Food Cycle Community of Practice (CoP)
The Vermont Farm to Plate Food Cycle CoP is comprised of organizations and individuals committed to building healthy and resilient communities where no one is hungry and no resource is wasted.
In 2016, the Food Cycle CoP worked with Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) to curate and add to resources from Highfields Center for Composting. This collection of resources was rebranded as the “Vermont Composting Library.” In 2025, CAV became the curator of these resources, combining them with other resources already available on this website.
These resources can be accessed by category (below).
About the Food Cycle CoP
This Community of Practice within Vermont’s Farm to Plate Network facilitates conversation and curates resources geared towards helping Vermont meet the aspirational goals outlined in the Vermont Recovery Hierarchy that is embedded in the Universal Recycling Law (Act 148).
Diverting quality food and other organic materials from the landfill will help increase food security, create jobs, reduce fossil fuel dependence, reduce greenhouse gases, protect waterways and soil, sustain local food systems, and build stronger communities.
What is Vermont Act 148?
Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law—known as Act 148—bans the disposal of three major categories of waste commonly found in the trash:
“Blue Bin” recyclables
Leaf and yard debris
Food scraps & food processing residuals (also know as organics)
As part of the passage of Act 148, the Vermont Legislature promotes a Food Recovery Hierarchy of options for diverting organic material such as food and yard debris from the landfill stream. Act 148 encourages businesses and residents to consider this hierarchy when choosing the diversion option that best works for them.
The organics management section of the Law mandates that organic materials be separated by non-organic materials to ensure that clean streams of organic residuals are available for their est and highest use.
Founded in 1999, Highfields’ mission was to close the loop on community-based, sustainable food and agricultural systems, thus addressing soil health, water quality, solid waste, farm viability, and climate change. They researched, educated, and provided technical services for composting and comprehensive food waste recycling programs.
Highfields dissolved in late 2014 and in 2015 all of their IP was transferred to the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF). With guidance from the Food Cycle CoP, VSJF created a website for these resources and added to them in an effort to continue engaging residents, businesses, schools, and haulers. In 2025, stewardship of these resources was passed to the Composting Association of Vermont.