Michelle, representing WANDS Sustainable Culture, told the Mayor’s Council that Guam EPA submitted and won a Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant to pilot home-composting and gardening training in every village.

Michelle said the project aims to enroll 200 residents in the first year and select 20 of them to move forward with home-gardens using the compost they produce; a second-year cohort would add another 200 residents and 20 new gardeners. The program will provide kitchen pails, larger tumblers, scales to weigh compost, workshops on home composting and bin options, and modest incentives such as local-produce bags for participants who meet milestones.

"It's actually known as the SWIFFR grant that we will start implementing," Michelle said, explaining that the objectives include diverting organic waste from the landfill and supporting local food production.

Mayors raised operational questions: the program is residential (not a centralized collection), Michelle said, and staff will tailor bin recommendations to avoid nuisance animals in pig-prone neighborhoods and provide training on separation of food waste. The council agreed to help recruit participants at village workshops and to provide recommendations for committed residents.

No formal council vote was required; Michelle said program rollout would begin this month and the implementing team will email mayors to schedule village visits and workshop dates.