ISSUE: The West Side neighborhood in Stamford is an environmental justice area of concern with concentrated minority and low-income populations, exhibiting the poorest social determinants of health in the metro region and overall state. The U.S. EPA’s EJSCREEN tool, a national environmental justice index, ranks the West Side in the 90-98th percentile in EPA Region 1 for the worst proximity to traffic pollution, ozone pollution, and fine particulate matter pollution. Additionally, approximately one-third of household waste is organic material which is typically buried in a landfill or incinerated, both contributing to air pollution and climate change.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE: For nearly a decade, Fairgate Farm has been a hub for community composting, accepting food scraps and other organic waste from residents and businesses where it is turned into rich compost. This powerful, living matter is then applied to our soil to grow more food, in turn closing the local food loop. Each year, approximately 20,000 pounds of organic material is diverted from Stamford’s conventional waste stream via the Farm’s compost initiative.
IMPACT:
- Reduced air and water pollution
- Reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
- Increased environmental awareness
- Improved community involvement on environmental issues
