Leaders of a resort composting program gathered last week to recognize participants and volunteers for diverting one million pounds of food waste from the landfill.
Last Friday, Go Green OC announced its one millionth pound of food waste composted through the organization’s composting program.
Joined by local dignitaries at the Ocean City Convention Center, founder Josh Chamberlain recognized the program’s achievement, as well as the people who helped the organization reach its one-millionth milestone.
“That’s not just a number,” he said. “That’s a million pounds of scraps turned into healthy compost soil for our local gardens, farms and community. And we didn’t do this alone.”
In 2018, Go Green OC partnered with The Hobbit Restaurant owner Garvey Heiderman to launch a composting program that invites local businesses to divert food waste from the town’s waste stream. Each season, volunteers collect food waste from participating businesses and haul it to a farm in Bishopville, where it is turned into compost.
Since its inception, the program has grown, with new businesses joining and more waste collected. Today, the program includes 20-plus participating restaurants across Ocean City.
“Eight years ago, in our first season, Garvey and I composted 1,980 pounds of food waste. That’s it. One restaurant, The Hobbit Restaurant, a few bins, and a lot of hope,” Chamberlain said. “Today, thanks to all of you — our volunteers, our business partners, our city leaders, our supporters — we’re celebrating the fact that Go Green OC has officially diverted one million pounds of food waste.”
But what about the CO being produced in transportation?