Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the CITY of sun prairie (CITY)…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the CITY of sun prairie (CITY) sends approximately 1800 tons of food waste (20.7% of its waste stream) to the dane county landfill annually representing thousands of pounds of food scraps that could be upcycled composted or prevented. While the CITY has made progress promoting food waste reduction and composting through the establishment of various community programs including annual compost BIN group buys launching a yard waste composting program and partnering with the sun prairie area school district (SPASD) to form the food waste warriors IT has identified the need to centralize efforts in order to create a more robust impactful and long-term composting and food waste prevention program. As one of the fastest growing cities in the state sun prairie strives to be a municipal leader in waste management and is devoted to integrating the habits of proper recycling food waste reduction and composting into the ethos and actions of its residents. The CITY is interested in infusing composting and food waste prevention measures into its annual events SPASD lunchrooms and the community but has encountered barriers including limited capacity for personnel to establish and monitor programs space restraints at local composting sites and limited funds to cover project costs. USDA funding is needed to establish new food waste reduction and composting programs foster excitement around composting and advance the circular economy of food waste in sun prairie.proposed project: the CITY proposes launching the sun prairie food rescu (residential event and school compost undertaking) pilot a 4-part program that (1) integrates full-service composting into six major CITY-wide events (2) implements lunchtime composting programs share tables a food waste reduction competition and food waste-focused curriculum into select schools in SPASD (3) pilots an 18-month curbside composting service for residents and (4) distributes compost to community gardens and urban farms while engaging these producers in a workshop centered around sustainable agriculture practices. The food rescu pilot is expected to reach 12000 people divert 65000 LBS of food waste from the landfill produce 43000 LBS of compost and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 27 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.program beneficiaries include sun prairie residents SPASD staff and students event attendees community gardens and urban farms. The following urban and suburban ZIP codes will be served by this program: 53590 53596 53713 53717 53575. Underserved communities served by this program include SPASD students who experience homelessness and food insecurity impoverished community members people who rely on food pantries and individuals of color minorities and those identifying with lgbtqiap+. These groups will be served through fully subsidized program opportunities equitable access to composting services food sharing tables and compost; and support provided to urban farms and community gardens. Related programs: the food rescu pilot builds upon the CITY's existing yard waste composting program by providing residents with an opportunity to divert another waste stream corn fest event composting SPASD food waste warriors program and the amount of compost returned to community members gardens and farms. The sun prairie food rescu pilot addresses the following cfwr objectives: (1) reduce municipal food waste (2) divert residential food waste from landfills (3) generate compost (4) increase agricultural producers' access to compost (5) improve soil quality; and the following cfwr priorities: (1) advance solutions to the climate crisis address environmental justice and racial equity and promote sustainable agricultural practices (2) make locally generated compost accessible to agricultural producers urban farms community gardens and school gardens (3) collaborate with nine community partners including five community gardens and urban farms (4) provide a comprehensive plan for monitoring evaluation and documentation of insights and solutions to inform program success and longevity.