US Composting Council welcomes new Florida chapter

US Composting Council (USCC) members from the state of Florida have affiliated with the US Composting Council as an official chapter to promote the compost manufacturing industry.

The Florida Composting Council (FLCC) has been organized by a group of USCC members working in the consulting, non-profit, public education and legal fields. These members are working toward a more robust organics and food waste recycling industry in the state. Officially, FLCC becomes a chapter through the affiliation of Recycle Florida Today (RFT), Florida’s state recycling organization and the premier association educating recycling and environmental professionals throughout Florida from the public, private and non-profit sectors. 

“It was only natural to become a partner and share resources to expand the use of organics and, of course, the benefits for the overall environment are tremendous,” says Carmen Bruno, operations manager for the Hernando County Solid Waste Department and RFT chair.

USCC Executive Director Frank Franciosi says he’s pleased to welcome the Florida chapter to the national Raleigh, North Carolina, organization.

“The USCC—and the compost industry—is most effective in states where a local and organized industry group is at the table,” Franciosi says, adding that RFT has “long nurtured the organics industry through its organics committee.”

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FLCC, which is seeking Florida members, will educate state regulators, local officials and the public about the importance of the compost manufacturing industry to local waste management programs, jobs and business development. It also will promote the benefits of compost in commercial and residential landscaping, and for stormwater management, erosion control and green infrastructure. The FLCC and USCC will jointly take positions on regulations and legislation that affect the industry and the market for compost in the state. 

“We are excited about the Florida Composting Council Chapter and USCC affiliation to help lead Florida’s efforts in advocacy, education and member training for the goal of advancing composting and organics recycling in the state of Florida,” RFT Executive Director Heather Armstrong says.

Chris Snow, vice president of corporate operations for Sarasota, Florida-based Veransa Inc., says composting is particularly important in Florida as a leading agricultural producer.

“It makes sense that Florida would put an increased emphasis on large-scale composting to reuse organic matter that holds water better than manufactured, chemical fertilizers, has the beneficial microbes that support plant growth and supports climate change initiatives,” says Snow, who also serves as RFT board treasurer and co-chair of the organics recycling committee.

The Florida chapter becomes the fifteenth chapter of the USCC.

California, Minnesota, Colorado, Virginia, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and North Carolina all have USCC Chapters, and a committee is operating in the Maryland-DC region.