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An innovative partnership between a Rio Grande Valley city and local businesses is helping cut waste and enrich local crops by closing the recycling loop. Under this concept, old fruits, vegetables, and food scraps are collected, composted, and sold back to area farmers and residents for use on crops and lawns. Called the "Save the Greens" program, the City of McAllen has produced more than 6,800 cubic yards of compost since Save the Greens started in December 2006. That compost total is expected to rise dramatically over the next several years as the program expands.

McAllen's in the middle of one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and has seen its population double since 1980. As the numbers rise, so does the cost of waste-both to the city and to the environment. Composting local, vegetative waste diverts the materials from the landfill, reduces or eliminates the need for fertilizers and pesticides, and increases crop yields. The city's also partnered with other Rio Grande Valley cities, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and the Sustainable Agronomic Education Association to teach low-income families to grow their own food organically, form a cooperative-farmers' market, and promote organic-growing practices.

This is the first program of its kind in South Texas, and the City of McAllen has invested approximately $100,000 to launch the pilot phase of an effort the city hopes eventually will include the region's supermarkets, schools, restaurants, and produce import businesses.

This public-private partnership reduces landfill waste while simultaneously promoting environmentally responsible agriculture, and that's helping an entire region create a cleaner future.