Zero Waste
Together, let's make the Hampton Bays a Zero Waste Community! We live in a place whose local economy relies on the health of its natural setting. Unfortunately, 40% of our food and 90% of our plastic ends up in landfills, and single use packaging materials continue to litter the local environment.
ECI’s Zero Waste Initiative empowers local schools, businesses, restaurants, and homes to rethink their trash. We guide community members through the process of eliminating excess food waste, single use plastics, and packaging.
Ultimately, the aim of Zero Waste is to shift from a throw-away society to one that refuses what we don’t need, reduces what we consume or toss, reuses or repairs items instead of disposing of them, recycles what we have to, and rots (or composts) the rest.
Once we put those principles into practice, zero waste becomes about emulating sustainable natural cycles, a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient, and visionary.
The first phase of our initiative includes:
Touring the Hampton Bays Middle School cafeteria and garden to perform a waste analysis
Teach community members how to create a Zero Waste Household through workshops and forums
Develop a community composting site at the Good Ground Heritage Garden
Create a Community Composting Program for ECI members
Research and present sustainable packaging solutions for Good Ground Farmers Market vendors and local eateries
Activate our members to contact local businesses to voice opinions on shifting their packaging practices
Another phase in the new initiative is the Community Composting Program, where ECI members have the opportunity to divert wasted food scraps from the landfill to create nutrient-rich compost to be used at the Good Ground Heritage Garden, and eventually in their home gardens. A composting site at the Good Ground Heritage Garden has been developed for the program.
Participants use a 4-gallon galvanized pail for collecting and transporting food scraps to the Good Ground Heritage Garden (optional curbside pickup is available, free for homebound elderly members). At the end of 3 months, participants will receive 1 pail full of the nutrient-rich compost for use at home.
Update: Over the past 2 years, we have diverted over 5 tons of food scraps! We saved over 10,000 lbs. of food waste from the landfills, generating 2500 lbs. of “Black Gold” ♻️ Thanks to all our program participants!
The Community Composting Program - Spring Season will run from March 1st through May 31st. We are accepting signups if you'd like to join in! Participation in our Spring Season is limited.
We pledge to provide sustainable and healthy solutions in order to diminish landfill-bound trash, the use of toxic chemicals, and the overall pollution and degradation of our local environment. Let’s trade in our conveniences for the health of the planet by shifting our habits.
Please reach out if you’d like to volunteer your time towards this effort. We’d be happy to have you!