On November 18th, RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts hosted the 2025 Community-Scale Composting Models and Implementation Webinar. This no-cost webinar, conducted in collaboration with speaker James McSweeney of Compost Technical Services and The 131° School of Composting, focused on the tools needed to evaluate, plan, and execute sustainable composting models at the community scale. We were also joined by guest speakers Janice McPhillips and Jon Belber of Holly Hill Farm, who shared their experiences from the field. 

We were grateful to have compost operators of all sizes and scales from around the state in attendance, as well as representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Participants heard inspiring stories from James’ work with community composters and gained insight into the operations of community composting. James illustrated both the challenges and the creativity that define successful community-scale operations. James walked the attendees through the components of community composting facilities and shed light on the economic models that help these programs.

Slide from James McSweeny’s presentation.

Janice and Jon brought these concepts to life by recounting their own experience of receiving James’ expertise through RecyclingWorks’ Compost Site Technical Assistance. To conclude, RecyclingWorks outlined what the compost site technical assistance process entails and announced an updated scope of work designed to further support and promote community compost operations in Massachusetts.

Thank you to the composting professionals from across the state who were able to join this event!

Aerated Static Pile (ASP) composting set-up at Holly Hill Farm.

If you missed our webinar, we have got you covered.  

• Here is the link to the recording of the webinar.
• The presentation and slides are now available on our Compost Site Technical Assistance webpage underneath the subheader: Compost Site Operator Workshops.

Did you know that RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts offers no-cost Compost Site Technical Assistance to support food waste composting infrastructure in Massachusetts?

RecyclingWorks can assist composting facilities in Massachusetts that are:  

• An agricultural, municipal, or private facility that currently engages in composting materials, including food material, and would like to implement operational improvements or expand the operation.   

• An agricultural, municipal, or private facility that currently does not engage in any composting but would like to begin composting, including accepting food material.  

• An agricultural, municipal, or private facility that currently engages in leaf and yard waste composting and would like to begin composting food material.  

• A business or institution that would like to begin composting food waste on-site.  

Note: Sites need to be permitted through MassDEP or MDAR or in the process of obtaining a permit in order to receive RecyclingWorks assistance. Please see the Compost Site TA webpage for additional information and contact RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts with any questions: 888-254-5525 or info@recyclingworksma.com.