Composting in Every Village

EPA's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant supports Guam's Zero Waste initiatives by funding home composting and gardening training in all villages. The program, led by Guåhan Sustainable Culture with grant administration by Guam EPA, offers incentives to boost participation and provides technical assistance and data collection to advance sustainable materials management.

This two-year grant will support two rounds of participants, with 200 households in the first year and another 200 in the second year, all working toward the shared mission of diverting kitchen food waste from our landfill.

Participant Benefits

a small container used for collecting food scraps and organic waste in the kitchen before transferring them to your outdoor composting system.
Your choice of
- 64 Gal. Stationary System
- 54 Gal. Tumbler System
- 37 Gal. Tumbler System
*Each composting system will be discussed during our workshop, including a detailed overview, pros and cons, and guidance on selecting the most suitable option for your needs.
- Compost Booklet w/ Tracking Guide & Marker
- Yard Stick
- 5 Gallon Bucket (while supplies last)
participants receive weekly bags of fresh, local produce valued at $20.
Each bag contains seasonal fruits and vegetables, with possible additions of fresh eggs and honey from local producers.
*must submit weekly composting data
After five months in the program, 20 out of the 200 participants who consistently submit data will be considered for a garden bed and essential materials to start growing their own produce.
All selected participants must submit harvest data as part of the program requirements.

Register Here for the Next Workshop

Compostable Items

- Food Scraps
- Vegetable Scraps
- Fruit Waste
- Coffee Grounds
- Tea Bags/Leaves
- Fresh Grass Clippings
- Other Garden Waste (plants, stalks, flowers)
- Corn Husks
- Stale/Moldy Bread
- Leaves
- Shredded Straw/Hay
- Sawdust
- Wood Chips & Twigs
- Shredded Newspaper
- Nut Shells
- Corn Stalks and Cobs
- Brown Paper Bags
- TP & Paper Towel Rolls
- Crushed Eggshells
- Ashes from Wood
- String/Cotton Thread
- Wool
- Hair
- Meat
- Fish
- Poultry
- Bones
- Milk Products
- Oil
- Pet Manures
- Weed seeds
- Diseased/Infected Plants
- Glossy Paper
- Anything with Harsh Chemicals
Try these tips to extend the life of your food and reduce food waste!
- WILTED FOOD - Soak in ice water for 5 to 10 minutes may reinvigorate wilted veggies.
- STALE FOOD - Toast stale chips and crackers for a minute or two in a regulars or toaster oven to crisp them.
- SALTY FOOD - Add vinegar, lemon juice, or brown sugar—or dilute a soup or sauce with water, crushed tomatoes, or unsalted broth.
Source: www.fsis.usda.gov, www.savethefood.com and Waste Free Kitchen Handbook, Dana Gunders, 2015.