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 From the Top of the Pile
Frank Franciosi
Executive Director
As I reflect on the past nine years with this organization and more than 30 years in this industry, I feel a deep sense of pride, gratitude and optimism for the future. I started this conference by talking about family.
I have been a member of this organization since the 1990s. Back then, there were very few learning resources that supported this industry: just a handful of university-run composting schools and BioCycle Magazine. Composting was a totally new process for me to learn. My formal education was in plant and soil science, so I was able to grasp the concept pretty quickly, but learning the ins and outs of the business came with experience and leaning on the mentors I met in this organization. Attending this conference is where I developed a pipeline to industry information and made lifelong friendships. This is my “composting family.”
I accepted this position of your executive director knowing that this would be my legacy job, and I went about every day with the attitude that I was going to make a difference. We faced significant challenges at first. Financial instability and stagnant membership growth painted a picture that needed reimagining. Together, we rolled up our sleeves, embraced change and turned those challenges into opportunities. Through reorganizing, investing in our incredible staff and expanding our programs, we rebuilt a foundation that is not only stable but thriving. Today, we can proudly look at a growing membership, a dynamic team and an organization poised to make an even greater impact.
This transformation wasn’t my doing alone. It was a collective effort fueled by the dedication, creativity and passion of the people I’ve had the privilege to work with.
To my staff, you are the heart of this organization. Your drive and resilience have been truly inspiring. Thank you for believing in the vision and giving your all to make it a reality. To the board of directors, both past and present, thank you for your unwavering support in following our strategic planning goals.
To my colleagues and peers in the industry, your collaboration and camaraderie have shaped me both professionally and personally. The partnerships we’ve built and the progress we’ve made together will always hold a special place in my heart.
To my wife and family, thank you for your unwavering support through the long hours and countless challenges. Kim, you’ve been my greatest partner, and I’m excited to spend more time with you as we embark on this next chapter together.
After almost a decade of service to the USCC as executive director, Frank Franciosi steps down. The USCC Board of Directors, members, and staff would like to thank Frank for his dedication and recognize he is much more than just his service to the industry.
In addition to a roast from former board member Ron Alexander, this video premiered at COMPOST2025 at the closing ceremonies where we recognized Frank for his contributions to the industry. Click the button below to watch.
USCC NEWS
The US Composting Council proudly celebrated outstanding achievements in the composting industry during its Annual Awards Ceremony at COMPOST2025. Recognizing leaders, innovators and dedicated contributors to the advancement of composting, this event highlighted the industry’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Awardees are nominated by peers and honored each year at the US Composting Council's Annual Conference and Tradeshow. The USCC is proud of the outstanding efforts of this year’s group of distinguished awardees. Click the button below to learn about our award recipients.
The US Composting Council concluded COMPOST2025, its 33rd annual conference, with a remarkable turnout, boasting record attendance with more than 1,550 registrants. The conference commenced with the USCC's annual members meeting, setting the stage for an engaging and informative event. Attendees were treated to seven workshops and a multi-site tour, offering invaluable insights into the world of composting. During the course of two days, speakers delivered presentations across 27 sessions, covering a diverse range of topics and featuring both prominent and emerging voices in the field. The exhibit hall emerged as a hub of activity, drawing in a crowd eager to explore the latest products and services. Meanwhile, the annual awards ceremony honored 12 deserving recipients with prestigious USCC awards, highlighting the industry's unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. Demo Day at the City of Phoenix Compost Facility held more than 700 in attendance, featuring 41 pieces of equipment demonstrating the latest advancements in composting technology. The success of this year's conference stands as a testament to the growing significance and impact of composting in our world. The US Composting Council thanks volunteers, attendees, speakers, moderators, sponsors, and exhibitors who collectively made COMPOST2025 a reality.
We're happy to announce our prize winners for those who completed the Throughput Study survey before Jan. 14 at 5 p.m.
The USCC values your feedback, and we use it to improve our annual COMPOST Conference, Trade Show, and Demo Day. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts and experiences by completing our post-conference survey. Whether you attended enlightening workshops, forged new connections, or explored the latest advancements in compost manufacturing and utilization, your input is instrumental in enhancing our programs and events. Access the post-attendance survey from the email you received on Thursday, Jan. 30 around 6:30 p.m. ET. The winner from our COMPOST2025 Exhibit Hall Game was Lydia Gibson from KC Can Compost! This year’s winner will receive a 10th generation iPad. Congratulations to Lydia, and thanks to everyone who participated in our second iteration of the conference exhibit hall game! Thank you to everyone to came to Phoenix to give us our biggest conference yet! We hope to see you at COMPOST2026 in Sacramento, CA, and break more records with us! 
ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY BRIEFS
The North American Industry Classification System is used for everything: from determining a composter's stormwater permits to insurance rates and is used by regulators, adjusters, banks, investors and other businesses – and the more onerous the code, the more difficult and expensive things are for the industry. USCC succeeded in lobbying for an industry code in 2022 for composting, but we are still under the overall category for chemical manufacturing – which we continue to point out is not our method of processing.
NAICS is open for comment for changes in 2027, and the compost industry would like to be removed from Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing – home of fertilizers – to Biobased Products, a new category that has been discussed for the past decade.
Will you lend your voice to help us persuade the Economic Classification Policy Committee that this would help our industry to flourish? Personal stories in your comments are especially impactful!
On Jan. 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) for public comment. The draft risk assessment reflects the agency’s latest scientific understanding of the potential risks to human health and the environment posed by the presence of PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge that is land applied as a soil conditioner or fertilizer on agricultural, forested, and other lands, surface disposed, or incinerated. The draft risk assessment is being released for a 60-day public comment period, which will begin upon publication of the draft risk assessment in the Federal Register. The EPA is accepting written comments from the public on the draft risk assessment from Jan. 15 through March 17, 2025.
Inspired by CMA’s vision of continuous improvement through whole systems engagement, and with the support of anchor organizations the USCC and Foodservice Packaging Institute, more than 110 organizations gathered in September for a three-day strategic planning event using the Future Search model of large group engagement. The outcome of the recent cross-functional strategic planning event in Denver is moving forward with activation and steering committee engagement. If you want to reconnect or join any of the initiative work groups, click the button below to follow the project's LinkedIn page for more information.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Get the chance to watch and listen to recorded sessions at COMPOST2025 by purchasing our Conference Recordings Package! Get access to our speakers' presentations, including their presentation slides by clicking the button below.
Stay tuned for individual recordings on our Compost University™ website soon.
STATE CHAPTER NEWS
The Arizona Composting Council and Minnesota Composting Council took home – or never left home in AZCC's case – their first-ever Chapter Awards at the 2024 USCC Annual Awards Ceremony.
The MNCC earned the esteemed Chapter of Excellence Award for demonstrating outstanding achievements in composting advocacy and operations. Evaluated against criteria set by the USCC’s Chapter Relations and Nominations Committee, their accomplishments reflect excellence in leadership, education, and community engagement. MNCC secured a $935,000 USEPA grant in 2024 to create an Organics Recycling Toolkit aimed at boosting participation and reducing contamination in residential organics recycling programs. Their work in market leadership, policy advocacy, and research underscores their impact on the composting industry. The AZCC received the State Chapter Rookie of the Year Award, recognizing their stellar efforts as a newly formed chapter within the past five years. The Arizona Chapter’s innovative approaches and commitment to growth earned them this distinction. Competing through a pitch and Q&A process designed by the USCC Chapter Advisory Committee, the Arizona Chapter’s innovative approaches and commitment to growth earned them this notable distinction.
To learn more about the AZCC and MNCC and our other state chapters, click the button below.
On Monday, Jan. 27, the Arizona Composting Council hosted a COMPOST2025 kickoff mixer on sustainability leadership, inviting local composting advocates and conference attendees to network and connect with each other over drinks and hors d'oeuvres. In attendance were AZCC leadership and Arizona State Representative Junelle Cavero.
To learn more about AZCC, click the button below.
Explore opportunities in compost and connect with Michigan organics professionals to level up organics recycling in Michigan! Join the USCC's Michigan state chapter the Michigan Organics Council and the Michigan Recycling Coalition in Lansing on Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., ET, to learn about key issues surrounding organics management in the state. This full-day event brings together large and small compost operations and municipalities from around the state to move Michigan to a more circular economy.
Click the button below to learn more and register.
This half-day training coordinated by the Florida Composting Council will take place on May 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET at the Sunshine Organics & Compost facility in Jacksonville, FL.
Hear from speakers Monica Hampton, Ph.D., and Sunshine Organics & Compost owners Michael and Christina Kelcourse. Click the button below to see the full agenda and register.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Just joining the industry, looking to break into the compost industry or interested in finding a different path? March’s YP Happy Hour is perfect for you! Join the USCC Young Professionals Group for its second happy hour of the year on March 6 at 5 p.m., focusing on Careers in Composting!
Date: March 6, 2025
Time: 5 p.m., ET
For the most up-to-date event details and to RSVP, please visit the USCC Community Calendar by clicking the button below.
