Compost, Organics, Research & Marketing Project Concepts

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Project Ideas for Expanding Compost Use - Science & Marketing
Last Update: 4/2/13
Science & Marketing Research & Development Project Ideas:
for Expanding Compost Use
by
Dan Noble, Executive Director, Association of Compost Producers &
David Crohn, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. of Environmental Science & Associate CE Biosystems Engineering,
College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences, UC Riverside, part of the UC Agricultural & Natural
Resources and UC Cooperative Extension Programs
Chuck Schmidt, CE Schmidt & Associates
April 2, 2013
Overview:
The following project concepts are geared to expand aspects of compost quality and/or quantity
markets. They fall into two broad project categories or types 1) Compost Science and
Technology and 2) Market Channel Development:
 Scientific and technology research - including pure, but mainly applied, scientific research
for compost production, measurement of key compost parameters related to both material
and use effectiveness. This includes a special subset owing to the ever tightening air
regulations in California: :
o 'Air from Compost'- Research Issues and Potential Projects – this includes 8 project
concepts specifically focused on air emissions from compost and other organics
processing methods provided to D. Noble by CE Schmidt & Associates, on 3/28/13,
at the close of a successful research project that they worked together on in
California.
 Market channel development methods and systems - including compost product quality
measurement, utilization standards, specifications and best management practices for
product and service use
This list of project concepts is designed to be an evergreen communication, i.e. continuously
updated, document between the compost industry (specifically represented by the Association of
Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org), the California State Chapter of the US Composting
Council, and it’s Composting Council Research and Education Foundation (CCREF),
http://compostingcouncil.org/foundation-history/, and starting with one scientific establishment
in California (specifically, the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources and
their Cooperative Extension program, generally, www.ucanr.org, and the UC Riverside College
of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, specifically, http://cnas.ucr.edu), and independent
scientists, consultants, e.g. on this paper and in most recent compost air emission projects in
California with ACP and Valley Air, CE Schmidt & Associates.
This is just a beginning group of project concepts, and ACP, as the California State Chapter of
the USCC, is very interested in working with the CCREF Trustees, and other stakeholder
partners, to advance the science and use of compost.
The working titles of these proposed project concepts are headlined in the contents table on the
following page. This document contains approximately ½ - 1 page descriptions of each project
concept. Prior to applying for grant money to do the research or market expansion, a proposal
for each project will need to be designed and written.
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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Project Ideas for Expanding Compost Use - Science & Marketing
Last Update: 4/2/13
Project Concept Contents
Compost Science and Technology:............................................................... 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Compost Technologies to Reduce VOC Emissions ................................................ 3
Enhancing Water Use Efficiency with Compost ..................................................... 3
Compost Use Index: Formalize and Publish .......................................................... 4
Ag Compost Project Extension ............................................................................... 5
Compost to Ensure Food Safety .............................................................................. 6
Compost Desalination ............................................................................................. 6
Amines (Organic Nitrogen) within High Carbon Soils ........................................... 7
'Air from Compost'- Research Issues and Potential Projects ................... 9
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Greenwaste Land Application Versus Greenwaste Composting - #1 ..................... 9
Air Emissions from Naturally Composting Organic Matter - #2 ............................ 9
Air Emissions from Food Waste Composting - #3 ............................................... 10
Follow-On to the 2012 TAP Positive Aeration ASP with BioFiltration Layer
Composting Technology - #4 ................................................................................ 10
Positive ASP with Biofilter Technology Assessment for Food Waste and Biosolids - #5
10
Ozone Precursor Air Emissions from Compost Operations - #6 .......................... 11
Air Emissions from Leachate at Compost Sites - #7............................................. 11
Evaluation of Additives Designed to Increase the Rate of Composting and/or Control
Odorous Emissions - #8 ........................................................................................ 11
Market Channel Development Methods & Systems: ...............................13
16.
17.
18.
19.
Compost Use Expansion Fund .............................................................................. 13
Organics Toolbox - 2.0: Articulation and Expansion............................................ 13
Organics Market Analysis & Investment Calculator ............................................ 14
Compost Standards Systems: Coordinating, and/or Harmonizing the Divergent systems
of STA, CUI, OMRI, USDA/NOP, CCOF, OFAC, CDFA .................................. 16
20. Compost Quality Assurance: Eliminating, or Coordinating, Chip & Grind Materials
Manufacture & Use with Compost Manufacture & Use ....................................... 17
21. Bioenergy Residuals Compost Market Development ........................................... 18
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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Project Ideas for Expanding Compost Use - Science & Marketing
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Compost Science and Technology:
1. Compost Technologies to Reduce VOC Emissions
Background:
 Implementation of Rule 1133.1, 1133.2 and most recently the green waste VOC control
rule 1133.3 in South Coast Air Quality Management District
 Implementation of Rules 4565 and 4566 in San Joaquin Valley Air District
 Technology Innovation
Proposed Study:
 Technology Advancement Program RFP - let by San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution
Control District - Due Fri. Aug 19th, 2011
 Kevin Barnes, City of Bakersfield making a submission.
