Every day, Brightview communities prepare and serve hundreds of meals for our residents. But with all that cooking comes something less appetizing: food waste. At two Brightview communities, associates are finding a way to give those food scraps a second life while reducing their environmental impact.
In 2024, Brightview Commons in Wakefield, Rhode Island, and Brightview Perry Hall in Nottingham, Maryland, launched composting programs in partnership with Brightview's Sustainability Council. The initiative grew out of Brightview's longstanding commitment to building and operating healthy, sustainable communities and a desire to explore new ways to incorporate environmentally friendly practices into everyday operations.
Nearly two years later, these communities have collectively diverted over 120 tons of food waste from landfills, demonstrating how small changes in daily routines can make a meaningful difference over time.
Why Composting Matters
When food waste ends up in a landfill, it decomposes and releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Composting offers a more environmentally friendly alternative by transforming food scraps into nutrient-rich material that improves soil health, supports plant growth, and reduces landfill waste.
With food preparation happening throughout the day in Brightview's kitchens, composting provides a practical opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of our dining operations.
Making Sustainability Part of the Daily Routine
At Brightview Commons, the dining team partnered with Black Earth Compost to introduce a collection process for food scraps. Associates learned which materials could be composted and incorporated food scrap collection into their daily kitchen and dining room routines.
Residents were enthusiastic supporters from the beginning, building on a longstanding interest in recycling and environmental responsibility.
"Composting really fits the values of Brightview and our community," shared Darlene Lepore, who served as Executive Director at Brightview Commons when the program launched and is now a Regional Director of Operations.
A similar effort took shape at Brightview Perry Hall, where associates partnered with Veteran Compost, a veteran-owned company focused on employing veterans and their families. The dining team initially introduced composting in the main kitchen before adding collection bins in other areas of the community.
What began as a new process quickly became a regular part of the teams' daily routines.
Small Actions Add Up
The impact of these efforts is measurable. Since launching their composting programs in 2024, the two communities have collectively composted over 120 tons of food scraps, including 36 tons at Brightview Commons and 84 tons at Brightview Perry Hall.
Beyond the numbers, these programs demonstrate the important role our associates and residents play in supporting sustainability. From the dining associates who sort food scraps to residents who embrace environmentally friendly practices, their participation has helped make composting a successful part of community life.
As Brightview continues to explore practical ways to reduce waste, conserve resources, and operate more sustainably, efforts like these offer a reminder that even the smallest everyday actions can have a lasting impact.
Learn more about Brightview Senior Living’s Sustainability Initiatives here.
Brightview Senior Living builds, owns, and operates award-winning vibrant senior living communities in eight states along the East Coast: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. We offer senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Care, and Wellspring Village™, a specialized neighborhood for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Schedule a personal visit to experience our communities firsthand.
