Climate Solutions: Compost

Since 2015, IDEATE has been running a volunteer-based composting program at Burning Man to encourage the principles of Gifting, Decommodification, Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility, and of course our favorite Leaving No Trace.

Our impact, by the numbers:

 
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IDEATE's composting program began in 2015 as a camp commitment to support our longstanding dedication to sustainability and carbon reduction. The program collects compostable waste from participating Burning Man camps and delivers it to the Full Circle Compost processing facility in nearby Carson City, NV. Full Circle Compost resides on nearly 30 acres of land leased from the Northern Nevada Correctional Center. There, the compostable waste is converted into valuable nutrient-rich soil. The partnership between Full Circle Compost and the Northern Nevada Correctional Facility (NNCF) helps to support the NNCF’s self-funded ranch which sits on 1,200 acres of farmland.

Burning Man’s physical absence at Black Rock City in 2020 isn’t deterring our 5th year of activation. Instead, we're channeling our energy and efforts to double down on improving the project.

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We're re-designing the Compost program to further incorporate regenerative design and circular economy principles. You can learn about the impact art project here.

 
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Climate change is the most challenging issue of our time. It is damaging our food supply, increasing poverty and inequality, degrading the environment, and harming humanity’s prospects for peace and survival.

Why focus on compost as a solution? Project Drawdown identifies reducing food waste as the top climate issue to focus on. ~30% of the world’s total energy consumption is from the food sector. That’s ~22% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Ready to fight climate change together?

Join our community, and reach out to get involved.

 

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We’re particularly proud of…

  • Being cited as a partner in shaping Burning Man Org’s 2030 Environmental Sustainability Roadmap

  • Supporting the Burning Man Org launch its carbon offsets program

  • Empowering our IDEATE alumni to become social entrepreneurs, climate activists, and compost enthusiasts

    …. all while having fun!