Bennett’s city-partnered site in Philadelphia can now process compostable materials thanks to grant funding from BPI and the Composting Consortium
PHILADELPHIA, PA — May 19, 2026 — Bennett Compost today announced its new ability to process certified compostable packaging at its city-partnered site in Philadelphia, marking an important milestone in the region’s composting infrastructure. Through this expansion, supported by the Composting Infrastructure Grant funded by Closed Loop Partners’ Composting Consortium in partnership with Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), Bennett Compost can now process an additional 500,000 pounds of food scraps and compostable materials from over 8,500 households and 180 commercial customers across the city. By expanding its range of accepted materials, Bennett Compost is diverting more organic material from landfills while producing nutrient-rich compost resold to the community.
"From day one, our mission has been to make composting simple for all Philadelphians," said Tim Bennett, founder of Bennett Compost. "Being able to include compostable packaging in what we can effectively collect and process furthers that goal."
While the facility's expanded capacity unlocks the potential to process compostable materials from thousands of households and commercial customers, Bennett Compost is taking a phased approach to the rollout. The site will begin with accepting compostable packaging from event customers, which is a high-volume, controlled environment well-suited for piloting the new material stream. From there, Bennett Compost plans to grow acceptance incrementally, building on what works before opening the program more broadly.
The site expansion was made possible by a $15,500 Composting Infrastructure Grant, which funded site infrastructure upgrades at Bennett's Lawncrest facility. Certified compostable products are engineered and scientifically validated to break down in specific composting environments, and Lawncrest is now equipped to process them.
"We take great pride in making high quality compost and soil products used by residents, gardeners and urban farms throughout Philadelphia," continued Bennett. "We were only going to accept compostable packaging if it allowed us to continue to produce a high quality final product, and the protocols we've put in place ensure our standards remain where they've always been."
Bennett Compost's finished compost is available for purchase and used widely across the Philadelphia region. The facility has established clear acceptance criteria to ensure that quality remains unchanged with the addition of certified compostable materials.
“Rigorous certification standards for compostable materials make it possible for more composting facilities to accept these products into their streams,” said Rhodes Yepsen, executive director at BPI. “When composters have confidence that products are tested to break down in real-world conditions, it reduces uncertainty and protects compost quality. That clarity is what allows facilities like Bennett to move from not accepting compostables to integrating them thoughtfully and responsibly.”
Programs like Bennett Compost demonstrate how a combination of local initiatives, clear certification standards, and dedicated funding can help cities divert more organic waste from landfills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and move toward a more circular, sustainable bioeconomy.
About Bennett Compost
Bennett Compost is a Philadelphia-based composting company dedicated to making composting simple and accessible for urban communities. Founded in 2009 by Tim Bennett, the company provides residential and commercial collection services for food scraps, yard trimmings, and compostable packaging, transforming organic material into nutrient-rich compost while supporting a more sustainable local food system. To learn more, visit www.bennettcompost.com.
About BPI
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is North America's leading authority on compostable products and packaging, certifying over 50,000 products from collection bags to food containers. For more than two decades, BPI has given consumers confidence in compostability claims with the backing of science-based standards, while enabling authentically sustainable choices for brands and packagers. BPI champions a systems-wide transition to the circular bioeconomy through rigorous testing, policy advocacy, and industry collaboration, building the infrastructure for "A World Without Organic Waste"—where food scraps and certified compostable packaging become resources. BPI is a non-profit 501(c)(6). To learn more, visit www.bpiworld.org and follow us on LinkedIn.
Media Contact
bpi@launchsquad.com