2. Enhancing Water Use Efficiency with Compost
Background:
There is extensive personal gardener experience and anecdotal evidence from compost users
throughout the world that incorporating compost in or on soil will reduce the amount of
irrigation water required to maintain healthy plant growth and viability. It is conjectured that
compost in soils act as a sponge holding water, and that compost placed on the surface as a
mulch, enhances water infiltration and retards evaporation. To examine this thesis, a literature
search was conducted of articles and research papers posted on the internet. Briefly, the
reported results, while consistently showing a positive correlation between compost use and
water savings, nonetheless showed a very wide variability of water savings from between 10% 2,300%. It is our perspective that the decision to use compost in landscape and agricultural
applications should be based on demonstrated and quantifiable economic benefits. With such a
wide range of reported values, any cost/benefit analysis, based solely on that information, could
be seriously questioned. Therefore further testing of the key variables in using compost to
achieve quantifiable water savings should be performed before affirmative statements are
claimed. In addition to agricultural water use throughout the state, it is our finding that while all
water districts in Southern California have water efficient landscape programs, few regularly
advocate the use of compost to enhance water savings. Our belief for this deficiency is two
fold:
1) most landscape architects and irrigation companies take a physical approach to
delivering water and their ranks are not populated by soil and compost experts, and
2) they do not have good, reliable information that tells them how best to use compost
to maximize water savings within their planned, installed and maintained landscapes,
particularly as it relates to the current recommended methods of creating irrigation
zones within the landscape of variable water quantity delivery.
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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Proposed Study:
ACP, UC Riverside (Extension and UCCE) and partners (local water agencies, Calrecycle,
Dept. of Water Resources, etc.), in collaboration with a local water conservation garden(s),
proposes to address this knowledge deficiency regarding compost’s ability to be a potentially
powerful landscape water conservation tool. We propose to develop verifiable and peer
reviewed research data conclusions, as well as develop information resources that landscape
designers, installers and maintenance personnel can use that clearly defines the amount of water
conservation savings that can be achieved by using compost as both a soil amendment as well as
a mulch for them to achieve reproducible water savings.
Project questions to be answered:
1) How much does compost facilitate a higher degree of water infiltration on clay soils,
when used? A. as a mulch, B. as a soil amendment, or C. in combination
2) How does compost facilitate higher soil water holding capacity in the root zone
starting with clay or sandy soils, when used …? A. as a mulch, B. as a soil
amendment, or C. in combination
3) How do these factors quantitatively decrease landscape water use over time, based
on a 1-2 month trial during the dry season, starting with:
a. clay soils and drought tolerant plants
b. sandy soils and drought tolerant plants
c. clay soils and water loving plants
d. sandy soils and water loving plants
4) What user tools can be produced that best communicate the above findings—in both
extreme and average cases—and that make them most practical for the landscape
architect/designer, installer and landscape maintenance personnel.
For the details of the specific materials and methods required for this study, we will likely want
to develop a "model system" that includes all the relevant parameters in a predictable
methodology for applying to landscape, agricultural and natural environmental applications.
3. Compost Use Index: Formalize and Publish
Two of the main recent projects funded by Calrecycle (2005 Caltrans Project, 2008 Agricultural
Project), and performed in collaboration with the UC Cooperative Extension and UC Riverside
Extension and the Association of Compost Producers, included a significant portion of the
contract devoted to the development of a “Compost Use Index.” For the “Caltrans Compost
Specification” project, the Compost Use Index was conceived and initiated. Since the Compost
Use Index depends on specifications for individual uses, or applications, of compost, the
Caltrans project generated 9 landscape and stormwater (environmental) specifications for the
use of compost, bringing the initial body of Compost Use Index specifications to nine (9). The
Agricultural Compost Specifications project presented another opportunity to expand Compost
Use Index specifications, this time into the agricultural markets. This was completed for 5
crops, adding 5 more specifications to the compost use index, as well as adding the new
dimensions of soil testing and, potentially, water quality to the Compost Use Index.
Prior to actually publishing a functional “Compost Use Index” as outlined and more fully
explained in those projects, the Compost Use Index teams needs to create an online tool, or
calculator that can be used by any potential composter, advisor or user on an as-need basis.
