An important part of food recovery in DC is composting. In the last few years community composting initiatives have gain momentum throughout DC as communities, community gardens, and schools are figuring out ways to compost their food scraps with different kinds of carbon sources around the city, such as garden waste, fall leaves, woodchips, shredded paper, etc. Unfortunately finding enough carbon to properly mix with food scraps has been a challenge.
If you have extra carbon sources to donate, if you’re looking for carbon sources for your compost or carbon spot, or if you are looking for a place to compost, please explore the links below.
Find or Share Sources of Carbon
Have extra sources of carbon? These sites will accept them!
(email joshua.singer@dc.gov to become a drop off site on the Carbon Drop off Map)
Need extra sources of carbon?
Reach out to a carbon producer on the List of DC Carbon Producers to politely and respectfully request a carbon drop off
(email joshua.singer@dc.gov if you are a carbon producer and would like to be added to this list)
DC Community Composting Initiatives
DPR Community Composting Cooperative Network
The DC Parks and Recreation (DPR) Community Compost Cooperative Network uses new critter proof and smell proof compost bins designed by Urban Farm Plans to allow trained community members to compost food scraps with garden waste from DPR and partner DPR gardens to responsibly create high quality compost. To join each member must take an hour training and help process compost 1-hour a month. Each cooperative can handle around 100 active composters or about 1 ton of material a month. DPR currently has over 50 cooperative compost sites with more than 1000 people composting around 20 tons a month in this network.
To join find the nearest co-op on the map below and if there’s a manager listed email them to get on the next training. If there’s no manager or if you have any questions email Joshua.singer@dc.gov.
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Click here to Learn More about all the Composting Efforts and Resources in Greater DC
DC Food Recovery Working Group 