Michigan’s Great Southwest Sustainable Business Forum will host a luncheon forum on community, commercial and institutional composting in Southwest Michigan on Wednesday, February 20 at Whirlpool Corporate Tech Center in Benton Harbor.
Adam Brent of Cocoa Corporation will discuss the value of compost as a waste diversion and sustainability strategy and highlight some opportunities to potentially develop options locally. For practical purposes, the commercial and industrial composting options available in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and other Michigan communities are not found in Michigan’s Great Southwest, despite its substantial agricultural presence. Offerings for residential service are limited and predominantly do-it-yourself.
Brent founded Cocoa after discovering how high-quality humus compost returned nutrients to the soil created value for everyone up and down the economic, environmental and food chains. Cocoa takes organic waste that would otherwise be deposited into landfills and turns it into Cocoa Compost, an organic fertilizer used for our soil and farms. Winner of the 2018 Sustainable Brands Innovation Open, Cocoa has so far composted over 5,000 tons of organic waste.
Maureen Stroud, Senior Manager – Global Carbon for Whirlpool Corp. will discuss the company’s development of the Zera Food Recycler, a W Labs innovation that converts 95% of a typical family’s household waste into ready-to-use, homemade fertilizer through a fully automated process.
The February MGSSBF Forum is presented by Whirlpool.
Please note that the location for this event has changed from its original location. The event will be held at the Whirlpool Corporate Benton Harbor Tech Center.
Registration is now closed. Walk-ins will be accepted
Lunch is $15 for members if paid online ($20 at event), $20 for non-members ($25 at event).
Tentative Agenda
11:30 – Doors Open
11:45 – Lunch
12:15 – Program Begins
1:30 – Adjourn