The Oakland Black Cultural Zone teamed up with Waste Management and gave away 400 bags of compost, 100 trees, 100 half- barrel planters, and packets of daffodil bulbs as part of a neighborhood beautification project in Oakland. The event is done in partnership with Keep Oakland Beautiful, The Rare Barrel Beer Co and Oakland Councilmember Loren Taylor (District 6) and Oakland Councilmember Treva Reid (District 7).
Waste Management gave away homegrown compost made in Oakland and Alameda County for neighborhood beautification. The event is part of Waste Management’s ongoing commitment to a greener, cleaner Oakland.
Ever wonder what happens to everything you put in your green organic cart at home or work? Well, that material is sent to Waste Management’s composting facilities where it goes through a process to it break down into a compost. Finished compost is a helpful soil amendment, jam-packed full of nutrients for your plants and gardens.
Millions of tons of food scraps, plants and soiled paper are collected annually by Waste Management in Oakland. This keeps the material out of landfill, reducing methane emissions, and returning nutrients to local gardens, farms and outdoor projects. Through source reduction, reuse, and recycling and composting programs, the Oakland is working to achieve reduce its waste diversion rate from landfill disposal.
“Making locally-produced compost available to Oakland residents is an important step in expanding and supporting backyard gardening and the beautification of Oakland neighborhoods,” said a spokesperson at Waste Management. “Using compost is the most sustainable, environmentally supportive and efficient way to garden. We are excited to offer this giveaway with the Black Cultural Zone, Keep Oakland Beautiful, Rare Barrel and Oakland Councilmember Loren Taylor and Councilmember Treva Reid.”
The Waste Management representative added that the company was pleased to offer this compost for free just in time for spring gardening and as part of Oakland and Waste Management’s commitment to recycling, waste reduction, and making the planet a better place through thoughtful use and reuse of resources.