A Diversion Model for Rural America
As a part of its environmental sustainability efforts, West Nottingham Academy in Maryland has developed a partnership with Kilby Farm and Creamery. Kilby Farm serves as an outdoor classroom for WNA students and provides internship opportunities for students. The Farm also has a methane digester for processing manure from its 600-cow dairy operation. Last year, Kilby Farm started accepting all of the food waste and soiled napkins from the WNA Dining Services to feed into their methane digester. Students designed the food scrap collection program, developed promotion (with assistance from Kilby Farm), and provided training and ongoing monitoring of the food scrap collection. Once per week the ollected food scraps are transported by school staff and students to be tipped into the digester. Ultimately, the students involved with the school’s sustainability efforts are hoping to promote its Kilby Farm partnership as a model for food waste diversion for other rural and agricultural communities. NERC is working with the school through its USDA funded "Implementing Food Waste, Organics, and Manure Management in Rural Maryland Communities".