Minnesota Composting Council Newsletter - February 2026 | | |
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This month brought the start of the legislative session in Minnesota. The US Composting Council hosted its national conference in Sacramento, California. The MNCC scheduled Plate to Garden events, created a Job Opportunities page on the website, and is monitoring updates on compost-related legislation in the State.
Read on for news, upcoming events, job opportunities. Do you have something you'd like to see included in next month's newsletter? Email Addie Morrisette.
| | Proposed changes to Minnesota compostable product labeling law | |
A new bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate on February 23rd proposed changes to the compostable product labeling law. Currently, the law (Minn. Stat. § 325E.046) states that effective Jan. 1, 2026 any product labeled 'compostable' in Minnesota must be certified for compostability by a third-party. The MNCC supported the passage of this law in 2023.
The new bill, SF3838/HF3649, would remove the third-party non-profit compostable product certification requirement and the requirement for the third-party organization to have it’s primary focus of operations around compostable products. These proposed changes will reduce the strength of the compostable product labeling law increasing confusion for customers and increasing contamination for composters. Read the bill's language here. The MNCC will continue to monitor the bill throughout the legislative session.
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Shannon Pinc, an MNCC Board member, was selected to represent retailers of covered materials or a statewide trade association on the Packaging EPR Advisory Board.
The MPCA is currently seeking a new Advisory Board member representing a waste facility that receives and sorts covered materials and transfers them to another facility for reuse, recycling, or composting. Deadline to apply is Monday, March 16. Learn more here.
This month, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released the Preliminary Assessment for the Packaging Waste
and Cost Reduction Act. The Preliminary Assessment includes initial information gathered by the Agency on organics recycling across the State.
| | The Minnesota Composting Council at COMPOST2026 | | Left to right: Dustin Montey (MNCC Board Member, Director of Dakota Prairie Composting), Erin Skelly (Dakota Prairie Compost Operations Manager), Mikala Larsen (City of Hopkins Sustainability Specialist), Addie Morrisette (MN GreenCorps member) | | |
COMPOST 2026, the US Composting Council Conference, was hosted in Sacramento, California from February 2-5. Representatives from Minnesota attended sessions on the latest research, technologies, equipment, and policy in the composting industry.
The conference was an opportunity to connect with national industry leaders and fellow USCC Chapters. Experts shared about their strategies, challenges, and successes.
| MN GreenCorps member Addie Morrisette at the USCC Chapter Soirée. | | | | MNCC Board Chair honored as Solid Waste Administrator of the Year | Minnesota Composting Council Board Chair Marcus Zbinden was presented with the Mike Hanan Solid Waste Administrator of the Year Award. The Award was bestowed by the Solid Waste Administrators Association at their Winter Training on February 25th. | | University Scholarship Applications Open | |
The Compost Research & Education (CREF) is now accepting applications for its 2026 University Scholarship Program. This scholarship supports undergraduate, Master's, and Ph.D. students in the U.S. conducting research in composting or compost use.
Scholarship Benefits:
- $4,000 to support your compost research project
- Invitation to present your findings at the U.S. Composting Council annual conference, COMPOST2027
- Conference registration with associated travel expenses
Deadline for submission is April 15, 2026.
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2026 Plate to Garden Event Schedule
4/23: Dakota Prairie Composting
4/25: City of Hutchinson & Creekside Soils
4/29: Boston Scientific
5/2: Ramsey County
5/6: Boston Scientific
5/8: St. Paul School of Northern Lights
5/9: City of Plymouth
5/13: U.S. Bank
5/13: Boston Scientific - Arden Hills
Interested in scheduling an event? Contact Addie Morrisette. Learn more about the program here.
| | | The MNCC has a new Job Opportunities page on our website. Do you have a job posting to promote? Send it to compostmn@gmail.com. | | |
Hennepin County - Multifamily Recycling Specialist
Hennepin County's Environment and Energy Department is seeking two Multifamily Recycling Specialists to co-lead the Multifamily Recycling Program. These positions will lead the county’s Multifamily Recycling Program and assist with other residential recycling programs. These positions will be primarily responsible for providing outreach, education, and technical assistance to facilitate waste reduction and recycling at multifamily households. These positions support objectives in the county’s Zero Waste and Climate Action plans.
Application deadline: March 6
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Environmental Technician - Resource Renew
Join Resource Renew as a Full-Time Environmental Technician and immerse yourself in a dynamic role that champions sustainability and environmental stewardship. The Environmental Technician is responsible for the operation of the District's Household Hazardous Waste facility, supporting the Regional Hazardous Waste Program and facilitating mobile collection events. This position provides technical leadership in the proper collection, transportation and management of hazardous waste, and serves and supports the public, local businesses, regional programs and the District.
Application deadline: March 15
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Olmsted County compost program accepted into U.S. Composting Council's Standard for Testing Assurance Program | The Olmsted County Environmental Resources department is pleased to announce that the county's compost program has been formally accepted into the U.S. Composting Council's (USCC) Standard for Testing Assurance (STA) program. This designation reflects Olmsted County's commitment to producing a high-quality compost product through rigorous testing, monitoring, and quality control practices. | | | |
Ending Food Waste Within a Generation: Upcoming Project to Expand Compost Use | In September 2025, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), ReFED, WRAP Americas, the Ad Council, the US Composting Council (USCC), and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) formed a coalition to launch a five-year program, “Ending Food Waste Within a Generation,” to reduce wasted food and expand composting in the United States. This program will create systemic change by combining a national media campaign, compost market development, and local community capacity building. | | | | Support Composting in Minnesota | | If you have an article, event, idea, or event you'd like to share, please send your submissions to: Addie Morrisette at amorrisette@carvercountymn.gov. | | Follow MNCC on Social Media | | |
The Minnesota Composting Council is dedicated to the development, expansion,
and promotion of the composting industry based upon sound science,
principles of sustainability, and economic viability.
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The Minnesota Composting Council is the MN State Chapter of the United States Composting Council. The Minnesota Composting Council received its non-profit status from the State of Minnesota in January 2013. It officially became the State Chapter of the United States Composting Council (USCC) in December 2013. | | | | |
