Specifications include, but are not limited to: Lane County is seeking to purchase local food-waste compost (minimum of 20 percent food by weight) and have it delivered to Lane County residents and local agricultural producers, with a focus on minority communities and minority owned farms (limit of one request up to 100 tons). For two consecutive funding years (2024-26), direct deliveries to farmers and eight total Free Compost Days will be planned and scheduled. By providing compost to agricultural producers and residents, this program extends the benefits of commercial food scrap composting happening at scale in the urban core to the county’s outlying rural communities. It will provide an opportunity for farmers and residents to test a new product and build confidence in its’ benefits, contributing to market growth and brand recognition. Ensuring that the finished compost product has a market is essential to closing the loop on organics processing and circulates this valuable resource at home.
