Rust Belt Riders, a composting cooperative, plans to celebrate its 10th year by establishing new drop-off sites and an ambassador program that will help spread the word about its mission: “Create wealth from waste in order to feed people, not landfills.”
In 2023, the organization diverted 6.5 million pounds of food scraps such as fruit peels, vegetable cores, bones and eggshells from Cleveland’s landfills, according to Zoe Apisdorf, director of Residential Experience for the organization. That waste, from homes and businesses, was turned into nutrient-rich soil. The organization operates seven neighborhood drop-off composting sites.
A grant will allow the organization to add 10 locations and start a year-long ambassador education program to help monitor the new composting sites and raise awareness about the benefits of recycling food waste in the city.
The goal with this expansion is to ensure the city remains at the forefront of urban agricultural innovation and a climate-friendly, healthy environment for residents, Apisdorf said.
“Compost is a real and powerful resource in our region,” Apisdorf said. “[This expansion] of our program just shows an important opportunity for the city and to think about revitalization of the rust belt industry in a different way.”
Funding will expand neighborhood composting sites
Rust Belt Riders, along with Rid-All Green Partnership, a nonprofit and urban farm located in Cleveland’s Kinsman neighborhood that also provides compost services, received a $340,000 grant from the City of Cleveland. Over the last year, the organization has partnered with Rid-All to compost food waste from the West Side Market.
The money is being used to expand their services and create a scholarship fund to allow households who qualify for SNAP benefits to participate in Rust Belt Riders’ composting efforts. Currently, the organization charges $12 a month.
“Having people pay to participate in our services and programs regardless of their ability to pay has always been the vision for Rust Belt Riders,” Apisdorf said. “This is just the first step to catalyzing our vision and ensuring the city is taking steps toward creating a healthy, equitable environment for all.”
Cuyahoga County Waste District will also match $17,000 to help create an ambassador education program that would promote the benefits of composting and design promotional material about recycling waste. The organizations hope to roll out that program early summer.
Cleveland was one of 38 cities to receive part of a $11.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to divert food waste from city landfills.
Health benefits of composting
Approximately one-third of all food is lost or wasted, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In cities, food often makes up the majority of waste that ends up in landfills, where it gradually decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
The environmental agency also estimates landfills in the United States are the third-largest source of methane emissions — and food waste makes up about 24% of that. By reducing the amount of food wasted within cities, governments can address landfilling challenges, fight food insecurity and mitigate climate change.