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 From the Top of the Pile
Linda Norris-Waldt, Executive Director
I'm not sure whether this expression comes from camping or the military (I suspect the latter, since a former colonel on the Frederick County commissioners used to use this term all the time), but the “tallest pole in the tent” generally means the driver of the topic at hand—the most important part of the project, or, to use another cliché, the “bottom line” when it comes to the critical essence of a problem or topic.
For compost infrastructure development, the true economic driver of the expansion of composting is quality compost. This is the assumed, often unspoken term behind all discussions of contamination, pricing, and highest and best use (the difference between compost and digestate, compost and fertilizer, etc.). For a reminder of the many benefits of compost, see the 2025 revamp of USCC's ever-popular Benefits of Composting white paper (the most downloaded resource on our website!).
Even the audience at the Improving the Circularity of Compost and Compostables Denver meeting of 2024 was on board with this; an audience of about 35% composters/65% packaging industry allies voted for the project proposing a toolkit of resources and policies as the #1 needed project out of about 14 projects to be executed.*
USCC NEWS
The USCC proudly celebrated outstanding achievements in the composting industry during its Annual Awards Ceremony at COMPOST2026. Recognizing leaders, innovators, and dedicated contributors to the advancement of composting and compost use, this event highlighted the industry’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Click below to read about the recipients and the awards presented during the ceremony!
The US Composting Council (USCC) has released a new member resource designed to help composters more effectively engage capital providers and to secure financing to open, expand, or upgrade composting facilities: the draft Bank Loan Kit.
The USCC Bank Loan Kit provides standardized, practical tools that translate the composting business model into language familiar to investors and lenders. The kit was developed as part of the Corporate Compost Leadership Council (CCLC) work plan and responds directly to financing challenges identified by composters over the past several years.
From February 2-5, the USCC hosted its 34th Annual Conference and Trade Show, COMPOST2026, in Sacramento, California. The event brought over 1,500 members of the composting industry into the heart of the Golden State to connect, learn, innovate, and celebrate the hard work and great strides that the industry has made in the past year.
The conference commenced on Monday, Feb. 2, with seven workshops and a multi-site tour offering attendees invaluable insights into the world of composting. The day ended with the USCC’s Annual Members' Meeting, where staff and committee leaders reported on the organization’s work and progress over the past year, followed by a ribbon cutting to open the conference in the Trade Show Hall. Over the course of the following two days, more than 94 speakers delivered presentations across 27 sessions, covering a diverse range of topics and featuring both prominent and emerging voices in the field.
This year, the USCC’s Composting for All Committee hosted its most successful and wide-reaching scholarship program to date. The Committee provided a record-breaking 29 scholarships of up to $1,500 to aid in the costs of registration, travel, and lodging, chosen from 155 applications—also a record number for the program.
Composting for All has hosted the annual conference scholarship program since 2022. In its first year, the program provided two individuals with registration scholarships. The scholarships have grown steadily each year in both the number of scholarships and the amount of funding provided. In 2025, the Committee provided 10 scholarships of up to $1,000, showing the significant growth that happened in 2026.
The USCC values your feedback, and we use it to improve our annual COMPOST Conference. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts and experiences by completing our post-conference survey. Whether you attended enlightening workshops, forged new connections, or explored the latest advancements in compost manufacturing and utilization, your input is instrumental in enhancing our programs and events. If you attended COMPOST2026, you can access the post-attendance survey from the email you received on Tuesday, Feb 10, around 1:30 pm EST. 
ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY BRIEFS
The USCC State Chapters are the heroes of compost industry advocacy at the state level. To support the Chapters and the incredibly important work they do in advocacy and beyond, the COMPOST2026 program featured a day-long Chapter Track, which brought together leaders from across all 17 State Chapters to connect, share best practices, exchange ideas, and have fun!
