The COMPOST Act: Federal Programs Will Now Fund Farmers for Turning Organic Waste into Soil Health

The new Cultivating Organic Matter through the Promotion Of Sustainable Techniques Act—or the COMPOST Act—is pretty straightforward: it officially makes composting an approved, recognized conservation practice under federal farm law. This isn't just bureaucratic housekeeping; it unlocks serious funding and technical support for farmers who want to turn organic waste into high-quality soil.

The Dirt on Conservation Funding

What this bill does is upgrade composting to a first-class ticket in federal conservation programs. Specifically, the Secretary of Agriculture must now create rules that classify composting as both a “conservation practice” and a “conservation activity” under the Food Security Act of 1985 (Sec. 2). Why does this matter? Because it means composting efforts are now eligible for financial and technical assistance through huge programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). If you’re a farmer, this change means you can potentially get federal help to fund the equipment, labor, and know-how needed to start a serious composting operation.

Where the Waste Comes From

The bill defines composting broadly: it can use organic waste grown right there on the farm, or it can use waste brought in from a “nearby community.” The finished compost then has to be actively managed and used on the farm to improve soil health and water retention. This is a big deal for waste management. It creates a formal pathway for farms to partner with cities and towns to divert food scraps and yard waste from landfills.

The Climate Catch: Emissions Must Drop

There’s a crucial environmental requirement built into the bill, and it’s where the details matter. The Secretary of Agriculture, working with the EPA, has to define what a “nearby community” is. Here’s the catch: when they set these rules, they must ensure that the process of trucking organic waste from that community to the farm for composting results in a net decrease in greenhouse gas emissions overall (Sec. 2).

This provision is smart because it prevents farms from setting up composting operations that rely on long-haul trucking, which could negate the environmental benefits. It forces the program to prioritize local, efficient material loops. For a farmer considering sourcing waste from a town 100 miles away, they'll need to prove that the emissions saved by not putting that waste in a landfill—plus the carbon sequestration benefits of the finished compost—outweigh the emissions from the diesel used to haul it. If they can’t meet that net decrease, they won't qualify for the federal assistance.

What This Means for Everyday Life

For farmers, this is an opportunity to improve their land quality cheaply and diversify their operations. Healthier soil holds more water, which is critical during droughts. For the rest of us, this bill indirectly supports better local waste management and helps reduce the climate footprint of our food system. If your local municipality is struggling with organic waste, this could open the door for a farm partnership that gets those food scraps out of the trash and into the soil, all supported by federal standards and funding.