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Charlotte Talks: Reducing Food Waste, Charlotte Testing Composting Program

food waste
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One estimate says we toss out 40 percent of our food and it goes to feed the landfills.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

We hear about efforts to do something about the staggering amount of food that is simply tossed out, only to feed the landfills. Charlotte is testing a pilot program to turn some of that waste into compost. 

A closer look at the impact of the remarkable amount of food wasted in the United States. An estimated 40 percent of food is tossed out and winds up in a landfill, becoming a major contributor of harmful methane gas to the earth’s atmosphere. 

A new pilot program from the City of Charlotte is diverting some of that waste. They are testing a curbside pickup program that turns your leftover food into compost, and they are hoping to be able to take the program citywide. 

We also meet a local entrepreneur who’s helping Charlotte residents divert their food waste from the landfill through his composting company. 

Guests

Beverlee Sanders, Solid Waste Services community engagement specialist for the City of Charlotte. She is project manager for their composting pilot

(Interested in participating in the compost pilot? Contact Beverlee on her work cell: 704-641-1544 or email Beverlee.Sanders@ci.charlotte.nc.us)

David Valder, co-founder and co-owner of Crown Town Compost, a food waste diversion company based in Charlotte

Credit WFAE/Jennifer Worsham
David Valder and Beverlee Sanders in Charlotte Talks' Spirit Square studio

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