Composting Initiative

The Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative (TFPWI) adopted the Composting Initiative to further resolve the sources of litter and trash in the region. Similar to the multi-faceted approach the TFPWI uses to solve the regional trash and litter issues, the Composting Initiative will work to promote composting through model legislation, expert advice on policy, facility outreach and industry networking.

There are three main reasons that ultimately tie composting to litter prevention and our goal of a Trash Free Potomac River by 2013:

Litter prevention and abatement is part of a complete solid waste management system. A sustainable and functioning solid waste management system should include composting, otherwise known as organics recycling.
Many everyday items that end up as litter are actually compostable. By providing the infrastructure, proper disposal can be achieved of many items; including compostable products that replace polystyrene (Styrofoam)- polystyrene is commonly found in litter because it blows away easily and is not recyclable.
By promoting composting and supporting its infrastructure, there will be greater material resource awareness (the source of consumer goods) and how to dispose of them. This greater awareness leads to preventing litter and reducing waste because people adopt the proper disposal method and realize the negative impact their litter has on the environment and their community.

In a combined effort to increase composting infrastructure throughout the region, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government (MWCOG) and the Alice Ferguson Foundation co-sponsor a Composting Taskforce. This taskforce is made up of industry leaders, composting experts, and advocates. Brenda Platt, Institute of Local Self Reliance (ILSR), is a co-chair of the Composting Taskforce and her composting policy research can be found at /www.newrules.org/environment

For more information regarding the Composting Initiative and Taskforce, please contact Ashlea Smith, at