The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) has submitted a petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging an update to the National Organic Program's (NOP) decades-old definition of compost.
Currently, USDA organic regulations only allow composting of plant and animal material (7CFR205.203), newspapers and other recycled paper (7CFR20.601(©)).
BPI is requesting that the USDA update the compost production standards listed in 7CFR205.203 and the definition of "compost" to refer to composted feedstocks rather than plant and animal materials. These changes will allow organic agriculture to use compost packaging in a compliant manner.
BPI emphasizes the need for USDA to endorse global composting standards, particularly ASTM standards, to coordinate state efforts and facilitate the transition to a circular economy.
BPI, a non-profit organization, submitted the petition at the request of its member organizations, which include commercial composters, municipalities, and manufacturers of compostable products.
BPI's proposed changes support climate-smart agriculture goals, waste diversion initiatives, and emissions reductions. Because food scraps are the number one material in landfills, they produce the powerful greenhouse gas methane.
States such as California and Washington have set goals to divert food scraps from landfills to reduce these emissions and require that disposable packaging be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
One of the biggest obstacles facing the U.S. transition to a circular economy, according to BPI, is the federal government's definition of composting, which conflicts with efforts by states like California to divert food scraps and related food-contaminated packaging.
