EPA Celebrates America Recycles Day With Grant To West Chester U. For Composting

In recognition of America Recycles Day, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced a $12,060 grant to West Chester University in Chester County to support a food composting project that will help the university and West Chester Borough keep food scraps away from a landfill.

“West Chester University has already demonstrated itself as a leader in sustainability efforts, and this funding will help the university further expand its food recovery and composting efforts,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.  “By diverting food scraps away from a landfill for composting, the university and West Chester Borough are making a valuable commitment to maintain a sustainable environment.”

With this funding, the university and borough will partner with 10 local businesses including restaurants, two senior living facilities, the Chester County Hospital and the food service operations at the university dining hall to set up a 12-month pilot composting project.

EPA and organizations nationwide are celebrating America Recycles Day today by making a concentrated effort to raise awareness about the impact organizations and individuals can have on the environment at home, school and work.

Non-food recycling rates have climbed dramatically in the U.S in recent years for many products, but we still recover only about 5 percent of the excess or wasted food.  In 2014, that amounted to 37 million tons of wasted food -- making food the largest waste category going into municipal landfills across the nation.

The university’s composting project was initiated with a 2014 EPA grant that was used to partner with the borough to collect food scraps from two local restaurants for composting.  The grant announced Tuesday will expand on that project.

Click Here for a review of efforts by West Chester University to reduce its environmental footprint.

In 2014, Pennsylvanians recycled nearly 17 million tons of municipal.  For more, visit DEP’s Recycling In Pennsylvania and Composting webpages.

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PA Recycled Nearly 17 Million Tons In 2014, See How Your County Did