Home

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in collaboration with Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Composting Council, will host a specialized three-day school for compost facility operators and professionals involved in composting. This school intends to educate participants about various aspects of composting, including feedstock selection, recipe development, operations, monitoring, analysis, odor and runoff management, marketing strategies, etc. The school will provide a special emphasis on food residuals composting.

The school will be taught collaboratively by instructors from Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, and Illinois State University.

Target audience

  • Stakeholders and composters
  • Professional engineers and consultants
  • Natural Resource Conservation Service professionals
  • DNR personnel including central and field staff
  • City administrators and zoning officials
  • Iowa waste exchange professionals
  • Landfill managers and operators
  • Compost facility operators
  • Wastewater treatment plant operators
  • Yard waste recyclers
  • Waste generators
  • Livestock facility managers

Each day includes a combination of hands-on training, lecture, discussion and problem solving.

Continuing education credits

Certificates of attendance will be provided for successful completion of this school that may be used for application of CEUs from various organizations. The school is approved by Iowa Department of Natural Resources for compost facility operator certification as per IAC 567-105.10 and meets the requirement for both those who have not been certified previously and for those who are renewing their certification. See the certification tab for more information.

Presented in collaboration with



This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrimination statement or accommodation inquiries, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/diversity/ext.

The 2024 Midwest Compost School is supported, in part, by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.