The Composting Consortium launches grant program

The Composting Consortium, managed by New York-based Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, has launched a grant program in collaboration with the US Composting Council (USCC) and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) to help composters and municipalities expand their ability to process certified compostable packaging and food scraps.

The consortium invites eligible U.S. compost manufacturers and municipalities to apply for funding to support on-site improvements, public education and market development that allow for the inclusion of these materials.

According to the Composting Consortium, funding can be used by composters and municipalities in various ways, including offsetting the costs of installing new equipment to address contamination from conventional plastics, conducting trials for the inclusion of compostable packaging and updating signage, stickers and other outreach materials that clearly communicate the acceptance of certified compostable packaging to help improve participation and reduce contamination.

“As the composting industry continues to grow, ensuring that compost manufacturers have the tools and incentives to successfully accept and process certified compostable packaging and food scraps is crucial,” says Frank Franciosi, executive director at USCC. “This funding will help strengthen the circular economy for organics, compostable packaging and our industry.”

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The Composting Consortium says the U.S. composting industry is still in an early stage of accepting food scraps, with many facilities reportedly only accepting yard trimmings.

“Composting plays a vital role in reducing organic waste in landfills and building healthy soils, but updates are needed to ensure that our composting system can meet the volumes and diversity of materials entering the organics stream today,” says Paula Luu, senior project director at Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy and Composting Consortium lead. “These grants can provide composters and communities with the resources they need to scale their impact and support zero waste goals.”

The consortium says the grant program builds on its ongoing work to strengthen composting infrastructure, validate best practices for processing compostable packaging and advance policies that support the industry. By partnering with composters and municipalities, the consortium, USCC and BPI say they seek to ensure compostable materials are diverted from landfills.

“These new grants build on BPI’s micro-grant program launched last year, which promoted programs that already take compostable products, by providing larger sums that can move the needle by encouraging the development of new or expanded access to programs,” BPI Executive Director Rhodes Yepsen says. “Partnering with the Composting Consortium, whether on grants, field testing, contamination studies or consumer testing, aligns with our core mission, and we are excited to continue our collaborative approach to building pathways that are good for business, for people and the planet.”

Grant applications are now open, with a submission deadline of June 13th. All funded projects must be completed by March 1, 2026.