NEW IBERIA, LA – The Iberia Development Foundation was recently selected as one of 32 nonprofit organizations and institutions from across Louisiana to receive a 2015 Healthy Communities Grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the state's premier anti-litter and community improvement organization.
The $10,000 grant, in partnership with the Acadiana Growers Alliance, will design, construct and promote a "ReMarketAble" recycling/ reuse mobile collection system. This system of specialized bins mounted on a trailer will travel to Iberia Parish farmers markets on a regular basis.
Market goers will be encouraged to bring designated items, which can be reused, primarily by growers and market vendors, such as glass canning jars, egg cartons and crates and plastic planting pots. Since most of these items will be reused in areas of local food production and cottage industry food processing, this program is a unique closed system of recycling that will not require collected materials to be transported to a recycling facility.
"This program stands to make significant impact on the waste associated with these local micro-businesses," explained IDF's Executive Director Michael Tarantino. "For example, a market goer purchases locally-produced jams and jellies, enjoys the product, then brings the glass jar back to the ReMarketAble trailer. The AGA member/vendor sterilizes, refills the jar with product and brings it back to market, ready for sale. It's a win-win-win situation for us all."
Additionally, the Foundation and AGA will be conducting a supporting series of free workshops, which will promote environmentally responsible topics such as kitchen recycling, garden reuse and sustainable growing techniques.
The ReMarketAble trailer is under design/ construction, scheduled for debut via IDF's BestLife Iberia initiative in September and will then begin making the rounds to Iberia Parish farmers markets. Special activities are also scheduled for the weekend of America Recycles Day, November 15.
