NORFOLK, Va. — The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has selected the Virginia Zoo to receive funds to launch a state-of-the-art composting project that will benefit the zoo and the community.
The zoo is one of the recipients across the country awarded funding in the USDA's Composting and Food Waste Reduction Program, which is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act as well as a collaboration between the USDA's Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture.
The funding awarded to the zoo will be used to purchase a "Big Hanna" in-vessel composter unit, which the zoo says is key composting equipment.
The Virginia Zoo is home to more than 700 animals and welcomes in nearly 400,000 guests annually.
The zoo says this many animals and visitors result in a significant amount of food and organic waste that is currently disposed to landfill. However, in an effort to align with the Virginia Zoo's mission of engaging the community to take action to save the world's wildlife and their ecosystems, this project, now dubbed "Greening World," will drastically eliminate the food and organic waste by converting it to useful compost while actively engaging visitors in the importance of environmental and sustainable choices, according to the zoo.
"This initiative is an advanced step for the Zoo and its partners to provide a green service that benefits our entire community in unexpected ways and provides a physical site to learn about the process of composting," said Greg Bockheim, Executive Director of the Virginia Zoo. "Additionally, it brings a large piece of machinery to Zoo grounds that will be churning a smelly and rotten list of food waste and organic matter, turning it into something fun and useful, and what kids won't love that?!"
The zoo is partnering with the Elizabeth River Project, the Virginia Master Gardeners Association, and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. The zoo says the organizations will join either to receive compost to enhance gardens and plant growth or recycle their perishable food waste.
The zoo says their non-profit organization, The Virginia Zoological Society, needs the help of the community to raise an additional $107,800 to cover utility, installation and implementation costs for the composter element of the Greening World project.
Another $150,000 will also be required to update the zoo's greenhouses and complete the initiative, according to the zoo.
"Donating is a fantastic way for local residents to take ownership in an initiative that will benefit them and their neighbors in the long run by providing resources to restore and repair coastal waterways, reduce greenhouse gas and carbon emissions and beautify the area with gardens," said Director of Development Christabelle Fernandez. "An investment in the Greening World project can be viewed as an investment in a healthier Hampton Roads."
If you'd like to donate to the Greening World initiative, click here.
