In a bid to bolster sustainability efforts, Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department and the University of Georgia’s New Materials Institute have launched a compost pilot program, marking a significant stride in waste management.
This collaborative initiative, backed by a Walmart Foundation grant, led to the placement of nearly 400 steel trash cans at residences across west Athens neighborhoods in late January. Participating households were instructed to collect organic waste and food scraps in the bins, which are emptied once a week by ACC Solid Waste and composted at the county’s facility.
Composting, the process of decomposing and recycling organic materials into a nutrient rich soil fertilizer, can play a critical role in a community’s sustainability efforts, according to Evan White, an assistant research scientist faculty member who leads UGA’s participation in the pilot program.
“Food waste is the No. 1 contributor to landfill waste—about 25%,” White said. “Composting produces a better environmental outcome and expands the lifecycle of the landfill.”
Scheduled to wrap up on May 3, the program will undergo evaluation by ACC and UGA, with recommendations slated for future composting endeavors.
