• identifying critical needs through working with stakeholders;
• building on the strengths of Cornell--its faculty and staff;
• teamwork and collaboration including on and off-campus colleagues and stakeholders;
• a focus on multidisciplinary work; and
• integration of research and outreach.

Link to e-Commons for all of CWMI's material 

New Video and Poster available:  Organic Circularity: From Crop Waste to Compost. On eCommons or on YouTube.  The poster and the video both describe how crop waste can be used to create compost to grow more crops, hence improving soil and contributing to a circular economy.

Start Planning A Pumpkin Smash Event Instead of throwing your carved pumpkins into the garbage, some local governments and community groups host pumpkin smashes or pumpkin drop-off events where residents are invited to drop off their pumpkins for composting. Check out the following resources to assist in your planning efforts. • Pumpkin Smash Event Checklist (PDF) • Recorded Webinar - How to Plan a Pumpkin Smash Event for Your Community • SCARCE Pumpkin Smash Resources

NYS Funding/RFP Opportunities and Scholarships—Application Deadlines • October 31, 2025: DEC MWRR Grants for Recycling Coordination and Education Projects • October 31, 2027: DEC MWRR Grants for Recycling Capital Projects • Ongoing: Plastic Free Restaurants Reusables Subsidy Program

NJCC 2025 Organic Waste Management Summit will be held October 15, 2025. More information.

2025 New York Food Rescue Network Virtual Conference Sharing our Abundances November 5, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. Join us and listen as experts across the state present on issues ranging from being a resource to your community during climate emergencies to donating food scraps to your local pig farmer! Registration Deadline: November 3 Zoom links and agenda will be emailed to all registered participants by October 29. Register here.

36th Annual NYSAR3 Conference and Trade Show: Register now.  The conference takes place at the Otesaga Resort in Cooperstown, NY November 12-14.  W4R (Women in Recycling, Reduction, Reuse and Rethinking Strategies) is the Spotlight for the NYSAR3 Pre-Conference Day followed by a day and a half of presentations, exhibits and awards.   

USCC Compost 2026 Conference. February 2-5, 2026, Sacramento, CA. To increase access to COMPOST2026 for as many members of the composting industry as possible, USCC  is offering scholarships of up to $1,500. Apply by November 15.

TerraCon 2026: The 3rd Annual Terramation Conference will take place February 3–4, 2026, in Tacoma, Washington. Register here. 

Call for Papers. The International Symposium on Animal Mortality Management.  Please submit abstracts by January 20, 2026. The conference will take place   June 29 - July 2, 2026 in Stevens Point, WI. Sponsor opportunites can be found here.