The USCC Young Professionals Group is proud to announce the winners of the Emerging Composter Challenge from this year’s COMPOST2025 Conference and Trade Show in Phoenix! A highlight for conference attendees and early-career compost professionals, the ECC showcased creative solutions aimed at advancing the compost industry. After an inspiring round of presentations and a final pitch session before a panel of industry experts, we are thrilled to announce this year’s top three winners!
Click the button below to read about our three winners and watch their pitches.
Congratulations to Lauren Click, our YP Community Service Chair, on being selected as this year’s USCC Young Professional of the Year! Lauren Click was recognized with this honor at the Closing Celebration and Annual Awards segment of COMPOST2025, only a few days after organizing and spearheading a record-breaking YP Community Service Event at the annual conference!
For more information Lauren’s amazing background and award, click the button below.
On the first day of COMPOST2025, a record-breaking 40 people joined the YP Community Service Committee to volunteer at the Garfield Community Center in Phoenix. Volunteers pulled invasive grass from the garden beds to prepare for a bulk compost donation from WeCare Denali in the next few weeks for spring gardening. After getting their hands dirty, the volunteers networked during a zero-waste lunch from the Wok This Way food truck, sponsored by Denali. Thank you to all those who participated, the YP Community Service Committee for planning such a great event, Garfield Community Center for allowing us to come to your space and lend a hand, and Denali for their support and sponsorship! Missed this year’s event at COMPOST2025? Keep an eye out for it at COMPOST2026 in Sacramento, CA!
We are thrilled to highlight Hannah Huber (she/her) as February’s YP of the Month. Hannah currently is a master's student at Colorado State University studying systems engineering!
Hannah’s experience in the compost world began when she was an undergraduate studying ecosystem science and sustainability at Colorado State University. To fulfill her internship requirement for her degree, she began working as a compost technician at Compost Queen, the local curbside food scrap composting service in the Northern Colorado area.
Click the button below to learn more about Hannah.
Are you a passionate young professional looking to connect with like-minded individuals in the composting industry? Look no further! We invite you to join our vibrant and engaging Slack community.
By joining our Slack, you'll have the opportunity to:
It's easy to get started! Simply click the button below to join our Slack community and start connecting with fellow Young Professionals today.
MEMBER NEWS
USCC board member Pierce Louis will be a panelist for the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s webinar “Tackling Contamination at Composting Sites,” taking place on Feb. 25 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. ET.
In the first of a three-part webinar series, three experts will share practical strategies for reducing contamination at composting sites that process food scraps.
Click the button below to learn more and register today.
CBI® proudly introduces the all-new CBI 5900T, a next-generation horizontal grinder designed to set new standards in efficiency, power and durability. As the first model in the 5900 series, this machine blends the best of both worlds: incorporating proven features from the trusted CBI 6800 and 5800 grinders while introducing innovative upgrades for superior material processing.
“The 5900T represents CBI’s commitment to continuous innovation in the grinding industry,” said George Wilcox, sales & marketing director at CBI. “By integrating the most effective elements of our flagship models and introducing new features, we’ve created a machine that delivers power, efficiency and reliability.”
Click the button below to read the full article.
Denali, the nation’s leading recycler of organics, announced that ReCirculate – its compost product made from unconsumed food sourced from thousands of grocery stores – is available for purchase at more than 100 Walmart locations across eight Southern states. Packaged in one-cubic-foot bags, ReCirculate will be available in more than 600 Walmart stores nationwide by April, just in time for the height of the spring planting season.
Denali partners with retailers, like Walmart, to leverage its unsalable food with Denali’s innovative depackaging technology, separating organic food from its packaging and transforming it into a clean stream of materials that are then converted into useful products such as compost, soil, fertilizer and renewable energy. This process streamlines the depackaging process for retailers while keeping unsold food out of landfills.
Viably has announced its new role as an authorized distributor for Diamond Z grinders across California, Arizona and Nevada. This significant expansion strengthens Viably’s product portfolio, offering commercial wood waste recyclers, composting facilities, land clearing companies and organic waste recyclers access to some of the most reliable grinding solutions in the world.
“This partnership and product expansion underscores Viably’s commitment to providing a complete suite of solutions for our customers in the waste and recycling industry,” said Brandon Lapsys, president at Viably. “By distributing Diamond Z grinders, we’re ensuring our customers have access to even more of the best equipment on the market, enhancing their efficiency and operational success.”
Quantum Organics, a pioneer in end-to-end organics management based in Southington, CT, has joined Circular Services, the nation’s largest private recycling and circular economy services provider and a Closed Loop Partners company. Quantum brings deep expertise and cutting-edge solutions for recycling food and green waste to Circular Services’ national footprint of best-in-class material recovery facilities.
