Los Angeles has secured federal funding that’ll increase the city’s food composting efforts, Mayor Karen Bass’s office announced Friday morning.
The $400,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture will go to L.A.’s Bureau of Sanitation. From there, the money is headed toward operating 26 food waste reduction and composting locations, the news release said.
Stations funded by the grant work to turn food waste, including edible items and scraps, into compost rather than going to landfills. Food scrap collection services will go to 20 farmers markets across L.A., where the waste will then turn into compost throughout six city parks.
“The City is making it easier than before to help keep food waste out of landfills. Angelenos can drop off their food scraps at their local farmers markets which will then be composted and used at local community parks,” said Mayor Bass. “We thank the White House for this funding which helps more Angelenos embrace composting and build toward a greener city that is confronting the climate crisis with all available tools.”
The announcement comes as Bass and a delegation from L.A. is in Paris to learn about the French capital’s preparation efforts ahead of this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. Bass said Thursday that she hopes to bring over some of Paris’s sustainability ideas ahead of L.A.’s own Olympic hosting duties in 2028.