The U.S. Composting Council (USCC) is focused on municipalities as the prime actors who can implement/oversee successful food scrap (or adding food scrap to yard waste composting) programs to close infrastructure and accessibility gaps in U.S. composting programs. Their work has heavily involved municipal public works departments, recycling managers, and solid waste and sustainability managers for a good understanding of the obstacles and successes of programs in cities and counties. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: Know about the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) compost grants program for municipalities and be well-prepared to apply for it; take home best practices of a public-private partnership in a composting program; understand the state of municipal composting from USCC's Target Organics program municipal survey and how it has led to municipally target resources—including a template for compost zoning—in the Target Organics Hub.
 
Learning Objectives

After attending this session, participants will be better able to:

  1. Discuss Henderson County's experience applying for and working with a federal grant and successes and challenges executing the program.
  2. Describe how a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) can save money for taxpayers and bring composting to the community even without resources to operate it, through the example of Charleston County, South Carolina. Attendees will also learn how compost can improve municipal parks and increase tourism.
  3. Identify how to expand composting at all scales: using the Target Organics Hub, a U.S. Composting Council (USCC) information site designed for municipalities; and the just-released Model Zoning Template for municipalities who need to add compost facility zoning.

Contributor/Source

Frank Franciosi;Kate Sullivan;Gary Gittere;Christine Wittmeier

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