Maryland Environmental Service engineers have developed effective ways to recycle food scraps into Leafgro Gold®.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, American households generate around 26.5 million tons of food scraps each year, or 40% of all food scraps generated by food service providers, food retail, and residences. Of the 66 million tons of total food scraps produced annually, an estimated 60% ends up in landfills. The United States’ goal is to reduce food scraps by 50%, from 328 pounds per person to 164 pounds per person by 2030.
MES projects that use a mixture of yard waste and food scraps divert this waste from landfills. The resulting soil amendment product is sold to residents as Leafgro Gold®.
MES has a network of retailers that sell Leafgro® compost. Click here to find a retailer near you.
MES operates the Prince George’s County Organics Composting Facility on behalf of the county. Click here to learn more about the materials accepted for composting at the facility.
For more information about composting facility operations, please contact Tim Ford.
MES is working with Prince George’s County on a food waste composting project using the Gore™ cover system technology. MES evaluates different compost “recipes” to identify the best process to produce a high-quality compost.
The project is equipped with an oxygen controlled, positively aerated system and oxygen and temperature monitoring devices. This system creates ideal composting conditions while efficiently trapping odors and other emissions. The results are a higher output in a smaller area with little energy consumption
