While some people see only crushed eggs shells, used coffee grounds or last night’s leftover dinner in the trash, Scott Parker knows the value of what others may toss way.
He sees all the ingredients for compost – a wondrous mix of organic material that can nourish the soil with valuable nutrients, improve plant growth and reduce methane emissions – along with a host of other beneficial contributions to the environment.
To help others see the worth of compost – something gardeners often refer to as “black gold” – he approached the Melbourne Beach Town Commission last April about starting a pilot composting program for the town. They heartily agreed and voted unanimously to give Parker the go ahead.
He formed Green Earth Compost, a 501c3 nonprofit with goals that included reducing garbage and collection fees, creating a blueprint for other communities, and providing the town with nutrient-rich soil to use in local parks and gardens. In addition, he says the program will prevent GHG emissions, sequester carbon in the soil, eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and promote local grown organic produce
By the end of the program’s first month in May, he collected 462 pounds of food waste resulting in 924 pounds of feedstock yield, which is made by mixing food waste with wood chips, leaves and carbon. According to Parker, the environmental effect of this yield resulted in a reduction of 396 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and 220 pounds of sequestered carbon.
“The program is a free compost pickup service for the town of Melbourne Beach and every Thursday families put their bucket of compost out for pickup and I empty it in my truck, wash the bucket out and turn it upside down to drain,” Parker said. “People that sign up get a free bucket and lid and a list of what to put in and what not to.”
He said he collects mainly fruit and vegetable waste.
Now, after eight months of service, the participation rate is between 70 percent and 80 percent every week and he’s collected 12,763 pounds of food waste, which he said will prevent 10,720 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere – and sequester 6,381 pounds of carbon in the soil.
“The community has responded great, we are up to 71 families and businesses,” Parker said. “The finished compost is an excellent soil amendment which we put in Ryckman Park to reduce harmful runoff to the lagoon and sell to residents to help cover expenses.”
Through Green Earth Compost, he also collects donations from businesses that support sustainability in the community – and plans to apply for grants to grow the program further.
In a unanimous decision during last month’s commission meeting, the town voted to provide Parker with two tanks of gas monthly to aid him in performing the service.
Any resident who lives in the town limits of Melbourne Beach can sign up for the service by email at gearthcompost@gmail.com.