The Local Connection

Frank Franciosi

Governor Phil Murphy is (hopefully) being bombarded with email in his office in the New Jersey, and we can thank one of our newest charter Chapters, the New Jersey Composting Council, for the work.

In a covert late-session move, legislation that was originally designed to incentivize additional food waste composting (A3726 and S1206) was changed to allow food waste to be disposed of in incinerators and landfills. The bill passed in its last-minute form before forces could be mustered against it.

Let's hope that’s not the end of the story. The small but growing and mighty team in New Jersey - the new USCC chapter, just formed in 2018 - is on it. Because of the relationships they have already developed in the state legislature and their keen eye on the bills, the chapter, USCC and other allied organizations have begun a campaign to ask Governor Murphy to veto the bill.

“We’re not optimistic,” said Matt Karmel, an environmental lawyer and board member of the NJCC on the July  Legislative and Environmental Affairs Committee call. But they have heard about letters going to the governor, and at least one meeting on the bill has been scheduled with the governor's office in coming days.

“The campaign is definitely having an effect,” Karmel said. What’s more, they are already plotting their next strategy.

This is why chapters are so important for the U.S. Composting Council. As a national organization, our staff can never be aware of up-to-the-minute legislative and regulatory moves like this. We rely on our members everywhere - but most effectively, the chapters in California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Maryland/D.C., Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, Nebraska and the latest - Ohio - to be our boots on the ground.

Thank you to all of our chapters for the work you do. Who knows what state will step up next?