The U.S. Composting Infrastructure Coalition brings together a cross-section of industry leaders to promote increased investment in composting infrastructure
May 5, 2021 – Today, stakeholders from the organics recycling and sustainable materials communities launched the U.S. Composting Infrastructure Coalition to support innovative and responsible waste reduction and recovery solutions like composting. The Coalition believes composting serves as an opportunity to address key environmental challenges and deliver positive economic impacts to people and communities.
The Coalition advocates for policies, legislation, and other measures to expand composting programs and increase access to robust programs that divert food waste, yard trimmings, and certified compostable packaging. Founding Coalition Members and Advisors include:
Members: U.S. Composting Council, Plant Based Products Council, Institute for Local Self Reliance, Biodegradable Products Institute, Foodservice Packaging Institute, National Waste & Recycling Association, Corn Refiners Association
Advisors: Natural Resources Defense Council, Closed Loop Partners, ReFED, American Public Works Association, U.S. Green Building Council TRUE, GreenBlue Sustainable Packaging Coalition
“Food waste is consistently the number one material ending up landfills in the U.S., where it generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas, while simultaneously robbing our soils of the valuable carbon and humus needed for healthy ecosystems and resilient communities,” says Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director of the Biodegradable Products Institute. “This new coalition of associations was formed to work together to accelerate the development of composting infrastructure, such as by promoting federal grant and loan programs."
Investment in composting infrastructure will benefit the economy, the environment, and rural and urban communities. Increased access to composting serves as a cost-saving measure to divert food scraps and other organic materials away from landfilling and incineration, which predominantly impact low-income communities and especially communities of color. Composting also helps address our climate crisis by diverting organic matter from landfills, where it creates significant methane emissions. Compost benefits soil health and green infrastructure through improving water retention, among other benefits. Community scale composting helps foster neighborhood green spaces and supports local jobs and local, healthy food production.
“There is an immediate, significant need for robust investment into composting infrastructure,” said Frank Franciosi, U.S. Composting Infrastructure Coalition spokesperson. “Investing in composting infrastructure will bring a number of environmental and economic benefits to local communities and to our nation as a whole. The U.S. Composting Infrastructure Coalition looks forward to finding more innovative and responsible ways to address organic waste concerns.”
Learn more about the USCIC at https://compostinfrastructure.com/
