In collaboration with the Fertile Ground Cooperative, the City of Norman’s Division of Environmental Resilience and Sustainability (DoERS) is pleased to announce the launch by expansion of a Free Community Food Scrap Drop-off Program in Norman – a program that will turn food scraps into quality compost to contribute to a more sustainable future.

“We are proud to be partners in this initiative and encourage Normanites to learn more about the benefits of composting,” said Michele Loudenback, DoERS Manager at the City of Norman. “This is a wonderful program that creates new opportunities to help take care of our environment.”

In addition to lowering carbon footprints, benefits of composting include: Landfill reduction, soil enrichments, soil erosion prevention and healthy microorganism support.

Drop-off sites are currently available at a Norman Recycling Center, 3001 E. Alameda, and Gray Owl Coffee Shop, 223 E. Gray Street. To participate, individuals should watch a quick tutorial video online and complete a quiz to receive a combination code for drop-off at: Community Composting Drop-Off — Fertile Ground (fertilegroundok.coop). QR codes on drop-off bins can also be scanned on-site to see the video and complete the quiz. All types of food will be accepted but must be placed in bio bags or paper bags for drop off within the bins.

The expanding pilot program is made possible by a USDA/NIFA grant awarded to the Association of Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), with Fertile Ground Cooperative as the sub-awardee.

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