The Challenge
The way Rhode Island generally deals with its food waste is to put it in the garbage. This way of doing things is heavily ingrained into the structure of society. Not everyone has space for turning their own food waste into compost.
The Approach
Epic Renewal offers finished compost products, worms, and educational material as well as participates in events to reduce consumption and spread knowledge of their composting process.
By The Numbers
Since Epic Renewal started in 2016, it has made a significant impact. Listed below are records of food waste kept out of the landfill since 2022.
- Tons of food waste kept out of landfill since 2022: 22.52
- Lifetime total tons of food waste kept out of landfill (2016-2024): 38.15
- Number of people engaged in events in 2024: 206,735
Divert food from landfills.
To preserve the ecosystem of our state, reverse climate change, reduce RI’s carbon footprint, and educate on the process and application of composting.
Program Description
Statement of Impact
This program directly improves the soil health and ecosystem of Rhode Island and its farms.
Statement of Changes
The food system is a critical aspect of the overall health of our state. The same can be said for our soil. If this work and the awareness of it continues to grow and spread, usage of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals that poison the land will decrease. In addition, carbon sequestration will rise dramatically. Waste will be reduced and the ecosystem as a whole will be much healthier. There will be higher yields of crops that are not only more nutritious because of the rich soil, but also untainted by the harmful practices of modern agriculture. Also, each individual that Epic Renewal engages at an event gets the opportunity to learn more about the food cycle and how to change it from a wasteful straight line into a renewable circle. As well as this, they are also given the knowledge and tools required to start doing their own composting, even if they do not have green space to do so. The nature of the Bokashi process allows for it to be performed indoors, which is how the company was able to operate in Los Angeles before it moved to Rhode Island.
Future Plans
Epic Renewal has the ultimate goal of making Rhode Island the first zero-waste state. In the future, they intend to participate in more events, engage more clients, collaborate with more programs like theirs, and make more of their staff full-time. They also seek to build more facilities.
This Rhode Island Story was prepared by Jacob Farenholz