Cherry Hill Sun

The Sustainable Cherry Hill Compost/Zero Waste task force has been investigating possibilities on reducing waste in the township.  The initial task force plan focuses on food waste from commercial establishments, such as restaurants and delis.  The task force analyzed options for recovering and recycling food waste, identified food waste generators, investigated types of processing, determined environmental benefits and consequences, and visited a variety of waste processing sites.  The project team also determined any unintentional impact from diverting waste such as impact on farmers and food banks.
Their task force pilot program began recently, at Mirabella Café located at 210 Barclay Shopping Center, Route 70. 
Owner and Chef Joe Palombo is also executive director of South Jersey Green Dining.  His commitment to sustainability, the development of the pilot program and his desire to share best practices made this an ideal location to test and begin the project.  All food waste from the Mirabella Café kitchen prep area as well as any post-consumer waste that would normally be discarded will go into separate bins to be collected for recycling as compost or fertilizer.  During the first steps of the pilot program the task force will collect data and determine best practices and overall feasibility.  Surrounding communities and restaurants are interested in participating in the diversion of food waste program.  Additional sites will be established after best practices are identified and duplicable from the Mirabella Café program.

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