Over 10,000 Pounds of Food Waste Diverted and Composted from Participating Businesses
Food that decomposes in a landfill releases methane, a greenhouse gas 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide. By composting locally, we reduce transportation associated with hauling waste to faraway processing facilities, which lowers smog-forming air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions. Simultaneously, the application of compost builds healthy soils, increases water retention, and enhances soil carbon sequestration.
The Table to Farm program works with Environmental Charter Schools’ (ECS) three campuses, Environmental Charter Middle School Inglewood, Environmental Charter Middle School Gardena, and Environmental Charter High School, to implement community composting. These three compost facilities serve the school, community, and local restaurants interested in recycling their organic food scraps. As of 2020, TBF’s Table to Farm program and ECS established a community garden just outside of Environmental Charter Middle School Inglewood’s campus. This garden utilizes compost to grow nourishing produce for the surrounding community.
If your food service establishment is interested in participating in this composting program and is based in is based in Inglewood, Gardena or Lawndale, please contact us.
Project Highlights
Creation of a Table to Farm x ECS Community Garden
In Fall 2020, we worked with ECS and Jose-Guadalupe Gutierrez, a landscape designer and ECS alumnus, to construct five community garden beds alongside Environmental Charter Middle School-Inglewood.
Check out the video below for a virtual tour of the garden.
How Does Composting Help the Environment?
Nearly half of the solid waste produced globally is organic or biodegradable. Much of this waste ends up in landfills where it is decomposed without the presence of oxygen and produces the greenhouse gas methane. Separating organic waste from landfills, and recycling the nutrients through composting, converts organic material into soil carbon and provides carbon sequestration, while retaining water and nutrients. It’s a powerful climate adaptation strategy that is accessible to implement.
Impact of Table to Farm
To date, over 10,000 pounds of food waste has been diverted and composted at ECS campuses from five local Table to Farm businesses participants:
- Bionicos J&B
- Crepe Heaven Play Cafe
- Mango Tango Juice Bar and Grill
- Pacific Rim Thai Kitchen
- Yo Way Sandwich Shop
Creation of a Table to Farm x ECS Community Garden
In Fall 2020, we worked with ECS and Jose-Guadalupe Gutierrez, a landscape designer and ECS alumnus, to construct five community garden beds alongside Environmental Charter Middle School-Inglewood.
Check out the video below for a virtual tour of the garden.
How Does Composting Help the Environment?
Nearly half of the solid waste produced globally is organic or biodegradable. Much of this waste ends up in landfills where it is decomposed without the presence of oxygen and produces the greenhouse gas methane. Separating organic waste from landfills, and recycling the nutrients through composting, converts organic material into soil carbon and provides carbon sequestration, while retaining water and nutrients. It’s a powerful climate adaptation strategy that is accessible to implement.
