By Cole Rosengren, Managing Editor, Waste Dive
The Composting Consortium, in partnership with the U.S. Composting Council and Biodegradable Products Institute, is starting a grant program to increase the recovery of food-contact compostable packaging.
Grant awards can be as high as $50,000, though the total funding availability was not disclosed. Applications are open through June 13, and all projects must be completed by March 1, 2026.
This is the latest move by the Composting Consortium, which is managed by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, to bolster and scale organics recycling infrastructure.
While compostable packaging is viewed as a way to increase overall food scrap recovery volumes, its acceptance and value in the system elicits a range of opinions. Some composters have welcomed it, while others cite concerns about how the material breaks down and whether it invites non-compostable plastics.
The consortium’s new grant program aims to help composters, local government and nonprofits fund on-site equipment improvements, public education, testing and market development related to packaging.
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