Circular Economy for Food and Organics

Help Shape Kansas City's Future Food and Organics System

Kansas City is developing a Circular Organics Economy—a system that keeps food and organic materials in productive use for as long as possible. Instead of sending valuable resources to landfills, a circular approach prioritizes preventing food waste, rescuing edible food for people, composting food scraps, improving soil health, creating local jobs, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Kansas City Circular Organics Economy: A Strategic Plan for Organics Recovery and Food Rescue outlines recommendations to help Kansas City reduce wasted food, expand food recovery programs, increase composting opportunities, strengthen local food systems, and build a more resilient community. The plan identifies opportunities to increase food access, support local businesses, create green jobs, improve neighborhood livability, and advance the City's Climate Protection and Resiliency goals. The plan estimates that implementing its recommendations could divert up to 37,500 tons of material from landfills, avoid 82,200 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and create 56 local jobs.

Before the City moves forward with implementation, we want to hear from you. Please find the KCCEP Report below:

KCCEP Report 7-8-26.pdf

(3.5 MB)

Learn More

The Circular Organics Economy Plan is built around six key focus areas:

Planning and Policy
Waste Prevention and Food Recovery
Organics Collection Programs
Infrastructure Investment
Regional End Markets
Local Leadership and Engagement

Together, these strategies aim to create a system where food is used for its highest value—feeding people first, then supporting composting, soil health, renewable energy, and local economic development.

What ideas, concerns, or priorities should Kansas City consider as we work to reduce food waste, rescue edible food, expand composting, and build a Circular Organics Economy?

You may wish to comment on:

Food waste prevention and education
Food rescue and food donation programs
Composting and organics collection services
Neighborhood composting opportunities
Community gardens and urban agriculture
Access to fresh, healthy food
Job creation and workforce development
Environmental justice and equitable access
City policies, incentives, and partnerships
Other ideas that would help Kansas City create a more sustainable and resilient food system

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. We will review community feedback as we refine implementation priorities and future programs.

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Tell us what you think about the plan!

Tell us what you think about the plan!

Tell us what you think about the plan!

June 9, 2026 5:00 AM - August 31, 2026 4:59 AM

8 comments

mark samborski7 hours ago A large percentage of the population has very little understanding of the challenges associated with growing food, preserving food, and what valuable resources the compost of used and degrading food products contribute. we at Antioch Urban Growers have been creating compost and soil for about 10 years. diverting over a thousand lb a week from entering into the landfills. with the diverted rotting food products like vegetable produce, bread products, end of day salad, bar leftovers, and many different kinds of organic matter. we also work with local landscapers and cleanup crews that bring wood chips and leaf mulch. combining these elements with planned moisture control and turning the compostable materials creates some of the best soils available. assistance in recognizing these resources through communication channels and community initiatives can turn one man's trash into many man's treasures.

3 weeks ago I fully support this initiative. I just hope that the city relies on the resources and organizations that are already in place like Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council, Urbavore and Antioch Urban Growers and give them more support through regulations that help rather than hinder progress. The issue comes back to the Urban Ag Ordinances and making it easier for civilians and residential districts to not only grow and sell their own production but also for neighborhoods to create hubs that can support communal composting programs and other shared resources. Schools may be the ticket as they are evenly distributed per district. Also, programs like A Turning Point in Gladstone that provide resources for the houseless population need support and to be tapped into the city’s plan going forward.

Briggs Uhler1 month ago I love the idea of starting in schools - both in that students can learn about (and participate in!) the benefits, as well as using schools as physical community hubs. Could schools host compost pickup programs? They're visible, (generally) centrally located, provide the education benefit, and allow efficiencies in a pickup program to be realized (picking up once vs picking up at each individual home).I also want to caution against forgetting about apartment complexes and condominium communities. They allow for economies of scale and property managers and HOA boards could help with educating residents and providing space for compost pickup program bins. I currently live in a condominium community and the difficulty of using an existing compost pickup service downtown (stolen collection bins, no good places to put bins, etc) is why I don't participate currently.

Patricia Carter1 month ago

Marie Kay1 month ago

Lisa Burgess1 month ago About Food Waste BitesFood waste prevention program for the Kansas City food service and retail sectorsFood Waste Bites (FWB) is an effort to eliminate food waste in the Kansas City region’s food service industry. Coordinated by Kansas City Food Wise, FWB takes a hands-on approach to help restaurants, caterers, cafeterias, grocery stores and other food service operations take a comprehensive approach to food waste reduction. By eliminating food waste, your business can: Save money Improve customer service Boost employee morale Reduce food insecurity in the community Help the planet Contact me! Lisa@learningkitchenKC.com

Imogen Thomas1 month ago There are some great ideas in here. One that stood out to me was requiring developers to use compost in projects. I'd love to see this adopted for all development projects, but it seems that it could be an easy official/policy requirement to include it as a requirement in all PILOT projects, PIEA projects, UR zone projects, etc -- all projects receiving any form of tax incentive or public subsidy. Another thing that should be considered when rolling out programs is personal cost. Unfortunately, composting at home is already additional labor-- few people will want to (or are able to) pay on top of that. Incentivizing use of services is a place to start. Perhaps creating a way for residents to see the use of their recycling is also a solution: ie, publicly maintained community gardens, compost donation in exchange for food, etc. Benefits for using compost on personal property should also exist: if you produce food at your home, you should receive a credit! Composting systems should also be rolled out in schools. Teaching kids about the process early is beneficial and can increase participation both at home and later in life. This can include not only composting scraps left by students, but also by including urban gardening in curriculum. The document's mention of RND is also interesting. While this seems like a process larger than KC's trash systems, given the presence of agriculture in the area, this may be something worth pursuing, at a county and state level. Addressing something at such scale would require greater regional collaboration.

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