The Senate Has Passed the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act

During my time as Executive Director at the USCC and as a previous board member, I have never seen so much activity in the compost advocacy space. Last year, the COMPOST Act was the first time the nation saw a bill dedicated to compost.  The bill did not go on to become law, as not much passed in congress in 2021.
 
As we approach the end of 2022, we have two new opportunities for compost advocacy. The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, HR8059/S3743, was introduced by Rep Joe Neguse of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Bill Foster of Illinois and tasks the EPA with studying and planning a national composting strategy as part of recycling infrastructure. The bills call for data collection, infrastructure quantification, study of compost production best practice, compost use markets and compostable packaging feedstocks, and funding for public education on composting.
 
This legislation will provide greater access to data about the compost industry. The bipartisan companion bill, S3743, was passed by the Senate unanimously on July 28, and it is now up to the House to put it into effect.

Join with nearly 500 other compost advocates, and ask your House Member to support this Bill.

Another opportunity comes with funding in the Farm Bill for compost use in agriculture and other grant programs that will help us grow composting on farms and by rural businesses, many of whom serve urban communities.  The USCC, its board, and the Legislative & Environmental Affairs Committee will work with key stakeholders to incorporate as much funding and language related to compost as possible. Partners in this initiative include the US Composting Infrastructure Coalition (USCIC), Kiss the Ground (Regenerate America), USCC State Chapters, and the Closed Loop Partners. We are also working with regenerative agriculture groups to support the country’s transition to regenerative practices and highlight the contribution compost makes to soil health. In the coming months we will ask the entire compost community to fight for our seat at the table. This advocacy can only happen with support lead by USCC members. 

To see this industry grow over the last two decades has been incredibly heartwarming. We would not be where we are today without the work all in the compost industry have put in. Thank you and keep fighting the good fight.