Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Survey

Black Earth Compost has shared a call to action (below) to help mitigate Massachusetts' waste problem and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Massachusetts' Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is in the process of shaping its Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP), which will open up access to federal funding from the EPA for municipalities. We believe composting should be on the docket. With the state’s trash being shipped thousands of miles away, landfills reaching their cap, and rising greenhouse gas emissions, waste management is a critical pillar of climate change that should be front and center. Your input can help influence the state's approach. 

If we get enough comments to include composting initiatives, MassDEP has agreed to include it in their plan. Submit a comment and urge the Commonwealth to include waste reduction strategies—including food waste, compositing, reuse, and refill—into its PCAP. Fill out the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Survey.

Some examples for filling out these fields:

Q: Do you have input on how to expand, accelerate, or eliminate barriers to greenhouse gas emissions reduction through the measures in this plan?

Waste reduction strategies should be included in the Massachusetts plan because:

• Organics make up to 40% of waste being sent to landfills and produce methane, a GHG stronger than CO2. Composting these organics effectively prevents the formation of methane contributing to a reduction in emissions. 

• Compost enhances soil health and acts as a carbon sink, helping to sequester carbon and mitigate impacts of climate change.

• Having regional, decentralized composting sites throughout Mass minimizes transportation distances for organic waste and creates a circular economy benefit.

Q: Do you have input on how to better target benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities and alleviate potential harms of climate actions?

• Providing funding and support for composting initiatives in low income and disadvantaged communities will help drive participation, educate, and spread awareness.

Q: Do you require any modification to an existing measure to cover an eligible entity’s implementation grant application?

• No response is needed here or you can help by letting them know that opening up access to funding to all organizations, including for profit and nonprofit increases the competitiveness and therefore the quality of projects and applications being submitted. 

Learn More

We also wanted to share a recent podcast featuring Sharon Byrne Kishida. With 39 cities and towns under her belt, Sharon brings valuable insights as a retired recycling coordinator from MassDEP. Joined by our own Conor Miller and Andrew Brousseau from Black Earth Compost, the podcast dives into the current state of the waste crisis in Cape Ann. Listen to the podcast.

Lastly, we recently upgraded our Municipal Composting Guide (see below), a handy toolkit for towns looking to divert valuable waste away from the landfills while reducing trash costs and helping the environment. 

Thanks for your support and as always feel free to reach out with questions or just want to chat about all things dirt!

Sincerely,

Black Earth Compost

Municipal Composting Guide

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