2020 International Compost Awareness Week Proclamation

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o��xAoaJ�ryG 9 � Town of Lexington, Ala55i dpi5ett,5 � J Affair % SELECT BOARD OFFICE Yu PROCLAMATION � � hd� � �� X� Whereas: the Composting Council Research&Education Foundation,along with Canada,Australia,the United Kingdom and other countries have declared the first full week of May to be the annual International Compost Awareness Week;and Whereas: composting is a way of returning organic resources to the soil and is a way of conserving water during extreme drought or flooding conditions,reducing water consumption and non-point pollution;and a proven method of decreasing the dependence on chemical fertilizers and decreasing erosion;and Whereas: composting is an effective form of waste reduction,reuse and recycling;and since organic materials make up approximately 30%of the material going to landfills,composting is becoming one of the primary methods communities use to reach waste diversion goals;and Whereas: materials such as yard trimmings,vegetable cuttings,biosolids,food scraps,manures and hay shavings have all been composted and converted into a beneficial product known as compost;and Whereas: communities,through their local governments,highway departments,soil conservation service and extension offices,and public works professionals,can have significant impact on clean water,soil,climate change and landfill diversion by using compost for public works projects;and Whereas. International Compost Awareness Week is a publicity and education imitative to showcase compost production and demonstrate compost use;and Whereas: composting creates green jobs and infrastructure for cities and states who implement composting programs;and Whereas: this year's theme Soil Loves Compost was selected to highlight the connection between compost use and soil health.This year's theme is based on the idea that Soil Loves Compost because compost feeds soil! Soil is alive and needs nourishment to be healthy.With healthy soil you grow healthy plants. Soil Loves Compost because it provides food and nutrients for living microbes that make up healthy soil.Without compost we would have few ways to enrich and restore soil.Compost keeps soil strong and healthy by reusing and recycling organic materials in a"zero waste"cycle. NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE SELECT BOARD of the Town of Lexington,Massachusetts,do hereby proclaim the week of May 3-9,2020 as International Compost Awareness Week in recognition of the efforts of the Composting Council Research&Education Foundation,Extension Agents,soil conservation stewards,householders,landscapers,farmers,recyclers,public workers,composters,gardeners,and plant growers everywhere. IN WITNESS HERE F, /71 we have set o#hands and caused the seal of Lexington to be affixed herew4i on the 27`h of April 2020. , JOSEPI N. DOUGL UCE "!E,C[IAIR ' O 'SUZANNF E,BARRY ILL I.H � 1- MARK D.SANDEEN