The Composting Consortium, managed by Closed Loop Partners鈥� Center for the Circular Economy, is launching a grant program in collaboration with the US Composting Council (USCC) and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) to help composters and municipalities expand their ability to process certified compostable packaging and food scraps. Eligible U.S. compost manufacturers and municipalities are invited to apply for funding to support on-site improvements, public education and market development that allow for the inclusion of these materials.
The Consortium鈥檚 grants aim to support financing for crucial upgrades that enable the processing of certified compostable food packaging and food scraps, which reduces packaging and food waste in landfills and supports a circular economy for organics. Funding can be used by composters and municipalities in various ways, such as offsetting the costs of installing new equipment to address contamination from conventional plastics, conducting trials for the inclusion of compostable packaging, or updating signage, stickers and other marketing and outreach materials that clearly communicate the acceptance of certified compostable packaging to help improve participation and reduce contamination.
The grant program is launching at a critical time, as the U.S. composting industry is still in an early stage of accepting food scraps鈥撯�搘ith a majority of facilities only accepting yard trimmings鈥撯�揳nd consumers are increasingly seeking opportunities to divert food waste. Today, approximately 70% of the roughly 200 commercial compost facilities in the U.S. that process food waste also process limited formats of food-contact compostable packaging. Around 45% of curbside food scrap collection programs and 65% of drop-off collection programs allow certain formats of compostable packaging, with the understanding that accepting these materials helps divert more food waste from landfill, where it is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases.
鈥淎s the composting industry continues to grow, ensuring that compost manufacturers have the tools and incentives to successfully accept and process certified compostable packaging and food scraps is crucial,鈥� said Frank Franciosi, Executive Director of the US Composting Council. 鈥淭his funding will help strengthen the circular economy for organics, compostable packaging and our industry.鈥�
鈥淐omposting plays a vital role in reducing organic waste in landfills and building healthy soils鈥撯�揵ut updates are needed to ensure that our composting system can meet the volumes and diversity of materials entering the organics stream today,鈥� said Paula Luu, Senior Project Director at Closed Loop Partners鈥� Center for the Circular Economy and Composting Consortium lead. 鈥淭hese grants can provide composters and communities with the resources they need to scale their impact and support zero waste goals.鈥�
鈥淭hese new grants build on BPI鈥檚 micro-grant program launched last year, which promoted programs that already take compostable products, by providing larger sums that can move the needle by encouraging the development of new or expanded access to programs,鈥� said Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director of the Biodegradable Products Institute. 鈥淧artnering with the Composting Consortium, whether on grants, field testing, contamination studies or consumer testing, aligns with our core mission, and we are excited to continue our collaborative approach to building pathways that are good for business, for people and the planet.鈥�
The grant program builds on the Composting Consortium鈥檚 ongoing work to strengthen composting infrastructure, validate best practices for processing compostable packaging, and advance policies that support the industry. By partnering with composters and municipalities, the Consortium, USCC and BPI seek to close the loop on compostable materials and ensure they, and the food nutrients they carry, are diverted from landfill and processed by composters.
Grant applications are now open, with a submission deadline of June 13th, 2025. All funded projects must be completed by March 1, 2026.
For more information on the grant program, including eligibility criteria for composters and municipalities and application details, please visit .