LANCASTER, Pa. — The City of Lancaster announced Thursday that it is the recipient of a $15,000 Healing the Planet grant from The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
The funds will help build environmental stewardship by connecting families with community green spaces, the city said.
With this grant, the City of Lancaster will work with Lancaster Compost Co-Ops to expand its community composting program to four additional park sites: Sixth Ward Park, Reservoir Park, South End Park and Buchanan Park.
Funds will be used for materials and labor to build compost boxes, purchase composting tools, as well as supporting education and outreach activities, the city said.
Lancaster Compost Co-Ops presently has community composting sites at the Lancaster City Recycling Drop Off Center and Musser Park, with a new community bin launching on Sept. 1.
The “Behind Culliton Park” bin will be located just behind Conlin Field, at the intersection of Conestoga, Union, and Filbert Streets, according to the city.
To date, the initiative has more than 60 members ranging in age from 14 to 74 years old, and also takes in approximately 1200 pounds of compostable materials from Lancaster Central Market per month.
Compost co-op membership is free, with members expected to participate in an orientation session and contribute approximately one hour of work per month for bin maintenance activities.
Community composting sites offer opportunities for engaging citizens in environmentally related conversations and stewardship and bring people together with a shared sense of purpose and neighborhood involvement, in addition to providing opportunities for art and education.
For more information and to get involved, visit the Lancaster Compost Co-Ops website, www.lancastercompost.us.
A total of 33% of the municipal waste stream is compostable, between food waste, yard trimmings and non-recyclable paper, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In Lancaster City, over 30,000 pounds of food waste have the potential to be composted annually, according to the city.
The benefits include production of a useful soil amendment, in addition to waste management system cost savings and carbon emissions reductions.
Lancaster was among 42 recipients of the grant, which aims to build environmental stewardship by connecting people and families to community green spaces, support environmental restoration efforts, and build community gardens.
Funding for the grants was provided by customers at GIANT, MARTIN'S, and GIANT Heirloom Market stores who agreed to round up their grocery purchase to the nearest dollar from March through May.
