Restaurant scraps are the ingredients creating hope, thanks to Streetscapes’ clever composting project that’s helping the homeless put food on the table!
Cape Town, South Africa (16 October 2024) – Restaurant scraps have an important place in the bigger ecosystem of social upliftment if used correctly. While the unfortunate reality is that a lot of scraps simply remain scraps and become waste, there’s another side to the coin that sees scraps as an opportunity for growth. And, Cape Town-based non-profit Streetscapes is showing us how it’s done!
Cape Town is a foodie city. In fact, it was even crowned the Best Culinary Destination City at the World Culinary Awards 2024. But what if all those restaurants focused a little more on what happens after the food is plated and ready to be enjoyed?
Streetscapes’ composting project is a shining example of what’s possible when waste is viewed as a tool—an ingredient to do better for the people of the city who most need it.
Addressing two key issues, the composting project lessens environmental impact while giving their clients (the homeless) a new purpose.
Here’s how it works:
Restaurants that have teamed up with Streetscapes share their organic waste after it has been separated from other kinds of waste. It’s collected and thereafter used to create a high-quality compost where fresh vegetables can be grown and sold!
Alfonso Peterson oversees the composting work and explains that their mix is potent.
“Different waste types like coffee grounds of citrus peels break down differently, but the mix we’ve developed is incredibly potent. We’re creating a valuable product that helps grow more food,” says Alfonso.
In fact, Alfonso proposed the innovative idea to develop the compost. A beacon of hope, Alfonso was once homeless himself. But, through his own determination and the Streetscapes Programme, he now proudly rents his home and is a cornerstone of support both for the composting project and various other Streetscapes’ social development programmes.
In only a few months, the project has already shown impressive results. Nearly five tons of organic waste have been diverted from landfills, while clients have been able to reconnect with a sense of purpose—a key point in their journeys away from homelessness.
The composting project was visited by university professor Harold Tessendorf of Mercer University. Harold noted that it was a great example of the circular economy in action, and concluded that the quality of the compost was excellent.
“There’s a real opportunity here to expand the project’s impact and sustainability,” Harold added.
Its expansion could look like another avenue for income—selling the compost itself at Streetscapes’ market for local gardeners and community members! Ultimately, the project provides a long-term opportunity for clients who have fantastic potential beyond skills-building.
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