By Maria Rachal, Waste Dive
- Composting, packaging and circular economy-oriented organizations and trade groups have formed the U.S. Composting Infrastructure Coalition to advocate for expanding and increasing access to “robust programs that divert food waste, yard trimmings, and certified compostable packaging.”
- The group’s initial push is to advocate for national funding programs that support a range of composting infrastructure projects. A federal bill in the works would provide approximately $200 million across a decade for grants and low-interest loans for such projects, say leaders of the newly formed coalition.
- The coalition — which includes the National Waste & Recycling Association and US Composting Council, among others — says the Biden administration’s enthusiasm for climate change mitigation strategies, environmental justice action, and investing in infrastructure makes now a particularly apt time for such a push.
The coalition’s spectrum of stakeholders say composting can positively impact rural and urban communities alike, while also benefiting both the economy and the environment. The coalition also makes the point that by diverting materials from landfills or incinerators, the U.S. can mitigate the disproportionate impact those facilities have on low-income or communities of color.
Frank Franciosi, executive director of the US Composting Council, said the coalition has been in the works for the past year. People want to compost their food scraps and compostable packaging, and “there’s just not enough infrastructure, period,” he said.
The coalition, first announced last week, consists of seven groups: the US Composting Council, Plant Based Products Council, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Biodegradable Products Institute, Foodservice Packaging Institute, National Waste & Recycling Association and Corn Refiners Association.
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