Category: Organics Diversion

This session highlights Washington, D.C.’s successful expansion of food waste drop-off through smart, app-secured bins and community partnerships. From early farmers market programs to a citywide rollout, the initiative diverted over 80 tons of food waste in four months. Attendees will learn lessons in strategic site selection, program design, and community engagement, offering a replicable… Continue reading DIV.242-Scaling Composting Access Through Smart Tech and Strategic…-AC26.USCC

This session shares Compost Crew’s experience partnering with over 20 local governments in the D.C. area to start or expand residential food scrap composting programs. Case studies highlight diverse program sizes, collection methods, funding models, and lessons learned, offering practical guidance for municipalities and composters to grow local participation and strengthen community composting efforts. The… Continue reading DIV.244-Municipal Composting Programs Come in All Shapes and Sizes-AC26.USCC

This presentation reviews the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s report Keep Compost Local, highlighting how local governments can partner with community composters to advance organics recycling. Based on case studies of 15 U.S. cities and surveys of nearly 200 composters, it offers recommendations on financing, policy, contracting, land access, economic benefits, and social equity to support… Continue reading DIV.243-Synergy between Local Composters and Governments Sows Success-AC26.USCC

This study used life-cycle assessment to evaluate the climate benefits of diverting organic waste from U.S. landfills. Diverting 75% of organic waste—similar to California’s SB 1383 goal—could cut 28 million metric tonnes of CO₂e annually, including 1.1 MMT of methane, while compost application to working lands could sequester 2.82 MMT CO₂e and reduce synthetic fertilizer… Continue reading DIV.241-Organic Waste Diversion Can Substantially Reduce Landfill …-AC26.CREF

This presentation examines California’s regional edible food recovery programs under SB 1383, highlighting successes, challenges, and future opportunities. It explores strategies to support food recovery efforts that divert organics from waste while feeding communities and advancing statewide diversion goals. The content of this course is covered by Copyright and Licensing, Privacy and Terms of Service… Continue reading DIV.240-Finding Solutions for Edible Food Recovery-AC26.USCC

This presentation highlights how rural farms can turn food waste into high-quality compost, improving soil health, reducing synthetic fertilizer use, and supporting local food systems. Insights come from a USDA-funded project with 13 farms in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York, offering technical assistance, training, and a practical on-farm composting toolkit. The approach promotes community… Continue reading DIV.239-Local Farms Local Solutions – The Role of On-Farm Compost…-AC26.USCC

CompostNow addressed the challenge of balancing accessibility and contamination in municipal compost drop-off programs. Their 2024 case study, CompostHere in Durham, North Carolina, features tech-enabled, access-controlled cart housing stations paired with an app. The session highlights program development, station design, and best practices for integrating such systems to make composting more accessible while maintaining low… Continue reading DIV.238-CompostHere – A Tech Forward Approach to Expanding Compost…-AC26.USCC