Soon, people will be able to dispose of their food waste to be transformed into compost.
The Philadelphia Department of Prisons last week held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the formal launch of its community composting initiative.
Following more than a decade of on-site composting, the prisons have received official approval (G17 Permit) from the state Department of Environmental Protection to begin accepting organic materials from the community.
The initiative improves local sustainability efforts, as it diverts food waste from going to landfills, where it produces methane gas that some argue pollutes the air and contributes to climate change.
In addition, the program provides inmates with hands-on vocational training that can assist them upon release.
“This is a model program,” said Carlton Williams, director of the city’s Office of Clean and Green Initiatives.
Laura Cassidy, Director of Sustainability – Operations for the Department of Prisons, said governments have been looking for alternatives to dumping all of their food waste into landfills.
Cassidy recently addressed the Holmesburg and Upper Holmesburg civic associations about the decade-long compost program that takes place next to the old Holmesburg Prison, 8215 Torresdale Ave.
The program processes food waste from the prison, and Cassidy said there have been no issues with odor or rodents. The compost is donated for use in gardens, including at New Foundations Charter School.
“It flies off the shelf,” Cassidy said.
The prisons have been partnering with Bennett Compost since 2021. Co-owner Jen Mastalerz joined Cassidy at the Upper Holmesburg meeting and at the June 24 ribbon cutting. Also at the ceremony were Crystal Jacobs Shipman, commissioner of the sanitation department, and Kyle Lewis, head of the city’s recycling program.
“We all worked together to get this open,” Mastalerz said. “This is a big deal.”
To sign up to be able to dispose of food waste and for a list of what can and cannot be accepted, visit https://www.bennettcompost.com/dropoff
Once people sign up, they will be given a combination to dispose of their waste in a can that will be placed in a large green MetroStor container.
The containers should be in place soon. Two of them will be located near Holmesburg Prison. Another two will be at the sanitation convenience center at State Road and Ashburner Street. Another might be placed outside City Hall.
The containers are expected to be emptied twice a week, depending on how often they are used.
The compost will continue to be offered to the community for garden use.
“For anybody who wants it,” Cassidy said. ••
