Council Elects Blazey, Cotler to Board
The US Composting Council has elected two new board members for the 2027 term, while two long-serving members step down at the end of their 2026 terms.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Organic Food
The US Composting Council announced the results of its annual board of directors election, electing Jay Blazey of Cedar Grove Composting and Candice Cotler of Common Ground Compost to serve the 2027 term. Pierce Louis and Ryan Cooper will step down at the end of their 2026 terms.
Why it matters
The council is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 that represents the composting industry, and board changes shape its direction on organics management. The departures of Louis, who served nine years on the board and two terms as president, mark a transition in leadership for the organization.
Jay Blazey has more than 10 years of recycling and composting experience, and Samantha Winkle manages over 200k tons of organics annually at Athens Services. The extraction does not provide vote tallies for the election.
The players
US Composting Council
A non-profit 501(c)6 organization founded in 1992 that promotes composting and organics recycling across the United States.
Pierce Louis
Dirt Hugger representative who served nine years on the US Composting Council board, including two terms as its president.
Ryan Cooper
A board member of the US Composting Council who chaired the organization's Membership Committee.
The details
Jay Blazey of Cedar Grove Composting, Inc. and Candice Cotler of Common Ground Compost were elected to the board for the 2027 term. Samantha Winkle of Athens Services, Cary Oshins of compostercary.com and Michael Martinez of the 11th Hour Project were re-elected to the board.
Timeline
End of 2026 term: Pierce Louis and Ryan Cooper step down from the board.
February 1, 2027: New board members are introduced at the COMPOST2027 members meeting in Jacksonville, FL.
Season Trajectory
Established in 1992 as a 501(c)6 trade association, the US Composting Council continues to shape organics policy through its board, and this turnover carries its governance forward. Board transitions like this one help determine how the association represents the expanding US composting sector.
Composting organizations and food waste generators across the country depend on council guidance for organics management practices. Leadership changes can shift how the council advocates for composting policy and industry standards that affect local recycling programs.
The takeaway
Board turnover at trade associations like the US Composting Council brings new perspectives while preserving institutional knowledge from long-serving members. Readers interested in composting can follow these organizational changes as they shape industry direction.
What happens next
New board members Jay Blazey and Candice Cotler will be formally introduced at the COMPOST2027 members meeting in Jacksonville, FL, on February 1, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on the Organic Food section for context on composting and organics recycling.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Waste360.
