The Call for VORS 2026 Contributions is open!

20th Annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit

March 25th, 2026

“Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us.”

Submission Deadline: Friday, December 19th, 2025

Are you inspired by the power of compost to nourish soil, strengthen local food systems, and support community resilience? The Composting Association of Vermont invites proposals for panels, roundtable discussions, workshops, and tours for the 2026 Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS), taking place Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub in Montpelier and around the state on Thursday, March 26, and Saturday, March 28.

As communities face challenges ranging from climate disruptions to food access, compost offers a tangible way to rebuild local connections between food, soil, and people. This year’s theme, borrowed from International Compost Awareness Week, is Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds You. This theme celebrates compost as a cornerstone of healthy ecosystems and thriving communities. By returning organic matter and life to the soil, compost closes the loop between food and what we discard, enriching soils, improving water retention, and bolstering nutrient sovereignty and resilience. Whether on farms, in gardens, or at municipal and community scales, compost helps sustain the soil that sustains us all.

We welcome contributions that explore the science, practice, and policy of composting and organics management—including, but not limited to:

VORS brings together farmers, composters, haulers, policymakers, educators, researchers, and community leaders to advance organics recycling and soil health across Vermont. Join us to celebrate the 20th Summit and share your knowledge, experiences, and ideas on how compost can feed both our soils and our future.

Thank you for your interest in the 2026 Vermont Organics Recycling Summit.

Submissions are due by Friday, December 19th, 2025. This is a Call for In-Person Contributions only. All proposals related to the 2026 theme or the additional topics listed below are welcome. More than one proposal may be submitted online or by email to Natasha@CompostingVermont.org. If you have an idea for a contribution and can’t meet this deadline, email Natasha.

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Please fill out this google form or submit a proposal containing the following information by email to Natasha@CompostingVermont.org:

1. Proposed title of your contribution

2. Speaker(s) Name, Affiliation, Address, Email, and Phone Number

3. A three to four sentence biography of speaker(s) / facilitator(s) / host(s)

4. Proposals for the Summit in Montpelier, Wednesday, March 25th

   □ 10-20 minute (panelist)

   □ 60-minute session, workshop, roundtable

   □ 90-minute session, workshop, roundtable

   □ Other:

5. What is the overarching topic for your contribution? (Select no more than three from the above table - feel free to add an “other” topic)

6. Proposals for events on Thursday, March 26th or Saturday, March 28th

   1. Event Type (tour, workshop, demonstration, other)

   2. Location

   3. Preferred date for the event: Thursday, March 26 or Saturday, March 28

   4. Proposed length of event and timing

7. Five sentences describing the presentation, workshop, demonstration, or other

8. If available, email Natasha a sample PowerPoint of the presentation

9. If applicable, are you willing to have the session recorded and a pdf of your presentation posted after the Summit? 

10. Please share any additional information