In the face of mounting environmental challenges and economic inequity, solutions that address both climate resilience and workforce development have never been more urgent. In California’s Southern Border Region, a groundbreaking initiative is transforming these dual crises into opportunity by turning organic waste into a resource while training the next generation of environmental technicians.
Led by the nonprofit organization Raizes Inc., the From Waste to Green project utilizes advanced innovative organic waste processing technology to build a greener, more inclusive future one job, one site, and one community at a time.
About Raizes Inc.
Raizes Inc. is a mission-driven nonprofit focused on promoting environmental sustainability, economic justice, and health equity across Southern California. Through bilingual community outreach, grassroots partnerships, hands-on training, and scalable pilot programs, Raizes helps equip underrepresented communities with the tools and knowledge to thrive in a climate-aligned economy.
The From Waste to Green initiative, formally titled “Workforce Development Through On-Site Organic Waste Processing and Compost Infrastructure in the Southern Border Region,” reflects Raizes’ long-standing commitment to regenerative practices and equity-focused workforce development.
What is the innovative Organic Waste Processing?
At the heart of this project is a biologically active aerobic system that rapidly processes food scraps and agricultural waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments. This method pioneered by environmental innovators at New Earth Regeneration Initiative uses particular microorganisms to accelerate decomposition in a controlled environment, processing in a few days what traditional composting systems require weeks or months to achieve.
The process is odor-free, energy-efficient, and reduces waste volume by up to 90%. The resulting product is a pathogen-free, high-quality soil input that restores soil health, sequesters carbon, and improves drought resilience critical benefits for arid regions like Imperial Valley.
Goals: Green Jobs, Healthy Soils, and Climate Resilience
From Waste to Green is designed to address two pressing regional issues: (1) high rates of underemployment in low-wage sectors and (2) environmental damage caused by burning or landfilling organic waste. The project provides direct hands-on training in organic waste processing, horticulture, and sustainable business development.
Participants including independent gardeners, custodians, field workers, system-impacted individuals, and disconnected youth will receive stipends, laptops, and locally accessible training to reduce economic and transportation barriers. Through this program, they will gain workforce certifications in environmental technology, business literacy, and regenerative land care.
Notably, participants also engage with, soil science, and green enterprise development—building a diverse skillset that contributes to both ecosystem health and long-term economic mobility.
