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Tucson's FoodCycle Program: Transforming Waste into Sustainable Resources
In a bold step towards a more zero waste future, the City of Tucson launched its innovative pilot compost FoodCycle at Home Program on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, with a commitment to transforming food waste into a valuable resource. This six-month pilot initiative empowers residents to actively contribute to environmental conservation by diverting their food waste from landfills.
With six convenient drop-off sites strategically located throughout Tucson, residents can easily participate in the program, fostering a sense of community engagement in sustainable practices. The program, in partnership with local gardens and community gardens in Tucson, aims to collect food waste for composting, a significant portion of what would otherwise end up in the landfill. At the Los Reales Sustainability Campus, where the composting facility is based, residential food waste is responsible for 40 percent of the material that goes into the landfill.
Tucson residents have enthusiastically embraced the program, with over 300 individuals signing up for the FoodCycle at Home initiative. To ensure that participants make the most of this opportunity, the City of Tucson Environmental and General Services (EGSD) team organized six training sessions. During these sessions, residents received their countertop kitchen compost pail and gained insights into what is accepted and not accepted with their food waste drop off.
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Residents participating in a FoodCycle at Home information session.
There will be two more training sessions in January, getting more Tucson residents a pail and educated on what can go into the pail. Education plays a crucial role in the success of the program. Residents are educated on the importance of removing produce stickers before disposing of their food waste, and they are informed that compostable bags are not accepted in the program. This attention to detail ensures that the composting process is efficient and free from contaminants. Low contamination in the food waste is the goal!
The EGSD team is taking it a step further by incorporating Christmas trees into the composting process. Instead of letting these trees go to waste, they will be ground down and utilized in the compost.
Residents started to drop off food waste on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. As Tucson residents continue to actively participate in the FoodCycle at Home Program, the city is setting an example of how individual actions can collectively make a significant impact on environmental sustainability. By diverting food waste from landfills and embracing composting, Tucson is not just managing waste; it's nurturing a greener and more responsible community.
Sign up for the last training:
- Sign up for a 30-minute information session to learn the basics
- Complete the training and receive a free home kitchen compost pail to collect food scraps
- Drop off food scraps in container at a City collection site
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How are we doing?
2023 Climate Action measurements from the City of Tucson.
Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Updates.
Fatima Luna, the Chief Resilience Office (CRO), provided an update on the implementation of Tucson Resilient Together (TRT), the city’s climate action and adaptation plan. To open the update, she shared that the City of Tucson has already committed $80 million to fund climate actions outlined in TRT. Additionally, sixteen staff members from across city departments have been dedicated to serving on the Climate Action Team (CAT), helping facilitate the implementation of TRT.
The primary objective of the January 9 update to Mayor and Council was to request $5.15 million dollars of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to be allocated for climate resilience. The requested funds will strengthen the climate action team, build a public facing dashboard, invest in resilience hubs and battery storage or microgrids, transition landscaping equipment from gas to electric, upgrade city building for energy management, enhance bus stops with shade and ADA access, invest in EV infrastructure, and greenways. CAT members will ensure all ARPA eligibility requirements are met. If a listed expenditure is deemed ineligible, the allocated Climate ARPA funding will be shifted toward another high-priority action under the Mayor and Council approved Tucson Resilient Together plan.
Mayor and Council voted to approve the allocation of $5.15 million ARPA funds to the implementation of TRT.
Additionally, the CRO highlighted the $800,000 FEMA grant the city received to invest in the planning of resilience hubs. This grant involves collaboration with several community partners, including two partners that supported the TRT planning process. The funding complements a $1 million EPA grant received by Amistades, a local nonprofit Mayor Romero supports.
Check this out.
Actions from around the community contributing to Tucson's climate resilience.
Climate Resilience around the Community.
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Operation Deep Freeze (ODF) goes into effect when weather predictions are for overnight temperatures of 40°F or lower with rain, 35°F or lower without rain, or when wind chill factors indicate a health hazard from exposure. You do not need an ID or a TB card to participate in ODF. A limited number of overflow shelter beds are available for people seeking safe shelter from the weather. To join ODF, go to The Salvation Army Hospitality House, 1002 N. Main Ave., Tucson between 2 - 4 p.m., for intake. |
Tell Us Where the City Should Encourage New Homes, Retail, and Employment Centers
A key question for our community as we update Plan Tucson is: how can we best plan for the future growth and evolution of our city? The Future Growth Scenario Map is an important tool for shaping the future of Tucson because it influences (but does not determine) land use and development. Your input is necessary to update the map to match our community’s vision. Please show us where the City should encourage new homes, new retail, employment centers, and other uses in our Mapping Activity. The survey closes on Monday, February 5, 2024.
President Biden is announcing a new initiative to train young people in high-demand skills for jobs in the clean energy economy. The American Climate Corps will put a new generation of Americans to work conserving our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, advancing environmental justice, deploying clean energy, implementing energy efficient technologies, and tackling climate change. American Climate Corps members will gain the skills necessary to access good-paying jobs that are aligned with high-quality employment opportunities after they complete their paid training or service program. Sign up for a listening session to learn more.
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