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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This project would:
 Accumulate and summarize all the existing compost specifications that are
application specific.
 Build a Compost Use Index calculator or tool for those applications
 Expand the Compost Use Index to include Soil test and water need (and quality?)
parameters
 Add new Compost Use Index specifications (not in the previous project) but for
applications that are common (e.g. turf grass, tree planting, etc.) and make them
part of the model (based on secondary research of those specifications, i.e. not
primary experiments)
 Publish the Compost Use Index as part of the developing “Organics Toolbox”
(see separate project concept)
 Give a series of Webinar workshops for composters, advisors and user
communities on how to use the tool (version 1.0), and gather feedback on how to
improve the tool.
 Based on the Webinar feedback, and user input, build and publish a version 2.0
of the Compost Use Index.
 Determine who will continue to support and promote the Compost Use Index
moving forward (e.g. Calrecycle via the Organics Toolbox, version 2.0, ACP or
UCCE, independently or in collaboration with Calrecycle or other agencies, e.g.
CDFA, etc.).
4. Ag Compost Project Extension
Extend the recently completed Ag Compost Specifications project and/or tie it into the salt
management projects. The Ag Compost Project (completed May 2009), was designed to extend
the Compost Use Index into five important crops within the California Agricultural markets.
That is, as shown in the “Compost Specifications 043009” document (shown graphically in the
table below, from that document), compost can be used for up to six applications in three phases
of growth, for most crops, i.e. the three phases of germination, initial planting and maintenance.
While we only tested a small fraction in this study, there was sufficient secondary research
information to draft specifications for both amendment in initial planting and mulch for
maintenance. These are provided in that document and will be used in the Use Index.
Compost Use
Germination
Seed Bedding
Potting Mix
Initial Planting
Soil Amendment
Mulch
Maintenance
Soil Amendment
Mulch
Legend:
N/A
Lettuce
Strawberry
Blueberry
Crop Type
Grape Avocado
Tomato
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
= Not applicable
= Greenhouse study & specification & Use Index
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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Almond
Project Ideas for Expanding Compost Use - Science & Marketing
Last Update: 4/2/13
= Potential specifications & Use Index In future studies
= Project specification & Use Index
We recommend that this work be extended to include all possible applications as necessary. Or
simply continue to keep the various uses more general for compost applications on California’s
key agricultural crops. Our view is that with further application use and experience, of tested
compost, that this can actually be handled through proper implementation of the Compost Use
Index online tool, especially if it is set up as a “wiki” process, as recommended in other sections
of this project report.
5. Compost to Ensure Food Safety
One of the major discoveries in the Agricultural Compost Project was the fact that at least one
composter in the Salinas Valley area had developed a simple method to use their permitted
compost sampling, time and temperature and STA testing documentation to ensure that the
compost that they used on their lettuce crops was free of pathogens. They put together a
notebook of all the documentation and was able to deliver it their buyer crop auditors (a private
sector consultant in the sensitive agricultural markets). They found that this notebook was
sufficient to allay any fears, or concerns, on the part of the auditors that pathogens would be
coming from the compost to the fresh vegetable crops.
This project would extend this method to all farmers using compost. This could also be added to
not only the organics and/or STA certification of the material and methods, but also to the
specifications. This would require developing at least the following steps:
 Create a mock up case study notebook as an example of this.
 Write up best practices for using this tool on food safety sensitive crops
 Give workshops on the use of this tool to composters, growers and auditors
 Include this new “tool” in the Organics Toolbox.
6. Compost Desalination
Some composts seem to contain high amounts of salt, especially if derived from high salt
containing feedstocks. One method to remediate this situation in affected feedstocks, would be
to chip and/or grind that material, then run it through a batch of water. This water would then
have to be treated prior to discharge to any affected water bodies, possibly run through a local
wastewater treatment facility. This project would:
 Bench test the salinity and washing methodologies that would yield acceptable materials
once composted.
 Field test in a portion of a compost facility to determine the economics of scaling ups
such a feedstock washing facility,
 Run the facility and operational and market costs of such an operation
 Include the results of this calculation in the “Organics Market Analysis & Investment
Calculator (see Project Idea #5).
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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7. Amines (Organic Nitrogen) within High Carbon Soils
There is increasing anecdotal and research evidence in the organic agriculture literature that
amino acids (organic amine nitrogen compounds, which are the precursor to proteins) are more
readily taken up by plants than other forms of nitrogen. This is a biogenic process and is
depending on having abundant organic (high energy carbon molecules) to feed the
microorganisms (especially bacterial and mycillium) in the root zone. Compost has an
abundance of both carbon microbe food, as well as protein based nitrogen. However, much
more research needs to be done, and we need to determine:
1. Should the TMECC methods of US Composting Council that support the STA program
include specific protocols for testing amines in the compost?
