Compost use mandate passes Legislature

A bill that requires compost use by cities was significantly amended as it worked its way through the lawmaking process. It now contains one mandate with several off-ramps.

HB 2713 originally proposed two new mandates: that cities use compost in any project where compost could be used, and that cities that provide a residential organics collection program enter into a purchasing agreement to buy back 50% of the finished compost.

The version of the bill as passed removed several significant mandates for cities.

HB 2713 now only requires that if compost can be used in a government-funded project, the local government must use compost products unless:

1. Compost products are not available in a reasonable period of time;
2. Compost products that are available do not comply with existing purchasing standards;
3. Compost products that are available do not comply with federal or state health and safety standards; or
4. Compost product purchase price is not reasonable or competitive for the specific market.

Any local government that provides residential organics collection service is further encouraged to contract with its organics processor to buy back finished compost products that are equal to 50% of the amount of organic materials the city delivered to the processor. Notably, “amount” is not defined.

The bill also creates a three-year compost-use reimbursement pilot program with local farms to close the loop on composted food waste, restore soils, and reduce chemical fertilizers.