BK ROT

October 26, 2020 / Photo: Courtesy of bkrot.org

BK ROT was created as a response to a multitude of issues in North Brooklyn — waste management and high youth unemployment rates being among them. Through their unique food waste collection system, the project is working to better the environment while creating opportunities for youth of color in the area.

Founded in 2013 by Sandy Nurse, the bike-powered collection service in Brooklyn picks up food waste from local businesses, residential buildings and community drop-offs and turns it into compost. Their collection system is also staffed by young people of color — who are historically given less leadership opportunities and experience more negative consequences from environmental issues.

 Once the food waste is transformed into compost, it is sold at retailers around the city as well as Bushwick’s Know Waste Lands Garden — creating a cyclical system for improving the environment.

BK ROT plans to resume it’s pickup service in November. Households and businesses in North and Central Brooklyn who want to take advantage of their bike-powered pickups can check if they’re in their service range, then fill out a form. The project also allows food scrap drop offs and provides educational online content for how to compost at home.

More about BK ROT and its services can be found on their website.