Meet Michelle Carnevale, president of 11th Hour Racing, which advocates for sustainability and ocean health with solutions designed to create a more inclusive future. Michelle recently contributed an article to Earth911, How You Can Help Create A Healthier Ocean By Composting. While it is a growing industry, composting services are still available in too few cities across the United States. According to a 2023 report by the Environmental Protection Agency, only 5% of food waste was composted in 2019, the last year for which the government has data. But many materials besides food, from yard waste to compostable packaging, could be returned to the soil through healthy, regenerative programs. In recent years, access to composting services has grown by 65%, according to Environmental America.

The connection between groundwater, composting, and the oceans needs to be more widely understood. Michelle explains how healthy soil contributes to cooler, cleaner oceans. 11tth Hour Racing encourages residents in the Northeast to find and use composting services, promoting awareness at sailing competitions and through dozens of programs it supports. You can learn more about the organization and find local composting options in the Northeast at https://11thhourracing.org/closer/