$7,500 crowdfunding goal to receive matching grant from Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund
Since the inception of the program in July 2020, over 500 families are now participating, and 10 tons of food scraps are being diverted from the incinerator and converted into compost each month. Compost captures valuable nutrients and water and returns them to the ground, sequestering carbon, improving soil quality and cleaning water. Further, food scraps are heavy, expensive to transport and do not burn well in the waste to energy incinerator where all of Westport's solid waste goes. For information on the Zero Food Waste Challenge, composting and the food scrap recycling program, go to SustainableWestport.org.
Sustainable Westport is calling on the community to join this initiative by donating to a crowdfunding campaign. If the campaign reaches its $7,500 goal by its fundraising deadline of July 2, the project will receive a matching grant of $7,500 from Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund. The Community Match Fund is an innovative funding resource for public, community-led sustainability projects. As a partner town of Sustainable CT, Westport is eligible for these matching funds. For project details and to donate, please visit: Patronicity.com/ZeroFoodWaste
“We have the month of June to double our donations due to the generosity of Sustainable CT! Your donation would help us create a town-wide movement to divert food scraps from our waste stream” says Pippa Bell Ader, leader of the Zero Food Waste Challenge.
About Sustainable CT
Sustainable CT is an initiative of Eastern Connecticut State University’s Institute for Sustainable Energy that inspires, supports, and recognizes sustainability action by towns and cities statewide. The Community Match Fund — supported by the Smart Seed Fund, Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and the Connecticut Green Bank —provides a dollar-for-dollar match to donations raised from the community, doubling local investment in projects. Anyone can lead a project and ideas can be proposed at any time.
"We’re delighted to support this exciting initiative that puts residents at the forefront of creating impactful change in their community,” said Abe Hilding-Salorio, Community Match Fund program manager for Sustainable CT.
Have a great idea for a public project in your community? Contact Sustainable CT at hildingsalorioa@easternct.edu