Assembly Resolution No. 2131

BY: M. of A. Barrett

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 5-11, 2024, as Compost Awareness Week in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 5-11, 2024, as Compost Awareness
Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of
International Compost Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, The Composting Council Research & Education Foundation,
along with Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries
have declared the first week of May to be the annual International
Compost Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, Materials such as yard trimmings, vegetable cuttings,
biosolids, food scraps, manures and hay shavings have all been composted
and converted into a beneficial product known as compost; and

WHEREAS, A majority of wasted food in the United States is disposed
of in landfills, where due to improper treatment, it decomposes and
releases 15% of our nation's emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas that
is one of the largest contributors towards climate change; and

WHEREAS, Composting is an effective form of waste reduction, reuse,
and recycling, and, since organic materials make up approximately 40% of
the material going to landfills in the United States, composting is
becoming one of the primary methods communities use to reach waste
diversion goals; and

WHEREAS, Composting is a way of returning organic resources to the
soil and is a way of conserving water during extreme drought or flooding
conditions, reducing water consumption and non-point pollution, and a
proven method of decreasing the dependence on chemical fertilizers and
decreasing erosion; and

WHEREAS, Communities, through their local governments, highway
departments, soil conservation service and extension offices, and public
works professionals, can have significant impact on clean water, soil,
climate change and landfill diversion by using compost for public works
projects; and

WHEREAS, Soil plays an important role in our environment; healthy
soil is at the heart of planetary, agricultural and human health; and

WHEREAS, Composting creates green jobs and infrastructure for cities
and states that implement composting programs; and

WHEREAS, Composting is an effective way to aid the Climate
Leadership and Community Protection Act that was signed into law in
2019, with the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by the
year 2030, and reach an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by
2050; and

WHEREAS, Compost Awareness Week is a publicity and education
initiative to showcase compost production and demonstrate compost use;
and

WHEREAS, This year's theme, "COMPOST...Nature's Climate Champion"
was selected to highlight the role compost plays in fighting climate
change by decreasing methane emissions, capturing and storing carbon,
reducing fertilizer inputs, and increasing resilience; and

WHEREAS, By composting, we return nutrients to the soil, help
capture carbon from the atmosphere, resist drought and disease, and
provide fresh air; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 5-11 2024, as Compost
Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York; and the Composting Council Research & Education Foundation.