International Compost Awareness Week: A Global Environmental Movement
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Each spring, communities across the globe come together to celebrate something remarkable and rooted in change: International Compost Awareness Week, held this year on May 3rd through May 9th International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) isn’t just a week on the calendar; it’s a global movement with a story, a mission, and a growing community of people committed to changing how we think about waste. It shines a spotlight on one of the simplest, most powerful environmental solutions we have: composting.
At its core, ICAW is about education. A small group of composting advocates in Canada set out to raise awareness about organics recycling and its environmental benefits in the early 1990s. The local initiative quickly gained traction and spread across borders, evolving into the largest education focused composting event in the world.
ICAW’s mission is to inspire and inform people about why composting matters environmentally, economically, and socially. That story is told each year through a different theme, this year’s being “Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us” which helps emphasize the connection between healthy soil, sustainable food systems, and everyday actions. Every year artists submit a poster and/or bookmark design to represent the theme of the year. Learn more about the 2026 winning poster and bookmark here.
Today ICAW is coordinated by the Compost Research & Education Foundation. Throughout the week, communities across the globe host workshops, compost demonstrations, school programs, and local events that are designed to make composting more accessible and approachable. It’s not just about experts – ICAW aims to bring together municipalities, schools, businesses, and individuals for a shared goal to rethink waste and recognize the value of organic materials, bridging the gap between intention and habit. Everyone has a role to play and ICAW reminds us to stay connected to the environment, to our communities, to each other, and to the idea that small changes can scale into global impact.
Recycling Connections is here each year to help you be successful with backyard composting. Since 1998, we have offered and sold the Home Composter compost bin and now a stainless steel pail, available for pre-order on our website: www.recyclingconnections.org/stevens-point-shop.
To make composting even easier, we’ve also created a free guide, "Digging In: A Backyard Composting Guide" for both beginners and seasoned composters looking for a quick
refresher. It explains why composting matters, how it works, and the benefits it offers—all in a simple, easy-to-follow format. Download your copy today. We have a great collection of videos and resources online to further your composting efforts. For direct information, join us May 7th at 4:00 PM CST to get your questions answered during a FREE Webinar "Spring Into Backyard Composting".
International Compost Awareness Week is the perfect time to get involved. It’s time to rethink your waste, build more sustainable communities, spark curiosity, and inspire action. Join the celebration this May and become part of a story that is still growing.