THE COMPOST CAPITALIST
FEBRUARY #2026
Community-Scale Composting as a Compliance Strategy
Earlier this month, I attended COMPOST 2026, hosted by the US Composting Council.
This conference brings together regulators, compost operators, scientists, and policy leaders from across the United States and internationally. For California jurisdictions, the most relevant discussions centered on SB 1383 implementation, procurement compliance, and scalable partnership models.
During the conference, I met directly with staff from StopWaste and CalRecycle to clarify how community-scale composting aligns with procurement reporting requirements.
The consistent guidance was clear:
Community-scale composting can support procurement compliance when structured properly, documented accurately, and aligned with statutory pathways such as AB 2346.
10% procurement credit for investment in community composting
AB 2346: The 10% Direct Service Investment Pathway
Under SB 1383, jurisdictions must annually procure recovered organic waste products.
AB 2346 allows up to 10 percent of that procurement target to be met through direct service investments that expand organics recycling capacity.
Community-scale composting sites qualify when structured appropriately.
This creates a practical pathway:
• A city invests locally in organics processing capacity
• That investment counts toward 10 percent of its procurement obligation
• Compost produced may contribute toward remaining procurement requirements when applied in compliance with reporting rules
For example:
A jurisdiction with a 1,500-ton procurement obligation may allocate the equivalent of 150 tons through AB 2346 direct service investment.
When paired with on-site compost use, total impact can represent 15–20 percent of procurement compliance.
SB 279: Expanded Space for Community Composting
SB 279 expanded operational allowances for community composting in California, creating clearer regulatory space for distributed sites.
Discussions at COMPOST 2026 reinforced that distributed compost infrastructure is increasingly being viewed as complementary to large-scale facilities when structured with compliance in mind.
Community composting is not a replacement for regional infrastructure.
It is a strategic supplement.
A Practical Model for Cities
Community composting sites can be located on:
• School campuses
• Faith-based organization property
• City-owned land
• Community gardens
When properly structured, these sites can:
• Process source-separated organics locally
• Produce finished compost for municipal application
• Support edible food recovery partnerships
• Provide workforce development opportunities
• Reduce hauling distances
• Keep procurement dollars circulating locally
The objective is straightforward:
Small enough to remain community-scale.
Large enough to support measurable procurement impact.
National Context: Composting Is Expanding
At the Community Composting Forum, one theme stood out. Composting policy is expanding beyond diversion and into broader infrastructure conversations.
Human composting, also known as Natural Organic Reduction, is now legal in 12 U.S. states, including California. This signals that composting continues to gain regulatory recognition across multiple sectors.
For municipalities, this broader shift reinforces that composting infrastructure is evolving. Distributed systems are increasingly part of the conversation.
The decision is yours
Confusing, jargon-packed, and time-consuming. Or quick, direct, and actually enjoyable.
Easy choice.
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Active Conversations in the Coachella Valley
We are currently in discussions with two cities in the Coachella Valley to explore establishing community composting sites that:
• Support SB 1383 procurement compliance
• Utilize AB 2346 direct service investment
• Maintain documentation integrity
• Produce usable compost for municipal application
These discussions are focused on pilot-scale implementation with replicable reporting structure.
Invitation to Collaborate
If your jurisdiction is:
• Evaluating AB 2346 strategies
• Seeking cost-efficient procurement solutions
• Interested in distributed compost infrastructure
• Exploring public-private compost partnerships
I welcome a structured conversation.
Community-scale composting, when aligned with statute and reporting requirements, can serve as a compliance tool.
If you would like to evaluate whether this model supports your 2026–2027 procurement planning, reply to this email and we can chat.