Regenerate all NYC soils with compost made from food scraps
New York City has over 30,000 acres of parks, about 12,000 acres of which are natural areas, where compost is typically not needed. There are also many other public and private green areas – cemeteries, lawns in NYCHA campuses and housing developments, tree-pits, gardens and backyards - most of which produce yard waste and can be improved with compost. What if the City supported community composting using the yard waste generated on-site and food scraps from neighboring residences to support healthy soils citywide?
How much food waste would it use up?
• If the City applied 1/4" of compost a year to 7,200 acres, and if we met the City's goal to reduce food waste by 50%, we could use up three-quarters of the City's residential food scraps in making the compost to regenerate soils.
If we look at a smaller scale, Prospect Park in Brooklyn has about 215 acres of grassy areas, and 1/4" of compost would use up the food scraps of 84,500 nearby households. Composting could take place at 4 sites, under the 2,500 tons / year DEC limit for registered sites, and take up less than 1% of the park area.
How much land would it take up?
• The amount of land taken up by compost operations depends on method used, ranging from 3 SF to 50 SF per ton of compost produced / year, see for example 24 SF / acre in this article.
• The total space needed would take up around 1% of the City's landscaped area, and could be considered part of green space maintenance
What are the benefits?
• Compost is produced and used locally, a transparent process which educates the public and reduces trucks.
• Engaging local communities in composting and stewardship of green spaces increases social resilience, civic engagement and makes people happier
• Increases stormwater retention in soils, reducing flooding and impacts from droughts
• Compost cleans stormwater, reducing pollution to NYC waterways
• Provides local jobs in composting and urban greening
• Compost makes soils and the plants growing in it healthier and more resistant to disease
• Healthy trees create cleaner and cooler air
• Supports local urban agriculture and healthier diets
See information from Institute for Local Self-Reliance for more details
Regenerate all NYC soils with compost made from food scraps
New York City has over 30,000 acres of parks, about 12,000 acres of which are natural areas, where compost is typically not needed. There are also many other public and private green areas – cemeteries, lawns in NYCHA campuses and housing developments, tree-pits, gardens and backyards - most of which produce yard waste and can be improved with compost. What if the City supported community composting using the yard waste generated on-site and food scraps from neighboring residences to support healthy soils citywide?
How much food waste would it use up?
• If the City applied 1/4" of compost a year to 7,200 acres, and if we met the City's goal to reduce food waste by 50%, we could use up three-quarters of the City's residential food scraps in making the compost to regenerate soils.
If we look at a smaller scale, Prospect Park in Brooklyn has about 215 acres of grassy areas, and 1/4" of compost would use up the food scraps of 84,500 nearby households. Composting could take place at 4 sites, under the 2,500 tons / year DEC limit for registered sites, and take up less than 1% of the park area.
How much land would it take up?
• The amount of land taken up by compost operations depends on method used, ranging from 3 SF to 50 SF per ton of compost produced / year, see for example 24 SF / acre in this article.
• The total space needed would take up around 1% of the City's landscaped area, and could be considered part of green space maintenance
What are the benefits?
• Compost is produced and used locally, a transparent process which educates the public and reduces trucks.
• Engaging local communities in composting and stewardship of green spaces increases social resilience, civic engagement and makes people happier
• Increases stormwater retention in soils, reducing flooding and impacts from droughts
• Compost cleans stormwater, reducing pollution to NYC waterways
• Provides local jobs in composting and urban greening
• Compost makes soils and the plants growing in it healthier and more resistant to disease
• Healthy trees create cleaner and cooler air
• Supports local urban agriculture and healthier diets
See information from Institute for Local Self-Reliance for more details