Environmental Group Global Green USA is partnering with the city of Albany, Calif., to launch a pilot food waste recycling program.

The Santa Monica-based Global Green said it is launching pilot programs with the city and its Coalition for Resource Recovery (CORR) in select buildings to collect key data, test products and support the broader rollout of food scrap recovery across the region, according to a news release.

The pilot system includes the use of water-resistant paper bags for compost recovery, which the organizations believe will lead to greater participation while ensuring that composters in the region can process the waste into high-value soil products. The availability of compost also can help the region’s farms reduce irrigation needs.

“The Bay Area has been an incredible leader in many green urban practices, including food scrap recovery, which makes this community a perfect partner as we develop guidance and toolkits for cities and property owners,” said Lily Kelly, senior program associate for Global Green and the project’s coordinator. “We are able to help East Bay families living in apartments divert their food scraps back into their local food system while getting useful data along the way that demonstrate reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”

Food scraps account for 43 percent of landfilled waste from California’s Alameda County’s multifamily residences.

Global Green organized the initial donation of bins and bags to the buildings from CORR members. CORR member Orbis Corp. also donated dozens of small kitchen countertop bins to the pilot households.