Organics Council

The NYS Organics Council is a community of more than 90 NYSAR3 members, industry professionals, and other community leaders from across NYS committed to the sustainable management of organic materials through food loss reduction, food rescue, composting, anaerobic digestion, the beneficial use of compost, and more. Organics Council members work to increase the adoption of these practices across the State through monthly meetings and multiple working groups that collaborate on activities to increase education and outreach; develop end uses and markets for compost; further food loss reduction efforts; expand organics management infrastructure and technology; and support organics diversion legislation. A main collaborative output of the Council is the planning and facilitation of the annual NYS Organics Summit.

Chair: Jesse Kerns (jekerns@syr.edu)
Program Manager | Syracuse University Center for Sustainable Community Solutions

 

The Annual NYS Organics Summit

One of the main activities of the Organics Council is the coordination and facilitation of an annual NYS Organics Summit. In 2015, council members coordinated the first statewide summit of its kind in Poughkeepsie, NY. More than 100 organics management practitioners and educators attended the event, which focused on developing and strengthening community-based composting. Since then, the summit has grown markedly each year and continues to bring together various stakeholders and support regional strategies for the sustainable management of organic materials. For more information about the next summit, visit: https://www.nysar3.org/page/nys-organics-summit-100.html

 

WORKING GROUPS

Annual NYS Organics Summit: Coordinates this annual event which takes places at the beginning of April in rotating locations throughout the State. In recent years, the summit has attracted more than 200 attendees and has focused on a wide variety of sustainable organics management topics including wasted food reduction, hauling and drop-off collection, compost facility operations, beneficial use, and much more. 

NYS Compost Awareness Week: Organizes educators, community leaders, and other partners across the State to develop materials, communications, and interactive events which promote composting to residents and other community stakeholders. These efforts are conducted in conjunction with the Compost Research and Education Foundation's International Compost Awareness Week

End-Use & Marketing: Facilitates the development of markets of stable organic residuals (e.g., compost) in NYS through promotion of compost labeling, testing standards, beneficial applications, use specifications, and best use practices.    

Food Recovery: Engages multiple sectors in NYS through the development of educational materials and coordination of regional events that aim to reduce wasted food while creating nutritional opportunities for those facing food insecurity.  

Infrastructure & Technology: Supports the development of sustainable organics management infrastructure across NYS through the compilation and distribution of information and resources regarding organics management facilities, equipment, and technology.

Legislative: Promotes the advancement of organics diversion and sustainable organics management policy in NYS by monitoring, supporting, and furthering relevant legislative initiatives.