The city of Santa Cruz should compost food waste. It is economically beneficial and environmentally responsible. Other cities already compost food waste. In Washington, Seattle and Olympia’s compost programs pay for themselves through residents who sign up for the service. Portland increased it’s food composting and decreased it’s garbage pickup at the same time. Even San Jose is working towards composting food waste in an effort to reduce their garbage. As in Washington, this program can be arranged to pay for itself by the residents who sign up for the program. Depending on the composting method chosen, Santa Cruz can also sell the byproducts produced. More jobs will be produced as these programs are formed. According to the EPA, 13.9% of garbage is food waste, making it environmentally critical that we compost. Food waste can become valuable topsoil, a resource for future generations. Please move a public composting program forward! Thank you,