The City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability has awarded a $10,000 Food Waste Innovation grant to The Refugee Collective, a local nonprofit formerly known as the Multicultural Refugee Coalition. This grant, announced ahead of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on Sept. 29, will support the Collective’s initiative to reduce food waste at its farm. The organization will create a composting and community art initiative designed to reduce waste, promote regenerative agriculture, and foster community engagement through traditional craft workshops.
The initiative includes establishing an on-site composting system capable of producing finished compost within 30 days. The system will help divert 2,000 pounds of waste from the organization’s certified organic farm and 8,000 pounds from local restaurants each year. This effort will annually produce approximately 40 cubic yards of nutrient-rich compost, fulfilling much of the farm’s composting needs. Additionally, the Collective will integrate compost production into its farmer education programming to reach local community farmers and agricultural producers.
"We are excited and grateful for the opportunities this grant brings," said Meg Erskine, Co-founder and CEO of the Refugee Collective. "With these resources, we will transform food waste into nutrient-rich soil and eco-friendly textile dyes while also launching new programs to further enrich and empower the refugee community. This grant allows us to make an even greater difference in the lives of those we serve."
Founded in 2009, The Refugee Collective connects refugees in Austin to dignified, fair-wage work through its sewing studio and commercial farm. The farm and studio employ refugees and immigrants, providing fair wages and honoring traditional skills in sewing and farming while tapping into the growing market for local food and textile production.
In addition to composting, the initiative will include 30 hands-on crafting opportunities — 15 classes for refugees and immigrants and 15 for the public — focusing on natural dyes, block printing, hand embroidery, garment repairs, and more. Waste vegetables from the farm and restaurants will be repurposed for natural dye projects in collaboration with local partner organizations such as the Elisabet Ney Museum, Whole Earth Provision Co., and local restaurant Este.
The project aligns with the City of Austin’s ambitious waste reduction goals outlined in various city plans including Austin Climate Equity Plan and Austin Resource Recovery Comprehensive Plan aiming for zero waste by 2040. It also supports The Refugee Collective's goals outlined in its new Resilient Farm Plan released earlier this year.
“To improve our local food system and take action on climate change we need everyone in our community to contribute,” said Zach Baumer, Chief Sustainability Officer for City of Austin. “By keeping food waste out of landfills promoting local economic opportunities this partnership will reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions positively impacting lives.”
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