Tribal Recycling & Organics Diversion Training

9:00 – Waste Characterization & Organics Diversion within NM's Pueblos and Tribes Sarah Pierpont, Executive Director NM Recycling Coalition
Learn about the results from recent waste characterization studies within New Mexico’s Pueblos and opportunities and methods to divert organic material from within the Pueblo community (including backyard composting).

 

9:30 – Effective Food Waste Reduction Strategies Jill Holbert, NMRC Board member, Retired City of Albuquerque 

10:15 – Recycling and Illegal Dumping (RAID) Grant Overview: Case Studies of RAID Funded Tribal Projects Levi Lementino, New Mexico Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau
State RAID funding can assist with infrastructure purchases for recycling and compost diversion efforts. Learn about the application process and successful examples of organics diversion efforts that utilized this funding.

 

11:00 – NM Clean and Beautiful (NMC) Grant Program - What It Is and Funding Opportunities Holly Kelley, NM Tourism Department, Development DirectorDelana Du, Clean & Beautiful Program Management Analyst

What does NM tourism have to do with solid waste, recycling and compost? A lot! The program goals include efforts to end litter, reduce waste, and improve composting and sustainable organics management.  Learn about the goals and objectives of this grant program, eligibility requirements, and examples of funded projects.

 

11:30 – What is Soil Health & How can NM Department of Agriculture's Healthy Soil Program Improve It? Dean Bruce and Katie Goetz, New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s (NMDA) Healthy Soil Program co-leads
Soil is full of life, and that’s why it makes sense to talk about its health.  This talk will cover the basics of soil health, then touch on NMDA’s Healthy Soil Program grants.  Healthy Soil Program grants help farmers, ranchers, and even certain governmental entities – including pueblos, tribes, and nations – improve their soil health through such practices as applying compost, planting a cover crop, intensifying a grazing plan, and more. 

1:00  Overview of Agricultural Projects at Santa Ana Pueblo Ryan Garcia, Santa Ana Pueblo Agriculture Director

1:30 Case Study: Application of Compost on Dry Rangeland at Santa Ana Pueblo Dan Ginter, Santa Ana Pueblo Dept of Natural Resources

Waste Characterization Studies at Northern Pueblos

 

The New Mexico Recycling Coalition is conducting waste characterization studies at six northern New Mexico Pueblos in 2023 as part of a USDA Rural Utilities Grant. The purpose of the physical waste sorts is to assess existing solid waste management and waste diversion programs at the Pueblos to help plan and implement appropriate education and outreach efforts. Additionally, the goal is to leverage this information to secure additional funding to help Pueblos purchase the needed infrastructure to increase source reduction, recycling and composting. Residential municipal solid waste has been sorted at Pojoaque Pueblo and San Felipe Pueblo.  If you are interested in working with NMRC to conduct a waste sort at a New Mexico tribe or pueblo, please contact Sarah Pierpont at sarah@recyclenewmexico.com.

Recycling Trainings

As part of the Tribal Recycling Program Assistance and Trainings program, the New Mexico Recycling Coalition held two recycling workshops for tribal communities in New Mexico. The workshops focused on in-the-field tribal recycling management best practices.  Speakers included representatives from both in-state and out-of-state tribes outlining their recycling successes.  Additionally, representatives from the the New Mexico Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau will discuss important topics, such as full cost accounting, how to launch an organics program, methods to combat illegal dumping and more!

Recycling Collection Trailers at the Pueblo of Santa Ana Resource Recovery Park Recycling Collection Trailers at the Pueblo of Santa Ana Resource Recovery Park

Presentations from the Presentations Hosted at Pojoaque and Santo Domingo Pueblos