Coalition to advocate for composting investments

Six trade groups and non-governmental organizations tied to organics recycling have formed the United States Composting Infrastructure Coalition. The new Washington-based coalitions says it will “support innovative and responsible waste reduction and recovery solutions like composting.”

Members of the new coalition are the U.S. Composting Council, the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), the Plant Based Products Council, the Institute for Local Self Reliance, the Biodegradable Products Institute, the Foodservice Packaging Institute and Corn Refiners Association.

Signing up as advisors to the new group are the Natural Resources Defense Council, Closed Loop Partners, ReFED,  theAmerican Public Works Association, the U.S. Green Building Council TRUE and the GreenBlue Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

“The Coalition believes composting serves as an opportunity to address key environmental challenges and deliver positive economic impacts to people and communities,” states the U.S. Composting Infrastructure Coalition.

Among its intended activities are to advocate 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.”

“There is an immediate, significant need for robust investment into composting infrastructure,” says 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.”

 Increased access to composting serves as a cost-saving measure to divert food scraps and other organic materials away from landfilling and incineration, says the new group. “Composting also helps address our climate crisis by diverting organic matter from landfills, where it creates significant methane emissions,” states the U.S. Composting Infrastructure Coalition.