The Compost Research & Education Foundation (CREF) announces that they have been selected as a grant awardee through ReFED’s “Minimizing Methane Through Food Waste Solutions” initiative. The grant will support CREF’s ongoing effort to modernize the Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost (TMECC), the industry’s foundational compost testing manual. By strengthening testing methods for contaminants of increasing concern, including PFAS, plastics, and pathogens, this work will help improve consistency, transparency, and confidence in compost products across the industry.
“Updating national compost testing standards takes coordinated scientific work, laboratory input, and stakeholder review. ReFED’s support will allow CREF to provide much-needed updates to the TMECC to maintain its relevance and status as a unifying reference for laboratories.” said Shelby Hoglund, Ph.D., TMECC Program Manager.
Michele L. Francis, Ph.D., TMECC Associate Program Manager, added: “The ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund gives TMECC the resources to create clear and comparable test methods to ensure that compost producers, laboratories, regulators, and the public are confident in the safety of compost products.”
ReFED’s investment reflects the important role that composting plays in reducing methane emissions and advancing food scrap solutions. Keeping wasted food and other organic materials out of landfills prevents the generation of methane while transforming those materials into valuable compost that improves soil health, supports water resilience, and returns nutrients to the land.
As food scrap diversion programs continue to expand nationwide, reliable and standardized testing methods are critical for ensuring compost quality, informing policy and regulation, and supporting the responsible growth of composting infrastructure. Through this grant, ReFED is helping strengthen the foundation needed to scale food scrap recycling and maximize its environmental benefits.
“ReFED is leading the way by funding TMECC’s crucial research into pathogens, plastics, and PFAS in compost. This work is helping the future of waste management progress by expanding food waste composting, compost manufacturing, and compost use.” shared Charles D. Duprey, President & Founder of Naturcycle LLC and Vice Chair of CREF.