Pursue planning and partnerships to identify existing efforts, assets, and gaps for food waste and organics collection programs & policies
This action is appearing in our plan for the first time, it just sprouted.
Integrate
Integrate Agriculture & Climate Resilience
Leaders & Supporters of the Work
The Big Why
Both cities currently have limited compost drop-off site programs. However, they are not widely known about or utilized. Enhanced municipal compost programs would decrease taxpayer landfill costs, reduce climate impacts, and build local soil quality through returned nutrients in compost.
Progress
- January 2025, following Lisbon and Auburn’s lead (whom already have completed the UMaine Mitchell Center Food Loss and Waste Sutdy), Lewiston Public Schools enrolled in the Food Waste Study in hopes of launching the program Fall 2026.
- In early 2025, a group of concerned community members, GFCLA, Lewiston Public Works, Gather to Grow and Lewiston Public Schools to create a strategy of how to develop a city-wide compost program. It became clear that beginning with school compost is great entry point for getting municipal compost programs off the ground.
Dig Deeper
Resources & Additional Materials
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