This session features two place-based case studies, the Kansas City metro area (KC) and California’s San Joaquin Valley, working to transform organic materials from a disposal challenge into an engine for economic growth. The discussion highlights how integrated systems can move materials up the value hill, from food recovery and composting to renewable natural gas (RNG), black soldier fly (BSF) protein production, and other emerging bio-based products, with a focus on where the highest value can be created, as well as the opportunities and challenges of planning for industrial symbiosis. Drawing on real-world projects, including an emerging organics industrial park in KC and a scaled regional ecosystem in California, the session explores how infrastructure, workforce development, and partnerships can unlock co-benefits such as job creation, climate resilience, and local manufacturing.