Nashville’s Composting Pilot Program Achieves Major Success in Waste Reduction Efforts

Nashville Takes Big Steps in Composting with Successful Pilot Program

Nashville, Tennessee, has recently hit a significant milestone in its fight against waste. The city collected more than 200,000 pounds of food scraps in the first year of a pilot program designed to make composting more accessible for residents. This initiative is part of Nashville’s broader goal of reducing waste sent to landfills, particularly food scraps and organic materials that can be composted instead.

The Need for Change

Did you know that a staggering one-third of all garbage that Nashvillians throw away consists of food waste? That’s right! With such a high percentage, it’s clear that more needs to be done to tackle this issue. Food and organic materials are major contributors to methane gas emissions, which pose significant environmental challenges as it’s a powerful greenhouse gas. Jenn Harrman, the Administrative Services Manager at Nashville Department of Waste Services, emphasizes the importance of addressing this problem with the composting initiative.

How the Program Works

The pilot program, known as the Food Scraps Pickup Pilot, launched with around 750 participants, despite over 2,600 people applying to join. The uniqueness of this program lies in its convenience; rather than requiring residents to go to specific drop-off locations, participants have the service brought directly to their homes. Each week, participants collected their food scraps and placed them at the curb for pickup. The feedback gathered through surveys indicated that this convenience played a significant role in increasing community engagement.

“Participants could include any kind of food scraps or even compostable items like paper products, tissues, or napkins,” Harrman explained. It’s easy to see how our daily trash can contribute to a larger solution!

Turning Food Waste into Nutrient-Rich Soil

Once gathered, the collected food scraps are sent to a nearby composting company that specializes in quickly turning them into nutrient-rich soil. This soil can then be used by farmers, gardeners, and landscapers, as well as made available for purchase in some local stores. Harrman points out the environmental benefits of this natural decomposition process, noting, “It replenishes our soil and our environment. So why throw that away?”

Impressive Numbers

Each participating household generated about six pounds of food waste weekly. Surprisingly, the pilot program collected twice as much waste from these homes than what was gathered from the city’s four drop-off locations combined. This truly highlights how convenience plays a significant role in encouraging citizens to get involved in sustainability efforts.

Aiming for Zero Waste

This pilot is a stepping stone towards Nashville’s Zero Waste initiative, which aims to divert 90% of the city’s waste away from landfills. Excitingly, the program has received a state grant of $100,000 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, with an additional $50,000 contributed by Metro government to help sustain the program long-term.

Inclusivity in Participation

One of the primary goals was to ensure that the participants reflect the diverse communities in Nashville. The planners sought out areas in need of resources for composting and made sure every council district was represented in the program.

As Nashville continues to forge ahead with its composting efforts, residents are encouraged to think about their waste and consider how small changes can make a big difference. Composting isn’t just about reducing trash; it’s about nurturing the earth and making a positive environmental impact.

Get Involved!

If you’re curious about composting in Nashville and want to learn more about getting involved, there are resources available to help you start your own composting journey at home!