ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – A new food waste program at Lambert Airport will convert leftover food into agricultural compost for farms and gardens.

The three-month pilot program will be funded by a grant from the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District (SWMD), along with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Four restaurants, totaling 30% of the airport’s food and beverage consumption, will take part in the program. They are Beers of the World, Pasta House, Brioche Doree and Chili’s Too.

“The sheer number of airport users who will see food waste composting in action will also have a big impact on raising awareness of recycling” SWMD Executive Director David Berger said in a press release. “We’re happy to see the Airport serve as a model for other institutions.”

The program, which aims to divert waste away from landfills, will sell the compost as soil additives.