San Francisco, CA | nsevilla@nrdc.org

Nina Sevilla works to ensure we have a sustainable, healthy, and equitable food system for all. She helps lead federal policy advocacy on food waste, works with cities to reduce food waste through NRDC’s Food Matters project, and works with partners to run a consumer education campaign, Save The Food. Previously, Nina worked to increase food access through child nutrition programs at The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Bates College and is based in NRDC’s San Francisco office.

Session Code: E4

Track: Markets, Marketing and Uses

Session Name: Matching Compost to Specs

Session Time: Thursday, Jan 26, 8:30 – 10:00 AM

Presentation Title: Model Procurement Policy from NRDC

Presentation Description: To date, closing the organics recycling loop by requiring compost purchases is an underutilized tool in municipal efforts to manage organic waste sustainably and cost-effectively. Composting is an effective way to reduce food waste in cities, by turning food scraps into a natural soil amendment that can be used in city gardens and landscaping and improve soil health and water retention, without the use of artificial fertilizers.

This presentation will review the model policy created by NRDC and the Environmental Law Institute that municipalities can use to require the use of compost products where appropriate and go over other examples of how this is being implemented across the country.