An Eco Bite with Rust Belt Riders

An Eco Bite with Rust Belt Riders

Author: Diane Bickett and Greg Rotuno March 12, 2026 Duration: 14:46

Send us Fan Mail

An Eco Bite is a "mini” episode of Eco Speaks CLE. In this shorter format, we reconnect with a past guest or showcase someone new, all in under 15 minutes. In this quick episode, we catch up with Rust Belt Riders and founder Michael Robinson to find out what's new with our favorite worker-owned food waste composting company in Cleveland, Ohio.

We first interviewed Rust Belt Riders back in 2022. It was our 4th episode, and we had Dan Brown and Zoe Apisdorf on the show. Since then, Rust Belt Riders has developed new city-supported drop-offs, new commercial infrastructure, and expanded its production of soil and Tilth Soil brand. This cooperative model could scale community composting nationwide through alliances with members of the Community Composting  Coalition. We hope you will enjoy this episode and be part of the story by purchasing Tilth Soil at local retailers and signing up for one of Rust Belt Riders' residential or commercial composting services

Support the show

Become a Subscriber

Follow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram
Contact
 - hello@ecospeakscle.com


There's a quiet but powerful movement happening across Northeast Ohio, where innovative minds are reimagining how we live and work in balance with our environment. ECO SPEAKS CLE sits down with these local sustainability leaders-the entrepreneurs, scientists, community organizers, and business owners-who are putting these ideas into practice right here. Hosted by Diane Bickett, this podcast goes beyond theory to explore the tangible projects and personal stories shaping a more resilient region. You'll hear conversations that feel like a discovery, uncovering the work of people and organizations dedicated to making our cities greener, our economies more circular, and our connection to Lake Erie and the surrounding landscape more thoughtful. It’s not about distant concepts, but the actionable steps and sometimes messy, real-world challenges of building a sustainable future locally. Produced by Greg Rotuno, each episode is an invitation to learn from your neighbors and to see the familiar places you live and work through a new, hopeful lens. Tune in to this podcast for genuine dialogue that connects the dots between society, culture, and nature, offering a sense of place and purpose for anyone curious about their role in our shared ecosystem.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 85

ECO SPEAKS CLE
Podcast Episodes
The Perpetual Problem of Plastic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:39
Send us Fan MailThis is the first of an Eco Speaks CLE series on plastic. In this episode, we tackle the subject of plastic pollution with Jill Bartolotta, OSU Extension Educator with Ohio Sea Grant. Jill is a researcher…
Cleveland Recycles, Again! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:43
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we talk about recycling and circularity in the City of Cleveland. After a long hiatus, curbside recycling returns to Cleveland on June 13th, and here to tell us about the reinstated progr…
Pumped Up to Pedal with Bike Cleveland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:12
Send us Fan MailBike Cleveland is creating a region that is sustainable, connected, healthy, and vibrant by promoting bicycling and advocating for safe and equitable transportation for all. In this episode, our guests Ja…
#10 - Cheers! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:18
Send us Fan MailIn Episode #10, Greg and I have a beer and talk about our podcasting adventure thus far while recapping our favorite parts of episodes 1-9. Join us as we shoot the breeze and talk about what's in store fo…
Respect the Rust! Building a Salvage Economy at RBX [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:47
Send us Fan MailJessica Davis knows salvage - where to get it, how to move it, and how to help others buy and sell architectural salvage and used building materials. Jessica is the founder and owner of Rebuilders Xchange…
Drink Local Drink Tap - Making Waves from Cleveland to Uganda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:36
Send us Fan MailMeet Erin Huber Rosen, the Founder and Executive Director of Drink Local. Drink Tap., Inc.™ Since 2010, Erin has been inspiring people to "Be the Drop" to recognize and solve our local and global water is…
Go Native! Good Natured Ways to Prep Lawns and Landscapes for Spring [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:19
Send us Fan MailSpring is right around the corner and Eco Speaks CLE is here to help you get ready. In this episode, we speak with Alec Mclennan, the founder and president of Good Nature Organic Lawn Care and Amy Roskill…
Going Solar with Cuyahoga County and Solar United Neighbors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:22
Send us Fan MailCuyahoga County and Solar United Neighbors are working to expand solar in northeast Ohio by making it more affordable and accessible. In this episode, we demystify solar power and the process of going sol…
Feeding People Not Landfills - Rust Belt Riders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:13
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Dan Brown and Zoe Apisdorf with Rust Belt Riders speak about how they are feeding people and not landfills by collecting food waste from residential and commercial customers and turning i…