New grants support US composters process packaging and food waste

The Composting Consortium, an initiative led by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, has launched a new grant programme aimed at supporting the expansion of infrastructure for certified compostable packaging and food scrap processing in the United States.

Developed in collaboration with the US Composting Council (USCC) and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), the scheme invites compost manufacturers and municipalities across the US to apply for funding. The grants are intended to facilitate facility improvements, increase public awareness, and foster market development to enable the inclusion of certified compostable materials.

Funding can be used in several ways, such as offsetting the cost of equipment to manage contamination from traditional plastics, running trials for incorporating compostable packaging, or updating educational materials and signage to help encourage participation and reduce contamination.

The initiative comes at a pivotal time for the US composting sector, with most composting facilities currently only processing yard waste. As consumer demand grows for more comprehensive food waste diversion options, these grants aim to accelerate the sector’s capacity to accept and process food scraps and compostable packaging – supporting a circular economy for organic waste.

Paula Luu, Senior Project Director at Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy and Composting Consortium lead, said: Composting plays a vital role in reducing organic waste in landfills and building healthy soils–but updates are needed to ensure that our composting system can meet the volumes and diversity of materials entering the organics stream today. These grants can provide composters and communities with the resources they need to scale their impact and support zero waste goals.

Applications are open until 13 June 2025, with all funded projects required to be completed by 1 March 2026. Further details, including eligibility requirements and application guidance, can be found on the Closed Loop Partners website.