Seattle neighborhood transforms food scraps into garden gold with community biodigester program

In Seattle’s South Park neighborhood, banana peels and eggshells are getting a second life as liquid fertilizer, thanks to an innovative community program that’s tackling both food waste and environmental justice simultaneously.

The Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association (DVSA) launched this groundbreaking initiative in 2021, installing biodigesters that function like giant mechanical stomachs. These shipping container-sized units use beneficial bacteria to transform 25 tons of rotting food annually into 5,400 gallons of liquid plant food, while also producing renewable biogas. The sealed system prevents methane emissions that would otherwise escape from landfills, where food waste typically ends up after being trucked to Oregon.

What makes this program truly special is its community-centered approach. Maria Perez, who started as a 14-year-old climate activist with DVSA and later managed the project, conducted training sessions in Spanish, English, and Khmer to ensure broad neighborhood participation. Local restaurants and over 30 residents now contribute their food scraps, which volunteers collect and weigh every Tuesday before returning the finished fertilizer to help grow local gardens.

The circular economy model addresses multiple challenges facing the predominantly Latino neighborhood, from reducing street litter to creating green jobs and providing sustainable growing resources. With support from EPA grants and Seattle city funding, DVSA is now working to expand the program by securing space for additional biodigesters, demonstrating how grassroots environmental solutions can strengthen entire communities while fighting climate change.