All things compost at the Vermont Organics Recycling Summit May 1-5

May 3, 2023  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Scrap Food Waste campaign illustration courtesy the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

The 17th annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit happens mostly online May 1-5 with a focus on many facets of composting. 

With the theme “For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food...COMPOST!” the free multi-day event celebrates the value of compost and organics recycling and the many ways they support regenerative agriculture, a healthy environment, communities, and the economy.

Organized by the Composting Association of Vermont and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources the summit gathers people statewide to discuss creative ways to keep organics out of the trash and transform them into valuable products.

“When communities keep food scraps and other organic materials out of the trash, they support green businesses and jobs, reduce the need for landfills, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and produce compost, which has restorative soil properties,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner John Beling.

In the free online and in-person events, attendees can learn about topics such as on-farm composting, organics diversion and maximizing the value of finished compost. A kitchen-to-compost tour is one of two in-person events at Philo Ridge Farm in Charlotte. 

“The summit aims to help Vermonters and regional partners meet the state’s organics diversion, food rescue, and food scrap recycling goals,” said Natasha Duarte, the Director of the Composting Association of Vermont.

The schedule has more than a dozen discussions, presentations and events including a keynote talk by Brenda Platt from the Institute of Local Self-Reliance. One theme is how rethinking food waste can result in more food getting to people for it to be consumed.

“Efforts to keep edible food out of the garbage can also put more food on the tables of families in need,” said Josh Kelly, the Solid Waste Program Manager in the Agency of Natural Resources. “For example, many grocery stores now partner with the Vermont Foodbank to send edible food to people instead of throwing it away.”

The public is invited to attend the summit. Events are free but participants are asked to register online at compostingvermont.org/vors-2023 or contact Natasha Duarte at info@compostingvermont.org or 802-373-6499. 

Find out how to prevent food waste and compost the scraps at ScrapFoodWaste.org.