YP of the Month – Sarah Lavallee

Meet Sarah Lavallee, the USCC Young Professional making waves in the state of Rhode Island! As the program coordinator for Clean Ocean Access's (COA) Healthy Soils Healthy Seas Rhode Island compost initiative, Sarah is passionately working towards increasing participation in residential composting through educational workshops for local community groups.
 
Based in Middletown, RI, COA is a nonprofit organization with a vision of a clean and healthy ocean accessible to all. Sarah's role revolves around getting people excited about composting. She leads a team of super cool volunteers who collect data on the trash, recycling, and compost generated in their homes. This data empowers COA to advocate for improved waste management policies and encourages local politicians to make positive changes in our communities.
 
Sarah's efforts extend to schools, where she supports the implementation of composting programs in lunchrooms. She ensures that students and staff have the support they need to turn lunchtime leftovers into nutrient-rich compost that nourishes the earth.
Alongside her work at COA, Sarah actively participates in the USCC’S Young Professionals Group. Recently, she played a crucial role in managing conference volunteers and organizing the Emerging Composter Competition (ECC) at COMPOST2023.
 
With her dedication, Sarah is inspiring a new generation of composting enthusiasts. She eagerly anticipates the next ECC installment at COMPOST2024 in Daytona Beach, FL, where she hopes to motivate even more young professionals to find their place and thrive in the composting industry.