Zero Foodprint Compost Connector

Compost Connector pays California farmers and ranchers a per-ton rebate on compost bought from a Zero Foodprint-approved (CalRecycle/SB 1383-compliant) facility. Growers apply online, sign a DocuSign agreement, then reserve rebate credits in a program portal; after purchasing and uploading invoice documentation within 30 days, ZFP issues the rebate (electronic payment within ~3 weeks). Funding is first-come-first-served and replenished through the year as partner jurisdictions add SB 1383 dollars. A Santa Clara County landing page (/santa-clara) is a jurisdiction-specific pool of the same program using the same application.

Any California rancher or farmer growing food or beverage products for human consumption who is interested in purchasing compost procured from a Zero Foodprint-approved facility. Only compost orders placed after you have signed an agreement with Zero Foodprint are eligible. Apply separately for each location and/or business entity. May not stack with another jurisdiction-funded SB 1383 procurement program or another ZFP compost program on the same purchase; may combine with non-SB1383 sources such as CDFA Healthy Soils Program or NRCS EQIP.

Fixed $/ton rebate (rate not published on page); max 1,000 tons per claim; $20,000 per year per entity; credits expire 30 days after reservation; only compost tonnage on the invoice is eligible (blends, mulch, delivery, spreading are not); invoice must be on approved-facility letterhead.

Published amounts: Your funding will be a fixed dollar amount per ton of compost purchased, as reflected on your compost invoice. The maximum amount of compost per rebate claim is 1,000 tons and there is a $20,000 funding maximum per year. Ratio used: 1 ton = 2.5 cubic yards.

Fill out the online application (Formstack) at https://zerofoodprint-tuvab.formstack.com/forms/compost_connector (Spanish: https://zerofoodprint-tuvab.formstack.com/forms/compost_connector_2025_spanish), sign the Compost Connector agreement via DocuSign, then reserve rebate credits in the program portal and submit invoice + documentation within 30 days of reserving. Questions: compost@zerofoodprint.org.

Deadline text on the page: /farmers page: 'Compost Connector applications are open now through the end of 2026.' The FAQ on /compost still carries a stale 2025 line: 'The program will stop accepting claims after Dec. 12th, 2025.' Treat end-of-2026 as current; flag the FAQ staleness.