New Earth Regeneration Initiative

To transform waste into solutions and communities into agents of regeneration

From Waste to Green

From Waste to Green is the flagship project of the New Earth Regeneration Initiative (NERI), demonstrating how organic waste can be transformed into a powerful resource for climate mitigation, soil regeneration, and community-based environmental restoration. Implemented in collaboration with Raízes, this project represents a practical model for how circular systems can convert everyday food waste into measurable environmental benefits.

Through partnerships with local restaurants, supermarkets, schools, and community members, NERI collects organic materials that would otherwise be sent to landfills, where they would generate methane and contribute to climate change. Using NERI’s innovative organic waste processing system, these materials are converted into biologically active, nutrient-rich soil amendments designed to improve soil structure, enhance water retention, and support long-term ecosystem health.

The resulting soil has been applied to restore degraded land and establish resilient plant systems, demonstrating how localized circular economy solutions can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening climate adaptation capacity in drought-prone environments. By integrating scientific validation, applied field implementation, and community participation, From Waste to Green serves as a replicable framework for regenerative infrastructure that delivers both environmental and social benefits.

Developed in partnership with Raízes, the project also supports workforce exposure to green career pathways and strengthens collaboration between community organizations working toward climate resilience.

Project Impact to Date

♻️ 11k+ lbs organic waste diverted from landfills
🌳 350+ trees and native plants installed
🏞️ ½ Acre degraded land actively restored
☁️ ~73 MT CO₂e emissions mitigated
🌱 Enhanced soil performance & water retention

Contributing partners

Collaborating partners

New Earth Regeneration Initiative (NERI)

A climate-focused organization that integrates environmental innovation, workforce development, education, and applied research to address the interconnected challenges of organic waste, soil degradation, water scarcity, and greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Soil Regeneration & Land Restoration

NERI transforms organic waste into a biologically active soil amendment through a controlled, science-based processing system. Applied to degraded lands to restore soil health, improve water retention, reduce erosion, and support native vegetation.

2. Education & Community Engagement

Delivering hands-on educational programs in schools and communities (like LAUSD). Participants learn about organic waste diversion, soil systems, and sustainable land practices, making environmental science tangible and accessible.

3. Workforce Development

Integrating paid, work-based training into restoration projects. Trainees gain real-world experience, building practical skills for careers in horticulture, land restoration, and environmental services in disinvested communities.

4. Research & Innovation

Collaborating with academic partners to study soil performance and system effectiveness. Through data collection and analysis, NERI continuously develops scalable, science-backed solutions for climate resilience.

SCIENCE SUMMIT 2025

Project Concept

NERI has as its core mission to develop sustainable innovative solutions to our growing environmental challenges.

We transform organic waste into a living resource that restores soil structure, boosts fertility, enhances water retention, and contributes to   carbon capture. By using controlled and accelerated biological processes—such as microbial succession and soil organism activity—we achieve in a few months what would normally take nature decades.

NERI is committed  engages students, educators, and communities in hands-on learning experiences centered around regeneration, environmental science, and sustainability. It offers a tangible response to climate change, turning the problem of waste into a regenerative solution.

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According to the United Nations

We Are Wasting the Earth’s Potential

  • Over 1 billion tons of food were wasted globally in 2022

  • Organic waste is the #1 material in U.S. landfills

  • Over a 20-year period, methane is about 80 to 87 times more powerful at trapping heat than CO2

  • Soils are being degraded faster than nature can restore them

Our Process

1. Organic Waste Diversion

Collect organic waste from schools, restaurants, and businesses to prevent it from reaching landfills, reducing methane emissions.

2. Biological Inoculation

Apply a controlled mix of beneficial microorganisms and biological agents to accelerate decomposition and create a living soil ecosystem.

3. Soil Regeneration

Transform the processed organic matter into nutrient-rich soil that improves fertility, water retention, and carbon sequestration capacity.

4. Application & Land Restoration

Use regenerated soil to restore degraded lands, support biodiversity, and establish resilient green spaces in drought- and heat-impacted regions.

5. Education & Workforce Development

Engage students, workers, and communities in hands-on training to build skills in regenerative practices and create green job pathways.

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CSUN Symposium - PP 2.pptx.jpg

Real Impact

“At Arminta Street Elementary, an LAUSD school, we process over 5,000 pounds of organic waste each year. In just two years, this has prevented the release of 33 metric tons of CO₂e.”

Current projects

Recognitions

  • 2025 Featured presentation at United Nations Science Summit, New York, NY.
  • 2025 Jeff Marine Bull Ring entrepreneurship - Social Impact Award
  • 2024 Pando Days First prize
  • 2024 Glendale Environmental Stewardship
  • 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

Luis Lopez, MBA

Board Member

Tiffany Derrick, MA

Advisory Board Member

Ernesto Corona

Board Member

Marisol Cortez

Board Member

Santiago Díaz

Board Member

Camron Nichols

GIS and data research intern

Blog

The wisdom of the rainforest in Northridge

NER-I Imagen

What’ s Next?

Scaling Soil Regeneration

  • Expanding the model to other schools, gardens, and urban areas
  • Publishing open-source data and regeneration guides
  • Collaborating with municipalities, nonprofits, and educators
  • Creating a blueprint for soil recovery through local action

Conclusion

The New Earth Regeneration Initiative proves that local actions can drive global impact.

By turning organic waste into a living solution, we are regenerating soils, empowering communities, and building a more resilient future—starting from the ground up.

This is more than a project. It’s a movement.

A movement where science, education, and sustainability come together to restore what’s been lost—our connection to the soil, to nature, and to each other.

The soil is not just beneath us. It’s the foundation of everything ahead.

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