Southern Arizona McDonald's restaurants are looking to give local gardeners a hand with the donation of used coffee grounds that can be repurposed as fertilizer.
Individuals, groups and schools can call their local McDonald's to find out when they can pick up used coffee grounds for gardening.
Coffee grounds provide gardens with many positive benefits, including bringing organic, non-chemical sources of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper, all of which are essential building blocks to strong, healthy plants. Coffee grounds also improve drainage and water retention, as well as help attract beneficial microorganisms.
McDonald's has been supporting local school garden programs with coffee grounds for several years. The program is being opened up to other members of the public in an effort to divert coffee grounds from entering the waste stream.
According to a Waste Management study, a McDonaldβs restaurant generates more than 20 lbs. of coffee ground waste every day.
