Back to top Jump to featured resources

Our Projects

Featured from Waste to Wealth

Pay Dirt Cover Photo Final
Featured Article, Resource filed under Composting, Waste to Wealth | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on May 8, 2013

Composting Supports Jobs and Healthy Watersheds, Say New ILSR Reports

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/paydirt/

Two new reports from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Composting Makes $en$e Project document the importance of expanded composting and compost use to enhance soils, protect watersheds, reduce waste, and create green jobs and a new made-in-America industrial sector. For press release, click here. With compostable material making up almost one-half of municipal solid waste, there… Continue reading

1.MCS Compost Blanket
Resource filed under Composting, Waste to Wealth, Zero Waste & Economic Development | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on May 8, 2013

Composting Makes $en$e: Jobs through Composting & Compost Use

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/composting-sense-tables/

Recycling is an economic development tool as well as an environmental tool. Reuse, recycling, and waste reduction offer direct development opportunities for communities. When collected with skill and care, and upgraded with quality in mind, discarded materials are a local resource that can contribute to local revenue, job creation, business expansion, and the local economic base. Continue reading

Compost Hands closeup
Resource filed under Composting, Waste to Wealth | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on May 8, 2013

The Benefits of Composting & Compost Use

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/benefits-composting-compost/

Composting and compost use have numerous benefits in addition to green job creation and reducing the amount of waste destined for landfills and incinerators. At the same time we throw away tons of food scraps and yard trimmings, our soils are eroding and losing nutrients, while damaging receiving waters. Excess fertilizers from farms and suburban… Continue reading

YAC Earth Day Festival April 2013
Article filed under Waste to Wealth, Young Activist Club | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on Apr 24, 2013

On Earth Day, Young Activist Club Gathers Petitions to Send to Board Superintendent Starr

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/earth-day-young-activist-club-gathers-petitions-send-board-superintendent-starr/

The Young Activist Club worked a booth at the Takoma Park Earth Day Festival, educating citizens on the health problems with polystyrene #76 plastics and gathering petitions to send to Montgomery County (MD) Schools Superintendent Starr requesting permission to pilot a durable lunch tray washing project.  Petition is available online too. Click here. Continue reading

Article filed under Waste to Wealth, Young Activist Club | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on Apr 24, 2013

Young Activist Club teams up with Washington Nationals to Celebrate Earth Day!

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/young-activist-club-teams-washington-nationals-celebrate-earth-day/

ILSR’s Brenda Platt co-leads the Young Activist Club of Takoma Park, Maryland.  On Earth Day, April 22, the Washington Nationals baseball team honored the Club by inviting 9 members to be the Starting 9 for the Nats’ game against the Cardinals. After the first pitch by EPA acting administrator Bob Perciasepe, members of the Young… Continue reading

Howard County ribbon cutting
Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Composting, Waste to Wealth | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on Apr 22, 2013

Howard County’s Expanded Composting Facility Opens on Earth Day

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/alpha-ridge-facility-opens/

Columbia Patch, April 22, 2013 It’s easy to think nothing of throwing carrot or potato peels into the trash or down the garbage disposal. They quickly decompose. But Howard County announced on Monday that residents can participate in an expanded pilot program that composts food scrap and yard waste. A new composting facility at the… Continue reading

BurnBabyBurn_energy_justice
Featured Article filed under Stop Incineration, Waste to Wealth | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Apr 10, 2013

VICTORY against Maryland’s “Waste Portfolio Standard” — the Latest Creative Way to Prop Up Incinerators

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/victory-against-maryland-incinerator-bill/

What does an incinerator industry do when they can’t compete? Change the rules. Biomass and trash incinerators are the most expensive way to make energy, and trash incineration costs more than directly landfilling the waste. These industries survive to the extent that they can change the rules to get monopoly waste contracts, become ‘renewable’ energy in state mandates, or as we’re seeing in Maryland: worse. Continue reading

indoor growing 4x4 install
Article filed under Waste to Wealth, Zero Waste & Economic Development | Written by Neil Seldman | No Comments | Updated on Mar 22, 2013

Working Partner Update: City of Refuge

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/city-refuge-bioponica-venture/

The City of Refuge, (COR), was founded in 1970 to provide hope and assistance to residents of challenged neighborhoods in the middle of Atlanta. COR serves over 10,000 people annually from its 8-acre campus, including short-term transitional shelter for women and children. COR also hosts a 6th-8th grade academy for students from at-risk communities and… Continue reading

ilsr-logo-blue
Featured Article, Resource filed under Deconstruction, Waste to Wealth, Zero Waste & Economic Development | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Mar 12, 2013

Whatcha Workin’ On, Neil Seldman? Podcast Episode 3

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/whatcha-workin-on-neal-seldman-podcast-episode-3/

Welcome to our third episode of the Whatcha Workin’ On? podcast. Lisa Gonzalez interviews Neil Seldman, Ph.D., President of ILSR and the heart and soul of our Waste to Wealth Initiative. Neil tells us about the program and describes the many concurrent projects he is handling. Dr. Seldman also outlines some upcoming work for the… Continue reading