Written by Jesi Taylor     The values of communication and transparency are important in community-building spaces.   Which brings us to the primary topic at hand: waste, trash, refuse, garbage.   While out of sight and out of mind to many people, waste infrastructure and materials are connected to all beings on this planet in a complex, extensive kinship network. Not only does waste directly impact earth’s natural systems, soils, waters, and the beings who call them home, but waste also impacts our day-to-day lives as we navigate our social world. Unfortunately, the ways ..read more

By Jesi Taylor Cruz   On Earth Day 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City will resume its Curbside Composting Program after an unfortunate hiatus. “Today is Earth Day, but New York City’s commitment to sustainability is year-round,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “No other municipality ran a compost program like ours, and this new citywide program will advance the cause of environmental justice in all five boroughs.” Still, due to existing structural inequities in this city that disproportionately impact environmental justice communities, it is imperative that all New Yorkers ..read more

By Jesi Taylor Cruz   World Ocean Day is June 8th! What began as a proposal at the 1992 Earth Summit has evolved into a globally observed, youth-led movement that culminates in over 2,000 events in over 140 countries every June. “On World Ocean Day, people everywhere can celebrate and take action for our shared ocean, which connects us all,” the official website states. Plus, with the help of countless free resources and toolkits, the World Ocean Foundation and Youth Advisory council make it easy for people to join in the global celebration, learn more about ocean conservation, and engage ..read more

by Jesi Taylor Cruz   Soils are fertile ecosystems that contain living microorganisms, eroded ancient rock materials, and decayed organic matter. When soils on our planet are healthy, they help sustain all life on Earth from the tiniest organisms only visible through microscopes to humans and other animals who call countless different habitats home. Healthy soils help plants thrive, mitigate stormwater runoff, sequester carbon, improve farmer’s crop yields, cycle nutrients, and more. When soils are polluted and otherwise destroyed, these once dynamic ecosystems lose many of their benefici ..read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by #SaveOurCompost (@saveourcompost ..read more

Originally posted on swrm’s website and on YouTube! Check out CGC Director, Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli in conversation with Lexi at swrm. They’re talking Compost and the City and you do not want to miss out ..read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by #SaveOurCompost (@saveourcompost)     Originally hosted on #SaveOurCompost’s Instagram page: Check out Shasti Balasundara, founder of WeRadiate in conversation with Common Ground Compost’s very own, William Klimpert! Listen as they chat about the vital role data plays when it comes to composting and organics recycling ..read more

  Originally posted on swrm’s website and you can also watch this on YouTube ..read more

  PLEASE NOTE: We ALWAYS recommend that businesses replace disposable products with reusable ones. Waste reduction is the best way to handle your waste, followed by recycling and composting. Is there a way for you to stop using straws altogether, rather than looking for a compostable straw? Or coffee cup? Or plate? That’s the goal. If not, we’re here to help find the best solution.     So what is a “Certified Compostable Product”? And is biodegradable the same as compostable? What is BPI? What is ASTM D6400? What?? We’d like to help clarify some of the confusion around Certifie ..read more

“Eliminating food waste” was the theme of the inaugural Zero Waste Food Conference, hosted by The New School and the Institute of Culinary Education. The purpose of the two-day event, held on April 28th & 29th 2017, was to “discover better methods for the way we produce, distribute, consume and dispose of food in the environments where we cook and where we eat.” Panel discussions covered topics such as sustainable kitchen design, uncovering fresh connections in the food chain, and repurposing kitchen “scraps” into delicious, sustainable meals. Cooking demonstrations addressed food innovati ..read more