Compost Research & Education Foundation

09/29/2026

Thank you to everyone who has entered the ICAW poster and bookmark contests so far – we are loving seeing the submitted art. {This could be your design featured at events across the world next year!😍}

As a reminder, the annual contests are open now. Submit your designs until midnight EST on October 22, 2026! Visit the Compost Research & Education Foundation website for contest entry forms and guidelines.
> Poster Contest: Open to all ages 14 through adult. The winning design will be distributed and displayed nationally to promote the ICAW 2027 campaign.
> Bookmark Contest: Open to youth ages 10 - 13. The winning bookmark will be printed and shared as part of ICAW celebrations.
https://compostfoundation.org/icaw-poster-contest/

09/28/2026

What’s in our compost? How can we measure it reliably?

Our TMECC team (Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost) is introducing a new testing method to help the composting community better understand PFAS in compost and related organic materials.

PFAS are a large group of long-lasting chemicals found in many everyday products. Because they can enter discarded food, packaging, wastewater, and other materials, they may also make their way into composting and organics-recycling systems.

Reliable testing helps compost producers, researchers, and communities understand where PFAS may be coming from and make better-informed decisions.

This new method is an important step toward clearer data and practical solutions that protect healthy soils while supporting the environmental benefits of composting. Thank you to ReFED for your support.

Purdue University

08/21/2026

Now Open: 2027 International Compost Awareness Week Poster and Bookmark Contests! The 2027 theme is "All Paths Lead to Compost!" and ties directly to the UNSD Goal #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. It recognizes the essential role that innovation and investment play in creating a thriving circular bio-economy at both the local and global levels.

- Poster Contest: Open to all ages 14 through adult. The winning design will be distributed and displayed nationally to promote the ICAW 2027 campaign!

- Bookmark Contest: Open to youth ages 10 - 13. The winning bookmark will be printed and shared as part of ICAW celebrations.

Contests are open now! Deadline for submissions: October 22, 2026. Visit our website for contest entry forms and guidelines: https://compostfoundation.org/icaw-poster-contest/

07/17/2026

Just a few days left on Early Bird pricing for the Raleigh COTC! Come learn from North Carolina's industry experts on compost production, use, and marketing. Sign up by July 20th to save $100.

Learn more and register: https://compostfoundation.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/compostfoundation/event.jsp?event=49&

Scholarships are also available covering half of the registration fee!
- Apply by July 20 for the Cary Oshins Scholarship (click here: https://compostfoundation.org/cary-oshins-scholarship/)
- Apply by August 1 for the NC Composting Council's scholarship (click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUcmX5f0z_sNCdgqkWL1UQAk3nvkS_g2KmcyydFsI_-fkSQQ/viewform)

07/08/2026

Just over a week left to get $100 off Raleigh COTC registration with Early Bird pricing! Join us August 31 - September 4.

Learn more and register by July 20 to save! https://compostfoundation.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/compostfoundation/event.jsp?event=49&

06/03/2026

Join us on June 11 at 1:00 pm for Grow, Eat, Compost, Repeat: A Deep Dive Into Circular Farming With Compost. This webinar will feature leaders from compost manufacturing and agriculture industries as they share real-world examples of how compost supports local circular economies. ♻️🪱

Drawing from case studies in Washington state, we'll discuss practical considerations for developing successful compost/agricultural partnerships, implementing farm-based compost systems, and using compost to address on-farm environmental challenges such as stormwater runoff.

$19 for USCC members, $29 for non-members. This webinar will be recorded and made available to all registrants in a follow-up email. Hold your spot: https://bit.ly/4uRZaHZ

Thanks to our speakers from Cedar Grove, Natural Selection Farms, and Sound Sustainable Farms!

05/21/2026

We’re excited to share that we’ve been selected as a ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund grantee for its “Minimizing Methane Through Food Waste Solutions” open call!

Reducing food loss and waste is one of the most powerful levers to cut emissions. Landfills alone account for roughly 14% of total methane emissions in the U.S., and it’s estimated that 58% of landfill methane comes from food waste. CREF tackling that challenge head-on by modernizing the nation’s compost testing standards to strengthen compost quality, improve measurement methodologies, and help build greater trust and scalability across the composting industry. Thus, supporting the larger effort to keep food waste out of landfills and wastewater systems and, instead, transform it into valuable products and resources that support a more circular and resilient food system.

Learn more in the press release https://refed.org/articles/refed-announces-2m-in-grants-to-nine-organizations-tackling-methane-through-its-catalytic-grant-fund/.

A data-driven guide for businesses, government, funders, and nonprofits to collectively reduce food waste at scale. Together, we can reduce U.S. food waste by 50% by 2030.

04/30/2026

Compost is more than recycling, it’s how we rebuild the very soil that sustains life.

The official press release for International Compost Awareness Week 2026 is here, and this year’s theme says it all: “Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us.”

Healthy soil grows our food, filters our water, and supports entire ecosystems, but it’s also one of our most threatened resources. Composting is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to restore it.

Join us May 3-9 as communities around the world come together to celebrate composting and take action for a more sustainable future.

Read more:
https://compostfoundation.org/press-release-icaw-2026-compost-feed-the-soil-that-feeds-us/

03/31/2026

Join us for a FREE webinar this Thursday to learn how compostable products perform in real-world composting environments:
💧 How moisture, oxygen, and temperature affect disintegration
🔎 Key updates to field testing methods
👋 Opportunities to engage with the Compostable Field Testing Program

Can't make it to the live webinar? Register to receive the recording link!

Learn more & register here 👉 https://compostfoundation.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/compostfoundation/event.jsp?event=29&

03/26/2026

Communities across the U.S. and around the world are getting ready to celebrate the power of compost.
This year’s theme, “Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us,” highlights how compost supports healthy soils, stronger food systems, and more sustainable communities. From local events and educational programs to inspiring student artwork featured in this year’s poster and bookmark, ICAW continues to grow as a global movement.

CREF is proud to provide tools, resources, and support to help individuals and organizations bring compost education to life, including event listings, toolkits, and promotional materials.

Read the full article and find out how to get involved: https://compostfoundation.org/international-compost-awareness-week-2026-is-almost-here/

Whether you're hosting an event, attending one, or just getting started, there’s a place for everyone in ICAW 2026.