Composting Program Launched At State Prison

State prisons and the environmental officials have launched a composting program to keep more than 600 tons of prison food waste out of the landfill. The Noble Correctional Institution will cut annual food waste from 676 tons to 20 tons of compost for prison landscaping and gardening. The program is expected to save the prison 60 thousand dollars a year in transportation and landfill fees. The Ohio EPA provided a 175 thousand dollar grant for machines that reduce the waste to compost over eight weeks. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections says the state spends 1.4 million dollars a year disposing of 14 thousand tons of prison food waste. The state hopes to expand the program.