Top: Nora Goldstein (left), with Paula Luu, BioCycle’s new Managing Director (right)

Nora Goldstein

In 1960, my father, Jerome (Jerry) Goldstein, launched the journal, Compost Science, as an offshoot of Organic Gardening and Farming magazine. The concept was to have a publication that covered the broader field of organic residuals recycling beyond gardens and farms.

In 1978, Jerry and Ina Goldstein had the opportunity to acquire Compost Science and form a new family publishing company, The JG Press, Inc. In 1981, the publication name was changed to BioCycle, short for biological organics recycling. Myself and my sister, Rill Ann Miller, had  joined the family business when it started in 1978. Over time, the company was passed along to Rill and I, and together, we carried the legacy forward.

BioCycle had a vision far ahead of its time: to champion the recycling of organic materials, spotlight innovation, and cultivate community among those advancing the circular use of resources. For more than six decades, that mission has remained our north star – evolving alongside the industries we cover and the people who bring this work to life.

As many of you know, BioCycle has always been more than a publication. It’s a movement — grounded in the belief that waste is a resource to build healthy soils, and supported by collaboration and knowledge-sharing that are essential to creating a resilient, circular future. A tribute to my father when he passed away in 2012 captures this movement and mission, which is at the heart of BioCycle:

“Jerry was a tireless advocate, an ecopioneer who used the tools of communication and networking to advance concepts that today fall into the catch-all category of sustainability. His style was to tell other people’s stories, to profile their projects and programs. He gave voice to their innovations and advances. And in the process, through his encouragement, promotion and support, Jerry worked to forge an industry around composting, organics recycling and anaerobic digestion that is very much alive and thriving today. …. 

“For decades, people would comment that Jerry’s ideas were ‘ahead of his time.’ And some still likely say that today. But here’s what is different. In communities around the globe, examples abound of Jerry’s life work — utilizing sewage sludge to fertilize soils, recycling papers, bottles and cans, composting food waste and other organics, using compost to build healthy soils, starting enterprises to deliver these services, creating nonprofits to carry out community initiatives, implementing green job training programs and more.” 

The Next Chapter

Over the years, I have had the privilege of continuing this mission, carrying forward the legacy Jerry Goldstein began, as well as his work with countless leaders, innovators, and doers across this incredible community.

Today, I am both proud and deeply grateful to announce that BioCycle is entering its next chapter. Paula Luu will serve as Managing Director of BioCycle, leading both BioCycle Media and BioCycle Consulting. I’m not retiring, but am transitioning into the role of Editorial Chairperson and Principal, continuing to support BioCycle in all facets of its operation, be involved in our consulting work and advise on strategic initiatives – all while championing the spirit and integrity that continue to define BioCycle.

Over the past four years, Paula and I have worked together – first as collaborators through the Composting Consortium, an initiative of Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, and then as colleagues and friends. In her role as Senior Project Director for the Consortium, Paula worked closely with composters, municipalities, corporations, investors, and other stakeholders to support the scale-up of composting infrastructure nationwide. From the beginning, I was struck by her rare combination of systems thinking, strategic clarity, and deep compassion for the people behind this work. Her career spans water policy, supply chain strategy, and sustainability leadership across the public and private sectors, giving her a unique ability to connect the dots between policy, business, and innovation. She is a systems thinker, a change-maker, and a bridge-builder – exactly the kind of leader BioCycle needs as it continues to evolve.

With Paula’s leadership, BioCycle will expand its role as both a trusted voice and a trusted advisor, advancing our editorial mission while deepening our work with organizations striving to design, implement, and scale circular systems. I could not imagine a more capable or thoughtful person to carry this torch forward.

To our readers, advertisers, and the broader organics recycling community –  thank you. Your support, curiosity, and commitment have sustained BioCycle through generations of change. I have immense confidence in the path ahead and in Paula’s vision for where BioCycle will go next.

As for me, I look forward to remaining actively involved – advising, mentoring, consulting, and celebrating the work that continues to shape this field. Leading BioCycle and supporting the evolution of this industry has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I am very excited for what comes next.