When I moved to the Coachella Valley from Seattle almost nine years ago, I knew I’d have to give up composting my kitchen waste.
This may not seem like a big deal. But I had a compost pile growing up and had long been recycling my kitchen waste, both as a chef and a homeowner. I understood how vital compost can be for the earth and as a tool in our belt to combat climate change.
So I was quite happy when large-scale composting finally came to the desert. Over the past two years, the team at Desert Compost has opened three community-composting sites in Palm Desert and Palm Springs.
By promoting composting techniques designed for desert environments, Desert Compost strives to reduce waste, conserve water and promote sustainable practices in areas where traditional resources are scarce. Over the next two years, the folks at Desert Compost want to divert 1.23 million pounds of organic material from landfills, and eliminate 332 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from polluting the atmosphere.
“Our College of the Desert site, which we opened in October of 2022, has already offset greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 24,022 miles driven, or 1,162,807 cell phone charges,” said executive director Haley Preston. That is impressive for a tiny organization.
Water resources, high evaporation rates and the scarcity of organic matter here in the desert present challenges when it comes to waste management. Desert Compost recognizes these challenges and has adapted composting techniques to our environment by utilizing things like the abundance of cardboard boxes many of us have delivered to our houses each week; those boxes or old newspapers can replace the dried leaves, grass and woody material in traditional compost piles.
Composting does require regular watering to maintain moisture levels. However, soil with compost mixed in retains moisture better than desert dirt, allowing less water to be used in the aggregate.
“Compost acts like a sponge, changing our desert dirt into living soil,” Preston said. “It allows the plants to utilize the water more efficiently and uses less water in gardens and landscapes.”
“Composting brings people together. It creates community connections and not only fights climate change, but fights the epidemic of loneliness.”
Desert Compost executive director Haley Preston
After just two years, Desert Compost has more than 300 people as community partners, with more than 50 active volunteers, who range in age from 13 to their 80s.
“Composting brings people together,” Preston said. “It creates community connections and not only fights climate change, but fights the epidemic of loneliness.”
Desert Compost’s focus on community engagement and education involves twice-monthly composting workshops in Palm Springs and at College of the Desert, as well as a presence at the Palm Springs Farmers’ Markets, where they spread the word about what they’re doing and how people can get involved.
“We can teach you how to compost in five minutes,” Preston said.
In 2016, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 1383, which mandates that all cities participate in organic-waste collection. If you need clarification on how your city is participating, Desert Compost encourages you to contact your city government to find out. In Palm Springs, I can put my kitchen scraps (including bones) into my green waste container. (Pro tip: Store anything that might get stinky in the freezer until garbage day.) Palm Springs Disposal Services does ask that you bag up the compost; Desert Compost has a link on their website under resources where you can buy leak-resistant, eco-friendly compostable paper bags.
Preston said Desert Compost has been actively seeking partnerships and collaborations with local governments, organizations and other stakeholders. The nonprofit was recently awarded several grants, including a Climate Resilience and Community Access Program local-assistance grant through the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy and CalRecycle. These grants will allow Desert Compost to further its efforts in carbon sequestration, organic material diversion and education. Specifically, they want to add 12 more composting sites, for a total of 15 across the Inland Empire. The new composting locations will include middle and high school sites, where the students will add compost back into their gardens, closing the loop and helping grow foods utilized in their schools. In particular, Desert Compost is targeting communities with less access to fresh food.
To learn more, visit desertcompost.com.