Beyond Policy: The Operational Reality of Recycling Infrastructure

Compost is heavy. So is the impact of food waste rotting in a landfill. Both are worth carrying.

In this episode of Change Cycle, Christine Yeager starts with two cubic yards of finished compost dumped in her Colorado backyard and turns it into a field guide for the circular economy. The same dynamics that played out on her native grass and in her raised bed are playing out in organics policy, city budgets, and compost facility permitting across the country. In 2026, organics is finally having its day in the sun through policy and city actions addressing landfill diversion, curbside composting, anaerobic digestion, soil amendment, soil health, methane, and many other organics-related legislation and ordinances.

The through-line is a hard truth about system change towards the circular economy: some soils you can just spread compost on, and others need years of nurturing first. Mandates without composting infrastructure produce methane and political backlash, not diversion. We close with practical steps to bring composting into your day-to-day and push your city for real organics infrastructure.

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