Model Composting Policy Library

Composting, particularly when done at the local level, provides a host of proven environmental, economic, and social benefits. Beyond diverting wasted food from landfills and incinerators, composting combats climate change, rebuilds soils, creates green jobs, and more. Governments and advocates seeking to facilitate the rapid expansion of composting have a multitude of policy tools at their disposal. Developing clear facility permitting pathways and updating zoning rules can reduce barriers to entry for community composting. The inclusion of composting in healthy soils policies can also be effective. From simple home composting incentives to compost procurement policies, from funding via waste surcharges to universal recycling requirements, policies that support local composting take all shapes and sizes. 

Below you’ll find existing model composting policies at the local, state, and federal levels, along with policymaking tools and resources within the topics. 

ILSR’s Composting for Community map reflects some of the state and local policies featured in this Policy Library. 

State & Local Policy

Organics Diversion and Recovery

Zoning and Permitting

Infrastructure, Funding, and Capacity

Soil Health

End Markets for Compost

Other Policy Adjacent Resources

Federal Policy