The Schoolyard Gardens team is excited to spotlight Food Cycle KC, a local compost company working with residents, businesses, schools and organizations on the Kansas side of the KC Metro area. We asked the owners Alan and Karen to tell us a little about themselves and here is what they had to say:

In 2019 Paul Hawken, editor of national bestseller Drawdown, spoke at the Climate Action KC Climate Action Summit about the top causes of greenhouse gas emissions and the most effective solutions to reduce emissions. Number 3 on the list? Food waste.

When food and other organic materials go to the landfill and decompose, they generate methane, which is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. In the US alone, wasted food generates the equivalent of 37 million cars’ worth of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Here in Johnson County approximately 23% of landfill waste is organic food waste. In other words, each of us generates an average of 1,500 pounds of greenhouse gasses and 200 pounds of food waste every year – contributing significantly to the current climate crisis.

Despite the wealth of food production here in the midwest, it’s estimated that 9% of Johnson County and 17% of Wyandotte county residents suffer from food insecurity. As members and supporters of local community gardens, you see first-hand the impact of the community and school gardens you create and support, and how critical they are to reducing food insecurity and empowering local families within this area of Kansas.

Food Cycle KC works to help address these issues by completing the food cycle on the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro area – reducing food waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting local agriculture. We provide curbside collection of organic food waste for residents, businesses, organizations, and special events. The waste we collect is converted to healthy, rich compost which is provided back to members, as well as community and school gardens.

(Here’s a picture of Food Cycle KC’s compost being used to enrich soil at one of our Schoolyard Gardens!)

The food you don’t eat doesn’t have to go to waste!

For more information on Food Cycle KC, please visit their website at www.foodcyclekc.com

You can also find them on Facebook at fb.me/FoodCycleKC

Or email/call them at FoodCycleKC@gmail.com / 913-353-5822