Cleveland-based Rust Belt Riders was recently featured in BioCycle following its selection for funding through ReFED’s Catalytic Grant Fund, which will support the expansion of the company’s composting infrastructure in Northeast Ohio.

The worker-owned cooperative was one of nine organizations selected nationwide to receive funding aimed at advancing solutions that reduce food waste and strengthen local circular economies.

Founded in 2014, Rust Belt Riders provides food waste collection, composting and soil production services throughout Northeast Ohio. What began as a bicycle-powered food scrap collection service has grown into a regional operation serving households, restaurants, schools, hospitals, businesses and municipalities. The company transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, helping keep valuable resources out of landfills and within local food systems.

According to BioCycle, the funding will allow Rust Belt Riders to add a large-scale commercial organics collection vehicle to its fleet, increasing its capacity to serve larger institutions and commercial customers throughout the region.

The recognition highlights Rust Belt Riders’ continued leadership in building sustainable infrastructure solutions that address food waste while creating environmental and economic benefits for Northeast Ohio communities.

Read the original story in BioCycle: https://www.biocycle.net/refed-catalytic-grants-composting-infrastructure/