Midwest Compost Training School

Tues Sept 15, 2026-Thurs Sept 17, 2026

The Midwest Compost Training School, organized by compost professionals from Illinois and Wisconsin, is a comprehensive, educational and hands-on training program for compost facility staff and composting professionals.

Those attending will gain knowledge, experience, and skills that will help build successful and robust composting operations that increase soil health, reduce waste in landfills and create healthier and more vibrant communities. You will learn about commercial-scale compost production, recipe development, pile building, monitoring, along with other related topics. You will also have an opportunity to learn about equipment along with visual demonstrations.

Register: $450/State Chapter Members $550/Non Members
Become a Sponsor: Silver, Black Gold and Platinum Levels
INDOOR CLASSROOM: Wauconda Township Office
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM: Midwest Organics Recycling
USCC’s Professional Certification Program Details

 PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE: SPEAKER BIOS COMING SOON! 

    DAY 1: TUES Sept 15, 2026

    (7:30AM – 2:30PM INDOOR CLASSROOM)

    7:30 AM  CHECK IN | REGISTRATION

    8:00 AM  Welcome + Introduction + Course Overview

    8:30 AM  Compost Process Overview

    9:45 AM  BREAK

    10:00 AM  Feedstock + Recipe Development

    11:00 AM  Process Variables + Composting Systems

    12:00 AM  LUNCH

    1:00 PM  Process Monitoring + Field Tracking

    1:45 PM  Recipe Calculator Use + Small Group Breakouts

    (2:30PM – 5:00 PM OUTDOOR CLASSROOM)

    2:30 PM  Field Exercise

    5:00 PM  ADJOURN

     

     

    DAY 2: Wed Sept 16, 2026

    (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM USE OF BOTH INDOOR CLASSROOM + OUTDOOR CLASSROOM)

    8:30 AM CHECK IN – Field Piles

    9:30 AM Compost Testing Standards

    10:15 AM BREAK

    10:30 AM Q&A SESSION

    11:00 AM Compost Maturity Testing

    12:00 PM LUNCH

    1:00 PM Odor Management Techniques

    1:45 PM Permit Management

    2:30 PM BREAK

    2:45 PM Testing + Temperatures

    3:30 PM Operations Specifics

    5:00 PM ADJOURN

    DAY 3: THURS SEPT 17, 2026

    (8:30 AM – 9:00 AM OUTDOOR CLASSROOM)

    8:30 AM CHECK IN –Field Piles

    (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM INDOOR CLASSROOM)

    9:00 AM Pile Performance Debrief

    9:45 AM Finished Product Marketing

    11:00 AM Fundamentals of Food Composting + Working With Source Separated Organics

    12:00 PM LUNCH

    1:00 PM Virtual Equipment Demo

    3:00 PM TBD

    3:30 PM Testing

    5:00 PM CLOSING PROGRAM + ADJOURN

    Who Should Attend Midwest Compost Training School?

    Compost facility staff, commercial composters and composting professionals at all experience levels.

    Anyone interested in learning more about composting on the medium to large scale, whether for a municipality, a farm, or community garden is an ideal student for this training!

    Benefits of Attending Midwest Compost Training School

    • Develop knowledge, skills and experience to build successful composting operations, facilities & careers

    • Learn from experts in the field

    • Meet others in the industry and make connections

    • Learn during indoor and outdoor classroom experiences

    • Experience live equipment demonstrations

    • Qualify for the US Composting Council CCP and CCOM Professional Certification Program

    • Take home a Midwest Compost Training School Guide

    • Receive a Certificate of Attendance

        What’s Included in Registration?

        • 3 days of training including presentations by experts on various topics

        • Hands-on learning experiences 

        • Demonstrations

        • Lunch each day 

        • Midwest Compost Training School Guide

        • Certificate of Attendance