Webinar – From Policy to Practice: Municipal Compost Purchasing Programs in CA & WA

March 4, 2026 | 1:00–2:30 PM ET | Online Webinar

Municipal compost purchasing policies play a critical role in closing the loop on organic waste, but the way those policies are designed and implemented can dramatically shape real-world outcomes.

This CREF webinar compares municipal compost purchasing requirements in California and Washington, examining how legislative frameworks, local data, and incentive programs influence compost use, market development, and circular economy success. Through real-world case studies, participants will gain insight into what works, what doesn’t, and why policy design matters.

Drawing on experience from StopWaste and the City of Seattle, speakers will explore how long-standing compost market strategies and newer procurement requirements are being implemented on the ground, and how economic incentives can both support and complicate local compost utilization.

What You’ll Learn

Kelly Schoonmaker (StopWaste, Alameda County, CA) will cover:

• An overview of California’s SB 1383 municipal compost purchasing requirements
• How AB 2346 corrected unrealistic purchasing targets
• Alameda County’s use of local waste data to adjust targets and increase local compost use
• StopWaste’s landscape inventory tool as a model for assessing realistic compost market capacity

Kate Kurtz (Seattle Public Utilities) will cover:

• Washington’s organics management laws and Seattle’s approach to municipal compost procurement
• Washington’s farm compost subsidy program, including lessons learned around spreading and delivery costs
• The long-standing Soils for Salmon initiative and compost use requirements in western Washington

Why Attend

This webinar is designed for municipal staff, policymakers, compost producers, sustainability professionals, and anyone interested in how public policy can drive meaningful compost use at scale. Attendees will walk away with practical insights into aligning policy goals with market realities—helping compost purchasing programs succeed in practice, not just on paper.

Webinar Details

• Format: Online (Zoom)
• Recording: This webinar will be recorded and shared with all registrants after the event
• Continuing Education: Eligible for 1 CE credit for Certified Compost Operations Managers™ and Certified Composting Professionals™
  • Attendance verification details will be provided in the follow-up email

Register today to learn how smart policy design, data-driven targets, and incentive programs can strengthen compost markets and advance circular economy outcomes.