Dorothy Dickinson believes knowing how to compost and recycle is important, and that’s why she’s helping with a city of Gary pilot program.
“It’s very interesting because I’ve heard of composting, but I just didn’t know what it actually was and what it can do,” said Dickinson, a Gary resident who’s helping organize the program. “I’ve learned a lot through this training and that you turn scraps into enriched soil. … I hope the others who go through the program learn that.”
On Friday, the city announced its composting pilot program has received a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Gary’s leaders are working with community organizations to teach city households about composting.
About 100 households will participate in the program over a two-year period. The USDA grant will help provide households with a tabletop home composter that can take scraps from their home or gardens.
According to USDA’s website, the department invested about $11.5 million in 38 cooperative agreements nationwide that support community composting efforts. American Rescue Plan Act dollars fund the agreements, and projects have to be implemented by the end of 2026.
“The program reflects the City of Gary’s commitment to reducing landfill waste, strengthening neighborhood-based solutions, and advancing climate-smart practices that benefit residents and the environment,” Brenda Scott-Henry, director of Gary’s Office of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs, said in a news release. “Through investments in composting and local food systems, we are turning everyday food waste into a community resource.”
Scott-Henry was unable to immediately respond to the Post-Tribune’s request for an interview.
Participants will join one of four cohort sessions, one of which started June 15 and will go until July 21. The remaining sessions take place from July 28 to Sept. 1, July 30 to Sept. 30 and Sept. 8 to Oct. 13, according to participant sign-up information.
So far, Dickinson said participants have enjoyed the training, and she’s excited to see how it continues. Glenda George Greene of Baby Greens Family Farm, a Northwest Indiana organization, is teaching the cohort sessions.
Gary’s compost program is free for city residents.
“The important part is to get them interested in composting,” Dickinson said. “If you offer it to them for free, of course they’ll consider composting.”
The city is working with the 2020 Farmers Cooperative — an organization that promotes fair and equitable agricultural opportunities — and the Gary Food Council to offer composting, gardening and soil enrichment classes. Participants will receive a household composter, compost bin and a schedule to “track the quantity and quality of compost produced,” according to a Gary news release.
“While lessening the waste in our landfills, food scraps can become valuable nutrients for home gardens and grow healthier food naturally,” Sharon Mallory, executive director of the 2020 Farmers Cooperative, said in a news release. “We know that community gardening and composting strengthen neighborhoods by building stronger local food systems.”
Dickinson said Mallory met with the Hilltop Organized Citizens, a community group Dickinson is secretary of, to learn what they’d like to improve. She said composting was a main topic brought up.
“Composting comes in to help create a clean, safe and aesthetically improved neighborhood,” Dickinson said. “It can help reduce blight and illegal dumping, and it can reduce the amount of waste going into landfills. That was the basic purpose.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