2. What is the ratio of amines to other nitrogen compounds (NO3, NH4, etc.) and in what
ways are this important?
3. How do composters use this information to build healthy soil?
A couple of abstracts that point to this affect include:
Protein Content of Seed: Increase Improves Growth and Yield
C. J. Schweizer 1 and S. K. Ries (Department of Horticulture, Michigan State
University, East Lansing 48823)
Oat seeds with a higher protein content as a result of chemical applications in 1967
yielded 21 to 42 percent more grain in 1968. Wheat seed, whether from Michigan,
Illinois, or Mexico, that contained more protein as a result of field applications of
chemicals or nitrogen developed into larger seedlings. The content of protein in the seed
correlated with subsequent growth and yield, indicating that the amount of endogenous
protein or of a proteinaceous moiety, which can be controlled, may be an important
factor in subsequent yield of major agronomic crops.
Note: underline added
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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Now we need to understand more about Nitrogen and this is the key to understanding organics
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Project Ideas for Expanding Compost Use - Science & Marketing
Last Update: 4/2/13
Date: March 28, 2013
To: Dan Noble
From: CE Schmidt
RE: Response to Email Dated March 12, 2013 Regarding
'Air from Compost'- Research Issues and Potential Projects
There are several issues that loom on the horizon for the compost industry regarding air
emissions. The species of interest fall into four general classes of air pollutants: odor;
regulatory total VOC and ammonia emissions; greenhouse gas (GHG) including methane,
carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide (N2O) and NOx (NO and NO2); and speciated emissions related
to ozone precursors. Regardless of the type of compost operations and the species as listed, the
type of area source testing that can be performed as with the TAP research last summer, is
accomplished with the same area source testing technology, namely the USEPA flux chamber
technology and the SCAQMD modified flux chamber technology for advective area emission
sources. Virtually all the area sources found at compost sites, regardless of the composting
technology, can be measured with this sample collection technology and the appropriate
analytical methodology.
I have listed several concept proposals below, any of which would likely benefit the compost
industry. Some of these concepts are species specific, and others are source feed related, or
general in nature. Know that we can test for any species of interest (odor, GHGs, VOCs,
individual species, etc) on any type of compost operation or for any general purpose.
A detailed letter proposal and cost estimate can be prepared on any of these research issues; a
few of these have already been prepared and are available.
8. Greenwaste Land Application Versus Greenwaste Composting - #1
Direct land application of greenwaste in lieu of composting presents many potential problems
for the environment with regard to air emissions, and is a threat to the compost industry related
to sustainability. The research concept is to conduct a limited study where two plots of ag land
are prepared side-by-side, one with greenwaste applied to the land surface, the other with the
same layer applied but then tilled into the ground. The focus of the project to collect 'baseline'
emission factors from the direct application of chopped greenwaste to ag land, and compare
these emissions on a per ton basis to published air emissions from composted greenwaste. A
concept proposal for this work is attached for review.
9. Air Emissions from Naturally Composting Organic Matter - #2
One data point not available in the literature that may be useful to the compost industry is the air
emissions from naturally composting organic matter (grasses, leaves, wood) as compared to air
emissions from managed composting operations. Given the long time-period of natural
composting process, it is likely that naturally occurring composting emits more air emissions
per ton as compared to managed composting. Anaerobic mechanism contribution may also be
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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more significant. Emission factors for greenwaste composting are available, and these data can
be compared to measured emission factors from naturally occurring composting by conducting
a limited time dependent study. Any and all of the key species identified above can be part of
this study.
10. Air Emissions from Food Waste Composting - #3
Air emissions data for food waste composting is essentially absent from the literature. As such,
for a facility to venture into food waste composting presents a significant risk to site owners.
Odor emissions and off-site impact to neighbors is likely the crushing issue. Likewise, given
the high organic content of food waste as compared to greenwaste and biosolid waste feed
stock, it is likely the sites that compost significant percentages of food waste in the feed will
likely encounter compliance issues where total VOCs are monitored. This research would focus
on the types and levels of air emission species from standard composting operations including
the effect of higher VOC loadings on biofiltration air pollution control devices. It is likely that
odor emission factors, coupled with simple dispersion modeling specific to a given site, can be a
cost-effective tool for predicting off site odor impacts.
