Washington, D.C.―  Bloom was honored last night with the 2024 Canopy Award for Sustainability from Casey Trees, a D.C. nonprofit organization founded to help protect the city’s valuable tree canopy. 

Held in recognition and celebration of Arbor Day, the Canopy Awards — now in its 10^th year — recognize the vital role trees play in our nation’s capital and the people and organizations that are working to restore, enhance, and protect DC’s tree canopy. Bloom was one of five honorees at the awards ceremony, which was held at DC Water’s headquarters office in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood in Washington, D.C.

Bloom, DC Water’s EPA certified Class A Exceptional Quality biosolids product, is used in a number of applications around the DMV, including helping to restore urban soil which, in turn, helps to protect DC’s tree canopy.

The tree canopy is the layer of leaves, branches, and tree stems that covers the ground when viewed from above. Research shows that the current average tree canopy for D.C. is 37 percent, down from 50 percent in 1950.

“Many people don’t realize the vital role a city’s tree canopy plays in both environmental and human health,” said environmental engineer Chris Peot, DC Water’s director of the Department of Resource Recovery and president of Blue Drop, which markets Bloom. “It is an honor to receive this award and to be recognized for the important role Bloom plays in helping to restore, enhance, and protect the city’s tree canopy.”

“When we looked for an organization to honor with our 2024 Sustainability Award, Bloom was a natural choice,” said Casey Trees Executive Director, Mark Buscaino. “We plant over 6,000 trees every year, often in compacted and depleted urban soils. We sometimes have to supplement those soils with organic matter and nutrients so the trees can survive and thrive — and Bloom is just the ticket.”

“As a third-generation Washingtonian, I’ve long been a strong advocate for federal support of DC’s tree canopy,” said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the Casey Trees 2024 Leadership Award recipient. “Early on I recognized how important trees are not only to the beauty of our city but also to the health of its residents. I am truly grateful that DC Water and Bloom share my commitment to protecting the city’s tree canopy for our current and future residents and are doing so by making an environmentally friendly product that benefits us all.”

For more information about the Canopy Awards, visit https://caseytrees.org/canopy-awards/canopy-awards-2024.

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About Bloom
Bloom is a slow-release fertilizer and soil amendment made from EPA-certified Class A Exceptional Quality biosolids manufactured at DC Water’s Blue Plains, the world’s largest advanced wastewater treatment plant. With benefits similar to compost, Bloom provides essential plant nutrients, including slow-release nitrogen, and organic matter, key to building healthy soil. For more information, visit Bloomsoil.com and view the video produced by Casey Trees for the event here.