Go Green OC receives donation from Surfrider Foundation

OCEAN CITY, Md. – A local composting organization aiming to make Ocean City the first zero-waste resort town in the United States got a helping hand on Thursday.

The OC Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation donated to Go Green OC.

“We are 100% volunteer based so all the money goes right into a cement pad that we need, an extra trashcan, compostable bags, signage, and things like educational tools, the money will be put to good use and the community can see it,” said Josh Chamberlain, Founder of Go Green OC.

After less than a decade of work, Go Green OC is about to reach one million pounds of food waste composted, which they say is only possible by working with organizations like the Surfriders. They’re now working to educate local students about composting, including Wicomico County’s ESL Program. “We need to reach them at a young age, this is getting people hands-on, in the dirt, seeing our sustainability efforts, it’s one of our top goals for sure,” says Chamberlain.

Recently, State Senator Mary Beth Carozza visited the compost farm to get a better picture of the work being done. She says she remembers when the organization had just a few boxes of food waste and adds that to see the significant growth in such a short amount of time is a testament to their efforts to create lasting partnerships. She says if the group continues to work with other organizations and restaurants, Ocean City is set to see a more environmentally friendly future.

“As that all increases, you increase the partners you’re increasing how much food waste can be composted, and then you have a final product that can be sold and can continue to be put back into the go green operation,” said Senator Carozza.

Carozza says she hopes that Go Green will help set an example and help get more groups and restaurants involved.

Read the full story here about the impact these efforts had on Wicomico County students part of the English Language Learning program.