Over 12,000 Pounds of Food Waste Diverted and Composted from Participating Businesses
Food decomposing in a landfill releases methane, a greenhouse gas 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide. By composting locally, we reduce transportation associated with hauling waste to faraway processing facilities, which lowers smog-forming air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions. Simultaneously, applying compost builds healthy soils, increases water retention, and enhances soil carbon sequestration.
Table to Farm, initiated in 2016, partners with Environmental Charter Schools’ (ECS) three campuses, Environmental Charter Middle School-Inglewood, Environmental Charter High School-Gardena, and Environmental Charter High School-Lawndale, to implement community composting. These three compost facilities serve the school, community, and local restaurants interested in recycling organic food scraps. As of 2020, TBF and ECS co-established a community garden outside Environmental Charter Middle School-Inglewood’s campus. As of 2023, fruit trees also line this parkway space and community garden. This food forest utilizes compost to grow nourishing produce for the surrounding community.
Stay tuned to our events page for upcoming Environmental Charter Middle School-Inglewood volunteer garden days.
Project Highlights
Creation of a Table to Farm x ECS Community Garden
In fall 2020, we worked with ECS and Jose-Guadalupe Gutierrez, a landscape designer, and ECS alumnus, to construct five community garden beds alongside Environmental Charter Middle School-Inglewood.
Check out the video below for a virtual tour of the garden.
How Does Composting Help the Environment?
Nearly half of the solid waste produced globally is organic or biodegradable. Much of this waste ends up in landfills where it decomposes without oxygen and produces the greenhouse gas methane. Separating organic waste from landfills, and recycling the nutrients through composting, converts organic material into soil carbon and provides carbon sequestration while retaining water and nutrients. It’s a powerful climate adaptation strategy that is accessible to implement.
Impact of Table to Farm
Between 2017 and 2019, over 10,000 pounds of food waste was diverted and composted at ECS campuses from five local businesses:
- Bionicos J&B
- Crepe Heaven Play Cafe
- Mango Tango Juice Bar and Grill
- Pacific Rim Thai Kitchen
- Yo Way Sandwich Shop
From 2022 to date, the compost systems recycle food scraps from ECS students, families, and surrounding community members. Between January 2023 and March 2024, over 2,000 pounds of food scraps have been recycled on the campuses.
Creation of a Table to Farm x ECS Community Garden
In fall 2020, we worked with ECS and Jose-Guadalupe Gutierrez, a landscape designer, and ECS alumnus, to construct five community garden beds alongside Environmental Charter Middle School-Inglewood.
Check out the video below for a virtual tour of the garden.
How Does Composting Help the Environment?
Nearly half of the solid waste produced globally is organic or biodegradable. Much of this waste ends up in landfills where it decomposes without oxygen and produces the greenhouse gas methane. Separating organic waste from landfills, and recycling the nutrients through composting, converts organic material into soil carbon and provides carbon sequestration while retaining water and nutrients. It’s a powerful climate adaptation strategy that is accessible to implement.
