Oregon Store Launches Composting Program

SN STAFF

BEND, Ore. – Newport Ave. Market, a one-store independent here, announced the launch of its composting program, in partnership with Cascade Disposal, in an effort to expand on its commitment "to the community and planet."

In the first week of implementing the program, Cascade Disposal collected over 2,100 pounds of food waste from Newport Ave. Market for conversion into reusable gardening compost.

"We are thrilled to implement this program at Newport Avenue Market in collaboration with Cascade Disposal," said Rudy Dory, owner of Newport Ave. Market, in a statement. "We are saving approximately $100 per month, but more importantly, we have the satisfaction of knowing we are helping reduce the amount of waste going into the landfill. It is helping to create jobs and doing the right thing for the neighborhood, community, and environment."

"Newport Ave. Market is the first business in Bend to adapt our new composting program into its facility and recycling program,” said Tom Leland, manager of Cascade Disposal. "We are very pleased to partner this pilot program with a dedicated store and its employees that are developing the efficient commercial model that we will launch throughout the region."

Newport Avenue Market’s ongoing priority is to donate lightly bruised produce and unsalable but edible products to shelters in the community through its Gleaner Program. Biodegradable items that are not edible are relinquished into the composting program.

Cascade Disposal has provided Newport Avenue Market a secure container to dispose of each department’s food waste, such as meat, vegetables, seafood, bakery items, eggshells, coffee grounds, and more. Once a week, the food waste is picked up and delivered to Deschutes Recycling, where it is composted and screened to remove oversized material, resulting in nutrient-rich compost. The compost is tested and will carry the US Composting Seal of Testing Approval ready for sale to the public.