FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
May 8, 2018   
 
Contact: Brian Pugh
Waste Reduction Coordinator
Recycling and Trash Collection Division
479-718-7685
bpugh@fayetteville-ar.gov
 

 
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The City of Fayetteville joins environmental and recycling businesses, organizations, community groups, and home-composters from around the United States to celebrate the 15th annual International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) May 6 -12. 
 
You’re invited to tour of Fayetteville’s compost and mulch facility on Saturday, May 12. The tour will begin at the Recycling and Trash Collection offices (1560 S. Happy Hollow Road) at 10 a.m. The tour will show both the yard waste compost and the organics (food waste) compost, as well as mulch.
 
As part of the Fayetteville’s plan to divert 40% of its waste by 2027, the City has been running a pilot program, picking up food waste from the University and three public schools, since August 2017. The City now holds a Class O permit for accepting organic waste from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The City will continue the pilot program and upon approval by the City Council, the program could expand to commercial customers in 2019, and potentially to residential customers in the future.
 
Each year, a theme is chosen to promote the week, this year it is “Compost! Building a Better Future” based on the idea that compost is good for plants, people and the planet – it’s good for our future. The goal of ICAW is to raise public awareness regarding the benefits of using compost to improve or maintain high quality soil, to grow healthy plants, and to reduce fertilizer and pesticide use – which improves water quality and helps protect the environment.
 
To learn more about the City’s diversion plan and food waste compost pilot program, please visit this webpage. You can review information about the City’s high-quality compost mix, available to residents, and the Compost and Mulch Facility here.