The City of Sutherlin in rural southern Oregon was awarded a $259,589 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (CFDA 10.935) program. This funding will enable the city, in partnership with Sutherlin Sanitary Services and the non-profit social enterprise HealtTerra, to launch a pilot project to divert 10-15 tons of food waste per year from the local landfill. The food waste will be collected from 10 participating kitchens in Sutherlin and processed by HealtTerra into natural fertilizer, compost, and worm castings. This project aims to establish the first composting infrastructure in the economically disadvantaged Douglas County region, which currently lacks recycling options, while also providing employment opportunities for veterans through HealtTerra's operations. The pilot will test the feasibility of expanding food waste collection and recycling in the city, contributing to Oregon's and the nation's goals for reducing food loss and waste.
Generated 1/14/25, 7:58 AM