Can organic composting help states reach recycling goals? This paper discusses New Jersey's "garbage crisis" and the state's mandate to recycle 60% of its waste by 1995. Achieving this goal is difficult, as traditional recycling methods aren't enough. Source separation and composting of clean organic materials such as food, soiled paper, and food processing residuals can help. In 1993, American Soil, Inc. (ASI) played a key role as the first company in the State to integrate organic composting successfully as a recycling activity into the State's solid waste management hierarchy. The paper highlights the challenges ASI faced navigating New Jersey's regulatory environment, underscoring the need for public-private sector collaboration.