The Town of Bristol is partnering with Clean Ocean Access as part of their multi-year project, “Healthy Soils, Healthy Seas Rhode Island.” The project is funded by 11th Hour Racing, and the town is assisting with start up costs to kick start the effort in Bristol.  Healthy Soils, Healthy Seas Rhode Island is an innovative project that aims to inspire long-lasting environmentally responsible behavior by tackling ocean pollution at its root: on land.

In Bristol, we will join with Clean Ocean Access to serve as the boots-on-the-ground team that will introduce commercial and residential composting collection and processing. The goal of the program is to encourage people to think critically about their waste footprints that enter the landfill, or worse, that end up polluting our oceans.

Much of the weight we pay for to send to the landfill is food waste.  It’s heavy. By taking that weight out of the waste stream, recycling it back to the Earth, and keeping it out of the Bay and Harbor, the benefits multiply.

On Aug. 8, come hear about how you can participate in reducing Bristol’s overall waste stream and, in so doing, reduce pollution, enrich your garden, and save Bristol money. We’ll be running our first workshop at 6 p.m., at the Quinta Gamelin Center.

For those attending, we will make available backyard composting bins, whose retail price is $80, for $20. Pickup will be at the Harbor Festival, where Clean Ocean Access and the town will have an informational table set up.

Join us! This is another major step forward for Bristol, making our town greener, while producing real value for all of our residents.

Tony Morettini
Bristol

Mr. Morettini is chairman of the Bristol Conservation Commission.