COMPOST Act

The COMPOST Act (HR 651) makes composting a recognized conservation practice under federal farm programs, directly affecting farmers, local governments, and community organizations. It creates a new $200 million annual grant and loan program (2024-2033) to fund projects like composting facility construction, food waste collection systems, and onsite composting programs. Priority is given to projects serving low-income communities, supporting minority-owned businesses, and using distributed infrastructure (e.g., home, farm, or community-scale composting). The bill requires projects to demonstrate waste processing capacity, high-quality compost production, and environmental justice considerations.