21th Annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit
March 24-25, 2027
“From Scraps to Systems: 25 Years of Building Healthy Soils”
Deadline: Friday, December 18th, 2026
What does it take to turn food scraps and other organic materials into resources that build healthy soils, strengthen communities, and support a more resilient future?
The Composting Association of Vermont (CAV) invites proposals for panels, roundtable discussions, presentations, workshops, and tours for the 2027 Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS). This year's event begins with tours and hands-on workshops across Vermont on Wednesday, March 24, followed by the Summit in Montpelier on Thursday, March 25.
As CAV celebrates its 25th anniversary, this year's theme, From Scraps to Systems: 25 Years of Building Healthy Soils, invites us to reflect on how composting and organics recycling have evolved—and where we're headed next. Over the past 25 years, Vermont has made significant strides in recognizing organic materials not as waste, but as valuable resources. What began as individual efforts on farms, in backyards, and within communities has grown into an expanding network of composters, farmers, businesses, educators, municipalities, and advocates working to close the loop between food, soil, and people.
Yet building effective systems takes more than keeping organic materials out of landfills. It requires clean feedstocks, thriving markets for high-quality compost, strong partnerships, supportive policies, and a shared commitment to putting these resources to their highest and best use.
VORS 2027 will celebrate the people, partnerships, and progress that have brought us this far while exploring the innovations, challenges, and opportunities that will shape the next 25 years. We welcome contributions that share practical experience, spark new ideas, strengthen connections, and help build systems that turn local organic resources into lasting benefits for Vermont's soils and communities.
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 21st Summit and share your knowledge, experiences, and ideas on how compost can feed both our soils and our future.
Submissions are due by Friday, December 18th, 2026. This is a Call for In-Person Contributions only. All proposals related to the 2027 theme or the additional topics listed above 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, let Natasha know.
Please fill out this google form or submit a proposal containing the following information by email to Natasha@CompostingVermont.org:
Proposed title of your contribution
Speaker(s) Name, Affiliation, Address, Email, and Phone Number
A three to four sentence biography of speaker(s) / facilitator(s) / host(s)
Proposals for the Summit in Montpelier, Thursday, March 25th
10-20 minute (panelist)
60-minute session, workshop, roundtable
90-minute session, workshop, roundtable
Other:
What is the overarching topic for your contribution? (Select no more than three from the above table - feel free to add an “other” topic)
Proposals for events on Wednesday, March 24th
Event Type (tour, workshop, demonstration, other)
Location
Proposed length of event and timing
Five sentences describing the presentation, workshop, demonstration, or other*
If available, email Natasha a sample PowerPoint of the presentation
If applicable, are you willing to have the session recorded and a pdf of your presentation posted after the Summit?
Please share any additional information
Thank you for your interest in the 2027 Vermont Organics Recycling Summit.
*Presentations that primarily promote for-profit technologies or services are discouraged.
Submissions are due by Friday, December 18th, 2026. This is a Call for In-Person Contributions only. All proposals related to the 2027 theme or topics listed in the table 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.