Grants awarded to support compostable packaging recovery in the U.S.

Eight projects led by municipalities and composting facilities across the United States have been awarded funding to advance the recovery of compostable packaging and food waste.

The grants were announced by the Composting Consortium, which is managed by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy. The initiative is supported by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and the US Composting Council (USCC), with the aim of expanding composting infrastructure, access and regional processing capacity.

The selected projects include a mix of municipal programmes to increase composting access and education, alongside upgrades at composting facilities designed to handle more food scraps and certified compostable packaging. The organisations involved say the work comes at a critical time, as industry and consumer demand for alternatives to disposal continues to grow.

Covering regions from California to Maryland, the projects are expected to provide models that can be scaled to improve recovery of compostable packaging while engaging local communities in food waste diversion.

Kate Daly, Managing Partner and Head of Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, said: The deployment of these grant dollars is a critical part of Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy’s broader work to develop local circular systems. Our partnership with BPI and USCC on this inaugural grant program showcases the power of industry leadership and collaboration to deliver outsized impact, accelerate infrastructure upgrades, and advance food waste and compostable packaging diversion goals.

Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director of BPI, commented: This grant program is more than just funding. It’s about building a foundation for a circular bioeconomy that works in practice and eventually at scale. Each project helps fulfill the value proposition of compostable packaging, transforming food scraps and food-contact compostables from everyday waste into a valuable soil amendment, creating good green jobs, and fostering resilient, thriving communities.

Details of the eight funded projects are available here.