Planning and moderating for the Chapter Track were undertaken by the Chapter Advisory Committee (CAC). Kate Sullivan, Chair of the Chapter Advisory Committee, and Gary Bilbro, CAC Member, kept the day’s events running smoothly as session moderators. Their leadership was crucial, and the USCC appreciates all of the time that they commit to assisting and supporting our State Chapters through their efforts on the CAC. The USCC would also like to thank the other members of the CAC for their great work on behalf of the Chapters: Benjamin Krumstock, Leo Beckerman, and Elly Ventura.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Couldn’t make it to COMPOST2026? Or maybe you were there but couldn’t make it to that one session you had your eyes on? The conference program recordings are here to help! This year’s program featured nearly 94 speakers with over 500 years of composting experience. Have that expertise at your fingertips with the COMPOST2026 recordings!
You can purchase the full suite of conference presentations, complete with speaker slides, on the USCC website.
COMPOST USE
In September 2025, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), ReFED, WRAP Americas, the Ad Council, the US Composting Council (USCC), and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) formed a coalition to launch a five-year program, “Ending Food Waste Within a Generation,” to reduce wasted food and expand composting in the United States. This program will create systemic change by combining a national media campaign, compost market development, and local community capacity building.
The Challenge: Food loss and waste is a major economic, environmental, and social challenge in the U.S. Food loss and waste (FLW) strains waste systems and undermines food security. Click below to learn more about this exciting project!
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
We are thrilled to highlight Aidan Ciavarra as February’s YP of the Month! Aidan currently runs her own community-focused composting business called Earthbound Compost.
Aidan got her start in composting through a compost co-op in DC, which sparked her passion for community-led waste diversion. That experience led Aidan to CompostNow, where she spent nearly two years supporting residential composting services for 10,000+ customers across four states.
After leaving CompostNow, Aidan completed the Sankofa Central Virginia Urban Farm Fellowship in Richmond, getting hands-on experience with composting systems and urban agriculture.
Are you a passionate young professional looking to connect with like-minded individuals in the composting industry? Look no further! We invite you to join our vibrant and engaging Slack community.
By joining our Slack, you'll have the opportunity to:
It's easy to get started! Simply click the button below to join our Slack community and start connecting with fellow Young Professionals today. MEMBER NEWS
USCC Member Fertile Ground Cooperative is partnering with the Oklahoma City Zoo on a unique initiative to expand composting participation in the city. For the remainder of 2026, OKC residents participating in Fertile Ground’s composting program will receive one point for every pound of food scrap they divert. After earning 20 points, residents will receive a free admission ticket to the zoo. Residents can earn up to six tickets throughout 2026.
The OKC Zoo has been composting its organic waste, including food waste, plant trimmings, and animal waste, with Fertile Ground since 2025. In that time they’ve diverted more than 10,000 pounds of food waste and more than 880,000 pounds of herbivore waste.
USCC Member BioCycle, a trusted and long-running publication for the organics recycling industry, has announced a new chapter for the organization that includes a shift in leadership. Nora Goldstein, who has been at BioCycle's helm for nearly five decades, is taking a step back; Paula Luu will serve as Managing Director of BioCycle, leading both BioCycle Media and BioCycle Consulting. Nora will remain on as BioCycle's Editorial Chairperson and Principal.
BioCycle began as Compost Science, an offshoot of Organic Gardening and Farming magazine, launched by Goldstein’s father, Jerome (Jerry) Goldstein, in 1960.
OC Waste and Recycling (OCRA) and Agromin, two USCC members, are partnering to expand composting and compost use across Orange County, CA. OCRA operates three compost facilities that process organic waste from Ocean County residents and produce STA-Certified Compost. Through this new partnership, Agromin Corporation, California’s largest organics recycler, will connect OCRA with new markets for their end-use compost, including farms, parks, and landscaping. Click below to learn more about this exciting public-private partnership.
We want to welcome these new members to the US Composting Council!
