By Ben Parry, CEO
As 2021 gathers steam, Compost Crew has rolled out some ambitious growth plans for our team. We are excited to build on our momentum from 2020, when we posted our best year ever, despite the headwinds caused by COVID-19. Read on for a preview of a few of the things that 2021 holds for our company.
We are looking forward to celebrating our 10 year anniversary in April. So much has changed in the past 10 years, and we are humbled by what this company has become. In 2020 alone we diverted approximately 2,500 tons of food waste from landfills with the help of nearly 5,000 area households and many local restaurants, grocery stores, apartment buildings and other businesses who are diverting their organic waste with us. Even in the face of 2020’s unprecedented challenges, we have continued to grow at a rapid pace — but there is still so much work to be done.
Approximately 700,000 tons of food waste is generated each year in the DMV. As we continue to increase the percentage of waste diverted from landfills and incinerators it is important to remember the reasons we are so committed to our mission. Food that ends up in landfills contributes significantly to methane production, which expedites climate change. Additionally, the finished compost works to improve local soil quality, prevent erosion, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
While we work to promote composting, we are also conscious that our region does not have enough capacity to compost all of the food scraps that are generated today. Compost Crew is taking steps to build additional composting capacity in 2021 to improve soil health and aid in building self-reliance in our communities.
Food is a significant part of the waste stream, but opportunities exist to reduce other types of waste as well. For example, in our region manure waste that is not handled properly pollutes important bodies of water such as the Chesapeake. These problems also fall within the Compost Crew mission, and we hope to expand the types of waste we manage in 2021.
Our company also continues to strive to create more good-paying jobs around the region and be known as a great place to work. As we have previously described, we aim to break the cycle of inequality for our employees.
With these lofty goals, we are appreciative of the continued support we receive from our customers and compost lovers everywhere, and we look forward to seeing where 2021 takes us!
