EPA awards $200,000 to Local Foods Coalition for a food waste project  in the San Luis Valley

SAN LUIS VALLEY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The San Luis Valley Foods Coalition has a food waste processing project that will help divert food and other organic waste from landfills.

This project has been awarded $200,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Valley Roots Food Hub (VRFH), a program of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition, plans to install a high-efficiency anaerobic digestion(AD) system at its Mosca, Colorado campus to process food and organic waste and turn it into fuel.

“Keeping food waste out of landfills and converting it to fuel is a powerful tool for combatting the climate crisis. Projects like these can meet local needs and address global challenges,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “This project will be innovative for the San Luis Valley and will provide opportunities for demonstration, education, and expansion into other parts of the region.”

The funding will be used to help launch the project on the VRFH campus. The project will serve as a demonstration and educational space for learning and sharing the benefits of AD and other forms of renewable energy. The installation of the new AD system will demonstrate the technological feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using AD to convert food and other organic waste into processing and cooking fuel.

The San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalitions is one of 11 awardees this year to receive a total of approximately $2 million to divert food waste from landfills by expanding AD capacity nationwide. EPA is prioritizing environmental justice by ensuring nearly half of the funds are awarded to projects or recipients located in underserved communities. The VRFH project will benefit the more vulnerable and overburdened members of the community.

To read more background on the project, click here.