City of Grand Rapids—Grand Rapids, MI Busy Bee Compost—Plymouth, WI Greenway—Winter Garden, FL T. Mims Corp.—Lakeland, FL Verdemex—Jalisco, MX North Hills Recycling—Granada Hills, CA Pyronexus—Fort Worth, TX Mosaic Color & Additives—Greenville, SC SOILBUILDER'S BLOG
Before heading to Sacramento for COMPOST2026, USCC executive director Linda Norris-Waldt visited USCC Member Cakebread Wines, an award-winning winery in Napa Valley that utilizes composting and compost as integral parts of its operations. Click below to read about Linda’s visit to Cakebread Wines, where she learned how the winery is using compost to help build healthy soils (and produce delicious wine) in the Napa Valley!
RFPS AND PROPOSALS
From David Shaw, Finger Lake Times
With the impending closure of its landfill in 2029, Ontario County, NY, is seeking new waste management solutions. The county is taking proposals for use of the closed landfill, as well as RFPs for an organics management plan with a focus on food waste. The county has a $60,000 grant for seeking and implementing food waste recycling solutions.
OPPORTUNITIES, JOBS AND GRANTS
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has approximately $10 million available to support organics management infrastructure projects across the state that will expand infrastructure capacity for composting source-separated organic materials in Minnesota with a focus on wasted food and food scraps. Projects that will result in the expansion of wasted food and food scraps composting infrastructure capacity in Minnesota may apply through April 15, 2026. Click below for more information.
TOOLS & RESOURCES
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) has released a new report entitled Keep Compost Local: A Roadmap for Local Governments to Build Community Prosperity with Composting. The report offers “case studies, survey data, and policy recommendations to equip governments to collaborate with local composters and foster community prosperity.” The report can serve local governments looking to manage waste materials in a way that turns them into resources for local communities. Click below to download the report!
Compost Research & Education Foundation News
CREF was proud to be part of USCC’s COMPOST2026 conference—one of the year’s most impactful gatherings focused on advancing organics recycling, soil health, and sustainable practices. Our team was excited to connect with so many members of the compost community to share updates from our organization.
Click below to read about some of CREF's favorite moments from the conference!
The COMPOST2026 conference was meaningful in so many ways, but one of the highlights for CREF was the strong show of support for our 2026 research project: Compost-Based Water Conservation Solutions. Now, we're looking to you to keep the momentum going!
On March 4, CREF will host From Policy to Practice: Municipal Compost Purchasing Programs in California and Washington. This webinar will compare municipal compost purchasing requirements under California’s SB 1383 and Washington’s Organics Management Laws, drawing on real-world examples from StopWaste (Alameda County, CA) and the City of Seattle. Speakers will share lessons learned from policy implementation, data-driven planning tools, and incentive programs that influence local compost use and circular economy outcomes.
Click below for additional details and webinar registration. We hope you’ll join us!
This March, CREF will host our milestone 60th Compost Operations Training Course (COTC) in Griffin, GA, taking place March 16-20, 2026.
For over two decades, the COTC has been the leading training program for compost professionals nationwide. This comprehensive week-long course combines in-depth classroom instruction with hands-on learning, including compost pile building, monitoring, facility tours, and troubleshooting exercises.
IN THE HEADLINES
Jacob Wallace, WasteDive
A recent report from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) calculates food waste as one-fifth of the State’s waste in 2024. Partially funded by an EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant, the report identified 900,000 tons of food waste sent to landfills in 2024. Using this data, the report recommends multiple solutions for reducing food waste sent to landfills, including bolstering food rescue programs and supporting growing composting infrastructure with streamlined siting, zoning, and permitting laws.
Daniel Farr, Aloha State Daily
Honolulu will begin a food scrap composting pilot program on April 1, 2026. Six communities in the city were selected to begin placing food waste into their organic waste bins, previously used only for yard waste. The pilot, named Green Recycling Organic Waste, or GROW, by O’ahu’s Department of Environmental Services, is expected to expand to cover the whole island of O’ahu later this year.
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