Projects

Completed Projects

2022

2017

Creating Healthy Communities through Food Recovery & Composting in Vermont - Grant
Creating Healthy Communities through Food Recovery & Composting in Vermont - Grant
NERC received funding from EPA Region 1 (New England) for its proposal to recruit and secure at least five hospitality businesses (e.g., hotels, resorts, restaurants, conference venues) and one sporting venue in Vermont to participate to implement sustainable food reduction, recovery, and composting programs. In addition, NERC worked with to recruit businesses to join the EPA Food Recovery Challenge.

Project Highlights:
- Three onsite technical assistance meetings conducted at Jay Peak Resort; report and recommendations provided; training for food scrap composting provided for five full-serve restaurants; ongoing food scrap composting.
- Information on ball park food scrap collection discussed with Lake Monster’s administration; onsite technical assistance provided for 2016 season opening game to monitor food scrap collection and provide recommendations.
- Worked with Solid Waste District partners to provide waste assessments and technical assistance to 13 establishments for food scrap diversion.
- Recruited 18 establishments to join the US EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge. Cumulatively, in 2016, these establishments diverted more than 380 tons of food waste through source reduction, food recovery and donation, and composting. This resulted in 511 metric tons of carbon dioxide reduction or the equivalent of 107 passenger vehicles taken off the road for one year.
- NERC won EPA's 2016 National Food Recovery Challenge Endorser Award for their food recovery outreach and technical assistance efforts to New England businesses.
Project Partners: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources; Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Management District; Windham Solid Waste Management District; Black Dirt Farm (hauler/processor); Grow Compost (hauler/processor); and, participant businesses.
Electronics Workshops - New Hampshire Solid Waste Operator Training Program - Contract
Food Scrap & Organics Composting Training - New Hampshire Solid Waste Operator Training Program - Contract
Implementing the Food Recovery Hierarchy in Rural Vermont Communities - Grant
New York Compost Operators Training - Contract
Vermont Green Business Program - Contract