What if we could keep thousands of tons of food waste out of the landfill—and turn it into something useful for our community instead?
Food waste is the largest single category in Emmet County’s disposal stream, with nearly 10,000 tons generated each year. Residential households account for a significant portion of that waste, making composting, food rescue and food waste reduction important tools for creating a more sustainable local system.
Emmet County Recycling is offering the Master Composter Series as a FREE opportunity for anyone who wants to learn more about composting—from those just getting started to experienced composters ready to deepen their knowledge and share it with others. Explore the science behind successful composting while gaining practical skills you can put to work at home, in the garden and throughout your community.
Start by discovering the science of food scraps and yard waste transformed into rich, healthy compost. Learn what materials belong in a compost system, what conditions help decomposition happen, and how different methods work—including traditional backyard composting, vermicomposting, bokashi, pit and trench composting, and more.
From there, explore the bigger picture of organic material management. Learn how composting can work alongside food rescue and food waste reduction to address the amount of organic material entering the landfill. Dive into soil health, organic matter, compost use and fertility, as well as practical ways to reduce yard trimmings through grasscycling, mulching and reduced-landscaping practices.
Come ready to learn, get your hands dirty and turn your composting knowledge into action!
Join your fellow community members who support the mission to reduce waste, reuse, recycle and properly dispose of materials to preserve the natural beauty of Northern Michigan. Age 16+
To receive your Master Composter certification, 10 volunteer hours must be completed by June 30, 2027. These hours could come from starting a community compost site, neighborhood garden, zero waste event recycling, on farm gleaning, community presentations, tabling events, social media interviews or a pre-approved project.
Noelle Behling joined Emmet County Recycling as Communication & Education Coordinator in 2022. For the ECR program, she manages the website, socials, educational materials, and annual school tours. She blends her knowledge in marketing, customer service experience and passion for recycling to engage her community in sustainable practices. Noelle took charge and learned all things battery recycling in her first year with ECR and began building relationships with community hosts. She is looking forward to what the future holds in technological advancements for battery identification and sorting.
After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2025, Natalie Gibbons began her career with Emmet County Recycling as an intern. Just a few months later, she was brought on full time as Sustainability and Resources Coordinator and has been serving in that role for the past nine months. In her position, Natalie facilitates tote deliveries, coordinates battery recycling, manages data collection, and supports educational outreach efforts alongside Noelle. An avid home composter, Natalie is especially passionate about organics recycling, zero-waste initiatives, and expanding opportunities for reuse.