With the longest continuously operating anaerobic digestor in North America and large-scale composting, Circular Services’ new operations in the Northeast provide end-to-end organic waste services: product de-packaging and destruction, mobile grinding and chipping, and organics transportation and processing. Complementing its focus on circularity, the business turns organic materials into consumer products, including electricity and bagged compost, mulch and soil.
Creekside Soils, a municipal composting facility run by the city of Hutchinson, MN, recently commissioned a new Covered Aerated Static Pile composting facility to increase capacity and processing efficiency of its food waste diversion and composting program. Creekside Soils is an enterprise fund for the City of Hutchinson. The City has operated a city-wide curbside Source-Separated Organics Materials diversion program since 2001, making it one of the oldest SSOM diversion programs in Minnesota.
Creekside also composts yard wastes in turned windrows along with producing landscape mulches from received wood wastes, producing widely popular bagged soil and mulch products sold across a 14-state area. Since 2001, 4,000-plus single-family households in the municipality have been able to dispose of food waste and yard waste for year-round weekly curbside collection. The compostable material is delivered to CreekSide where it is now composted in the recently constructed six-zone Covered Aerated Static Pile composting system designed and commissioned by Green Mountain Technologies, with annual capacity to process up to 1,500 tons of material.
OPPORTUNITIES, JOBS AND GRANTS
We are seeking an experienced advocacy and public policy professional to join our team. The public policy director will be responsible for managing all grassroots advocacy, legislative tracking, policy direction and advocacy activities.
Some of the key responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
CREF NEWS
CREF’s next webinar, taking place March 6 at 1 p.m. ET, will focus on the challenge that excessive compost overs can create for compost operators and how biochar can provide a potential solution. The webinar will discuss how excess compost overs can burden compost operators; basics of biochar production and considerations for creating it from compost overs; and possibilities for co-composting with biochar. These topics will be presented from a composter’s perspective but can provide insight for anyone looking to better understand the impact of excess overs on compost operations, or the principles of biochar production and use.
Featured speakers include Tim O'Neill, David Drinkard and Brendan Harrison, Ph.D. You can learn more about this webinar and sign up by clicking the button below.
Join CREF March 5 at 2 p.m. ET for the ICAW Online Volunteer Coordinator Training Webinar. This 75-minute webinar is open to anyone interested in International Compost Awareness Week and will feature expert insights from Merlanne Rampale (SWALCO), Kat Polk (NCCC) and Lisa Brewer (Fertile Ground). Learn how you can get involved, support volunteer initiatives and celebrate ICAW through community engagement. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired – register now to secure your spot.
Click the link below to learn more about being an ICAW Volunteer Coordinator.
Click the button below to register for the webinar.
As part of the festivities concluding the USCC’s annual conference in Phoenix, CREF awarded four contributors who have been vital to the success of the organization and its programs over the years:
Even with the conference now past, the CREF team wants to extend our sincere gratitude to those mentioned above, who have generously contributed their time, passion and funding to further the Foundation’s mission. IN THE HEADLINES
Lauren Petersen & County of Nevada, YubaNet.com
NEVADA CITY, Calif., Feb. 8, 2025 — A county in Northeastern California is seeing significant change following the state’s organic waste mandate known as Senate Bill 1383.
Since Jan. 6, more than 1,000 tons of organic waste have been disposed of by customers of WM, formerly known as Waste Management. To comply with SB 1383, WM customers now must separate food scraps from household trash for curbside pickup. Residents without curbside pickup must separate their food scraps and yard trimmings for self-hauling to the local McCourtney Road Transfer Station or compost at home.
John Franchi, KSTU – FOX 13
Photo by Olivia Hutcherson on Unsplash
PARK CITY, Utah, Feb. 7, 2025 — The Park City Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to coordinating philanthropic efforts for the greater Park City area, is working to divert food scraps from the Summit County Landfill.
The PCCF began its Zero Food Waste Program in June 2024, with the goal of diverting all of Park City’s food scraps by the year 2030. Through the program, residents can request a compost bin, which is picked up and transported to be converted in natural gas or compost. The PCCF estimates that 18.1 tons of methane has been eliminated since the program’s start.
MONTPELIER, Vt., Jan. 16, 2025 — Every five years, Vermont law requires the Agency of Natural Resources to update this plan. The 2024 Vermont Materials Management Plan will serve as a guide for the Agency’s and municipalities’ waste management-related actions from 2025 through 2029.
The DEC Solid Waste Management Program, through the Plan, outlines annual requirements for both the State and Vermont’s municipal Solid Waste Districts, alliances and independent towns that take responsibility for local or regional waste management.
Upcoming Events
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