In 2008 in the United States, 31 million tons of food waste was sent to landfills. In the same year, 17.3 million people lived in households that experienced hunger regularly. People want ideas which recycle resources back into communities, create jobs, and provide more sustainable models of agriculture. Break it Down offers a solution for communities by diverting food wastes from landfills and utilizing these materials as a resource for the sustainable production of fish and chicken eggs, valuable sources of protein.

Break it Down is actively developing a decentralized composting system which recycles organic wastes from local businesses and improves public understanding and involvement in the act of composting. This waste diversion program is also utilized as an educational tool – workshops, internships, and school curriculum provide opportunities for community engagement and teach the importance of diverting organic material from landfills and recognizing food scraps as a valuable resource for food production.

What we outline in this proposal is an innovative method of composting which directly results in sustainably-produced protein, effectively processes a larger amount of food waste, and maintains community engagement and educational opportunities while helping to alleviate hunger. Worms and soldier flies will be used to process organic materials and in turn utilized as food to raise fish and chickens. Any organic material can be recycled with this method, and a minimum of 10% of all food produced will be donated to low-income families. Ultimately, this venture will create a working model to develop more sustainable communities. Break it Down1650.0