities – are viable for the city and could be expanded later.

“This is an important first step in integrating composting into the city’s food waste system and helping us move closer to our zero waste targets in the climate change plan,” Mayor Bill Peduto said in a statement. “This pilot project will allow us to get an idea of ​​what programs and resources are already in place and what kind of city facilities will work so that we can build on what works.”

During the first year, the city said it will focus on researching food waste systems and composting in the Pittsburgh area to learn about opportunities to manage food waste commercially and at the community level. This will help the city develop pilot projects that will support the growth of existing food waste systems, the city said.

In the second year of the program, the city said the pilot will focus on testing new composting opportunities in city facilities and events. The city said it will seek a locally-based and licensed composting company to manage an organic composting stand at the city-sponsored farmers’ markets. People could bring their compost to the markets.

Pittsburgh will also run pilot programs at a recreation center and a senior center, both of which host food programs.

The Philips Recreation Center in Carrick will use a traditional composting method that involves layering two types of organic materials that over time will break down into an earth-like substance that can be used for planting, the city said. The two types of materials include “brown” such as dried garden waste, leaves and shredded cardboard, and “green” such as leftover food, vegetables and clippings. The city announced that the education program for young people will be integrated into this project.

The Homewood Health Active Living Center will focus on mechanical composting, where organic and compostable materials are placed in a container such as a drum or silo and periodically spun or turned to break them down. The by-product of this process can also be used for planting.

Julia Felton is a contributor to Tribune Review. You can contact Julia at 724-226-7724, jfelton@triblive.com, or on Twitter.