USCC Adds New Resources to Chapters and Advocacy Programs

In our member survey, advocacy – the Legislative and Environmental Affairs Committee, lobbying and support letters for state and federal legislation, monitoring of regulation concerning compostable packaging, persistent herbicides and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – tops the list as the main reason members join the USCC.

Advocacy

In our every-other-year member survey, advocacy – the Legislative and Environmental Affairs Committee, lobbying and support letters for state and federal legislation, monitoring of regulation concerning compostable packaging, persistent herbicides and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – tops the list as the main reason members join the USCC. To answer this need, the USCC is devoting an additional staff time to this program. Linda Norris-Waldt will transition from her marketing and membership role to take on the legislative and policy work for USCC, while associate director Cary Oshins focuses on the environmental affairs issues such as persistent herbicides. They partnered, for example, on the Persistent Herbicides campaign underway now (see Top of the Pile article) to develop the technical and grassroots outreach strategy while new marketing communications manager Eric Hudiburg deployed the tactical tools.

"This grouping of resources is intended to advance compost manufacturing in proactive ways,” said Executive Director Frank Franciosi. He said three major items on the agenda for the coming year include a member-engaged project to define member needs and perspectives around how advocacy can help them in their states; selecting legislative tracking/grassroots action software to increase USCC members’ awareness and impact on legislation and policy; and expansion of USCC’s website. Another part of the advocacy program is committee work on the Model Zoning Ordinances and an update of the state Model Rule Template concluding this year as part of the Target Organics Project. Target Organics is focused on developing resources to help municipalities take the lead in closing infrastructure gaps (also known as "compost deserts”) in parts of the US.

Chapter Relations

USCC has grown from four chapters in 2014 to 12 chapters this year; to accommodate that explosive growth, USCC "paused” new chapters to take six months to study a sustainable Chapter Relations Program that will carry USCC through the next decade. The USCC hired a consultant, Wendy Scott, to interview, analyze and recommend the best way to move forward with the program (seven states have indicated interest in forming chapters in the next two years!). Her recommendations are just being released to the Membership Committee and Board of Directors this month, and the new plan will be launched with the chapters and membership in September. Norris-Waldt will head up the Chapters Program, which was logical because chapters accomplish much of the advocacy for the industry.

"The USCC Board and staff are excited about this new capacity,” Franciosi said. "This is something our members have been waiting for, and we are excited that their support and the support of our industry allies have made this possible.”