PHILADELPHIA–Philadelphia Parks & Recreation announced today that the Farm Philly program is launching a second round of applications to join the Community Compost Network. The Community Compost Network is set to expand with 10-12 additional new sites across Philadelphia as part of the City’s efforts to further enhance sustainability and climate action.

“Extending the Community Compost Network to more sites is an exciting opportunity for Parks & Rec to increase composting in spaces beyond recreation centers,” said Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson. “Involving more communities in our network makes composting more accessible for Philadelphia residents.”

Since its inception in 2019, the Community Compost Network has been supporting communities with free three-bin compost systems, expertly crafted by PowerCorpsPHL. Participants also gain access to comprehensive educational materials and hands-on and virtual training sessions facilitated by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Farm Philly, ensuring effective management of small-scale neighborhood composting operations that are community-led.

The network is open to publicly accessible spaces, including but not limited to community gardens, urban farms, places of worship, schools, recreation centers, and other neighborhood civic groups.

Once accepted into the network, sites will receive all of the necessary supplies including thermometers, wheelbarrows, shovels, and more to run a compost operation, completely free of charge. Farm Philly seeks enthusiastic partners interested in collaborating with residents to provide a valuable public resource to their neighborhoods.

To qualify for participation, applicants must be willing to accept food scraps in their neighborhood and assemble a dedicated team of volunteers committed to expanding this grassroots network. The benefits of community-scale composting are multifaceted, including:

• Waste Reduction: Diverting organic waste from landfills helps mitigate the release of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas.
• Soil Enrichment: Community-generated compost enriches soil quality and can be utilized in parks, gardens, and tree plantings, benefiting the entire community.
• Street Cleanliness: By reducing garbage on city streets, community composting contributes to neighborhood cleanliness.
• Citywide Impact: Participation in the program directly supports Philadelphia’s objectives of reducing litter and increasing recycling rates.

The application period runs from March 11 through April 12. Applications are available online. Successful applicants are expected to be notified in early May.

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Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its people through stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways, and management of 500 recreation buildings, 166 miles of trail, and 250 playgrounds. PPR offers safe, enjoyable recreation, environmental and cultural programs and events throughout Philadelphia’s parks and recreation system. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world, to each other and to fun, physical and social opportunities. More than 3,000 full-time and seasonal employees proudly serve Philly residents every day, ensuring the department remains a modern, equitable and exceptional parks and recreation system. Visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About Farm Philly: Farm Philly, the urban agriculture program of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, is committed to connecting residents to the natural world and providing opportunities for accessible physical activities while supporting the self-determination and sovereignty of communities to grow their own food. Farm Philly provides urban agriculture and sustainability initiatives, public programming, material resources, technical assistance, and supports agriculture projects (i.e. community gardens, farms, orchards, food forests) on parkland throughout the city. In addition to its activities within the City of Philadelphia, Farm Philly is active in local, state and national land and food policy advocacy. Fairmount Park Conservancy is Farm Philly’s non-profit fiscal sponsor that provides financial, technical, and on-the-ground support.