Community Compost Network Application Now Open

“Expanding the Community Compost Network reflects our commitment to building a greener, more equitable Philadelphia,” said Susan Slawson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. “By bringing this program to neighborhoods that have historically had less access to sustainability resources, we’re empowering more residents to take part in climate action and improve their own communities.” 

Since its inception in 2019, the Community Compost Network has been supporting communities with free three-bin compost systems, expertly crafted in partnership with PowerCorpsPHL. Participants also gain access to comprehensive educational materials and hands-on and virtual training sessions facilitated by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Farm Philly, ensuring effective management of community-led small-scale neighborhood composting operations. 

The network is open to publicly accessible spaces, including but not limited to community gardens, urban farms, places of worship, schools, recreation centers, public parks, and other neighborhood civic groups. This year, Farm Philly will prioritize neighborhoods that are not adjacent to existing Community Compost Network sites to ensure equitable distribution of resources across the city. 

Once accepted into the network, sites will receive all of the necessary supplies, including thermometers, wheelbarrows, shovels, and more, to run a successful compost operation completely free of charge. Farm Philly seeks enthusiastic partners interested in collaborating with residents to provide a valuable public resource to their neighborhoods. 

“This program offers residents the chance to take an active part in reducing waste in their neighborhoods,” said Andrew Kirkpatrick, Urban Greening Coordinator, Farm Philly.“ Those who have joined the network already are seeing a big impact removing food scraps from the waste stream.” 

To qualify for participation, applicants must be willing to accept food scraps in their site and/or local neighborhood and assemble a dedicated team of volunteers committed to expanding this grassroots network. Each site will determine how they want to manage members and accept and process food waste on-site. 

The benefits of community-scale composting are multifaceted, including: 

• Waste Reduction: Diverting organic waste from landfills helps mitigate the release of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. 

• Soil Enrichment: Community-generated compost enriches soil quality and can be utilized in parks, gardens, and tree plantings, benefiting the entire community. 

• Street Cleanliness: By reducing garbage on city streets, community composting contributes to neighborhood cleanliness. 

• Citywide Impact: Participation in the program directly supports Philadelphia’s objectives of reducing litter and increasing recycling rates. 

The application period runs from June 9 through July 11. Applications are available online. Successful applicants are expected to be notified in late July. 

For more information or to conduct an interview, contact Andrew Kirkpatrick, andrew.kirkpatrick@phila.gov