Detroit, Michigan – The Office of Sustainability in Detroit has started its first-ever Compost Pilot Program. This program gives residents a new method to cut down on food waste and improve local soil health. Carhartt is giving the project a one-year, $100,000 grant to start on August 21. The program works with Doers Edge, the Department of Public Works, Scrap Soils, and a number of community farms to keep food scraps out of landfills and prepare the way for a citywide composting system in the future.
Residents who sign up for the Community Compost Pilot Program will be able to drop off acceptable compostable products. The first 200 people to sign up will also get a free five-gallon bucket to collect things like bits of fruit and vegetables, small bones, eggshells, napkins, food-soiled paper, coffee grounds, and used paper towels. The main drop-off point will be the Detroit People’s Food Co-op, which will give participants clear instructions and instructional materials.
The city’s leaders argue that the goal is more than just cutting down on trash. Patrice Brown, the Office of Sustainability’s Deputy Director of Urban Agriculture, said that composting makes a circular system by turning food scraps into nutrient-rich soil that helps urban farms, makes neighborhoods healthier, and makes food production more sustainable.
“We’re proud to support residents with the tools and knowledge to be part of this change,” she said.
The need for such a program is evident. According to official data, almost 70% of homes in Detroit don’t have enough food. In the same time, 30–40% of food in the US never reaches customers, and a lot of it is lost in the retail and manufacturing stages. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that a lot of food waste ends up in landfills and releases methane gas. Officials argue that composting is a straightforward approach to lower greenhouse gasses and improve the soil for farming in the area.
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The program’s design involves using an on-site composter to break down food scraps, which can cut their volume by up to 75%. The finished product will be sent to farms in the area, where it will help crops develop and keep the soil healthy for a long time. Organizers think the pilot may stop up to 220 pounds of food waste every day, which is around 80,000 pounds a year. The Urban Agriculture Division will keep track of how much waste is diverted and how many people take part each month. This information will be shared with the Solid Waste Division of the Department of Public Works.
Community advocates see the program as a step toward food sovereignty and urban resilience.
“Community-centered composting is key to food sovereignty, urban equity, and sustainability in Detroit. By building a closed-loop food economy, we recycle economic, cultural, and ecological capital back into our communities—transformative change that redefines ‘waste’ and deepens our connection to all living beings,” said Dr. Shakara Tyler Saba, Co-Executive Director, DBCFSN.
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The Compost Pilot Program also helps Michigan reach its goal of keeping 50% of food waste out of landfills by 2030. Organizers hope that this first drop-off model will grow to encompass more locations and eventually curbside collection.
Detroit residents who want to participate can sign up now. The first 200 people to join up will get free buckets.