Key components for a community-wide compost program in Montclair Township
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Greg Pope
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 1:00 PM
Description
The township of Montclair, New Jersey is seeking to implement a region-wide composting program to improve their sustainable practices further. This community initiative aims to divert tons of food waste from landfills, creating nutrient-dense compost in the process. Through outreach programs and in-school workshops, residents and students will learn about what to compost, where drop-off locations are, and the importance of compost for environmental sustainability. The primary research question is: What are the economic and environmental implications of installing a community-based composting program in Montclair, New Jersey? This research will study the immediate and long-term costs of implementing and maintaining an in-vessel composting machine alongside the benefits of lowering food waste sent to the landfill and tipping fees for the community. Environmental benefit analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and nutritional compost for farms and gardens will be coupled with the financial evaluation. By compiling this data, this project will provide a blueprint for communities like Montclair to implement a long-term composting program. It will identify key factors that contribute to a successful system, such as community involvement, program design, and economic incentives, offering feasible recommendations for improving the sustainability of composting programs.
Key components for a community-wide compost program in Montclair Township
The township of Montclair, New Jersey is seeking to implement a region-wide composting program to improve their sustainable practices further. This community initiative aims to divert tons of food waste from landfills, creating nutrient-dense compost in the process. Through outreach programs and in-school workshops, residents and students will learn about what to compost, where drop-off locations are, and the importance of compost for environmental sustainability. The primary research question is: What are the economic and environmental implications of installing a community-based composting program in Montclair, New Jersey? This research will study the immediate and long-term costs of implementing and maintaining an in-vessel composting machine alongside the benefits of lowering food waste sent to the landfill and tipping fees for the community. Environmental benefit analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and nutritional compost for farms and gardens will be coupled with the financial evaluation. By compiling this data, this project will provide a blueprint for communities like Montclair to implement a long-term composting program. It will identify key factors that contribute to a successful system, such as community involvement, program design, and economic incentives, offering feasible recommendations for improving the sustainability of composting programs.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.