11. Follow-On to the 2012 TAP Positive Aeration ASP with BioFiltration Layer
Composting Technology - #4
As a follow-on to 20112 SJVAPCD TAP research program, a 'parametric study' of key
operating variables is proposed with the goal of producing a 'User's Guide' intended to assist site
operators in adopting positive aeration ASP composting technologies. There are many variables
that affect the composting process, especially for ASP technologies. The two most significant
are aeration rate and water content. A follow-on project is proposed to evaluate these two key
variables in ASP/biofilter layer operation so that a site operator can take the information
provided in the guidance document and install and operate an ASP/biofilter technology with
less trial and error and better air emission control efficiency. The intent is to allow the compost
industry to properly evaluate the efficacy of moving toward this technology that has been
proven to be very effective at controlling air emissions and reducing operating costs with the
goal of maintaining long-term sustainability for the industry. A cost estimate and a more
detailed conceptual proposal for this research issue is available on request.
12. Positive ASP with Biofilter Technology Assessment for Food Waste and
Biosolids - #5
Positive ASP with biofiltration layer technology has been demonstrated to be a viable
technology for the compost industry producing compost in shorter time periods with far less air
emissions as compared to windrow compost technologies. The research was conducted for
greenwaste only, and similar data are needed for food waste and biosolid waste composting feed
stocks. This conceptual proposal includes conducting limited research on this new hybrid
compost technology applied to food waste and biosolids feed stock. Any of the species of
interest can be included in the study, however emphasis should be placed on odor, total VOCs,
and GHGs. A cost estimate and a more detailed conceptual proposal for this research issue is
available on request.
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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13. Ozone Precursor Air Emissions from Compost Operations - #6
Limited work has been performed on assessing true ozone precursor (hydrocarbon compounds
reactive with NOx and sunlight producing ozone) emissions from greenwaste, food waste and
biosolids composting. Most sites are regulated on total non-methane and non-ethane organic
carbon emissions, when it has been shown that typically less than 20% of the total organic
carbon emitted actually produces ozone at significant levels. This research would include
assessing ozone growth testing from various compost feed types, as well as hydrocarbon
speciation studies to identify the hydrocarbon compounds emitted, and thus the ozone
production equivalents produced from the air emissions. If successful, these data can have a
significant impact on how sites are regulated in non-attainment areas, in particular in the Central
Valley of California.
14. Air Emissions from Leachate at Compost Sites - #7
Often times, even at sites with leachate collection and treatment, leachate is found spreading out
from under compost piles onto paved areas and roadways, and evaporating to the air. No data
are available in the literature regarding air emissions from non-diluted leachate found at
compost sites, and it is likely that the air emission issues related to this fugitive source
contributes to site air emissions. This concept proposal includes conducting very limited
(screening) testing of leachate air emissions from greenwaste, food waste, and biosolids
composting operations. This information is useful in that it is advantageous for the industry to
determine if this source is an issue or not, and do so in the advance of any future regulations that
may adversely affect the industry.
15. Evaluation of Additives Designed to Increase the Rate of Composting
and/or Control Odorous Emissions - #8
There are several 'additives' available on the market that claim to be able to increase the rate of
aerobic digestion of organic matter and thus improve the mechanism of aerobic composting.
Two mechanisms for improving the composting process used by these products either increase
the oxygen transfer by mineral surfactants, or feed microbes by using enzymes. Our team has
tested two of these products and it is likely that one or more of the products available on the
market can in fact assist compost operations by changing emissions (higher percentage of less
odorous compounds) or reducing the time-constant for compost production increasing site
through-put. A conceptual proposal for this evaluation would include building a control
greenwaste windrow at a site managed in typical fashion (watering and mixing), and building
one greenwaste windrow inoculated with each product including one test pile per product. The
control windrow and test windrows would be tested on the same schedule, and the effectiveness
of each additive would be evaluated over the life-cycle of the composting process. The product
of the applied research would be an evaluation of each additive in the study. These data would
be a benefit to any site operator dealing with the issues of increasing site through-put and
addressing site odor emissions using a very low-cost operational enhancement.
We would be happy to provide additional information on any and all of these research concepts,
so please let us know if there is an interest in pursuing these research concepts.
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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Sincerely,
CE Schmidt and TR Card
© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org
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Market Channel Development Methods & Systems:
16. Compost Use Expansion Fund
Compost has long been recognized as a sustainable recycling technology for beneficial reuse of
organics and environmental remediation and enhancement. From that perspective, as (or if?)
California develops a more ubiquitous “pay to throw” system for burying organics in landfills,
money from “wasting organics” could be used to help develop a fund for educating landscapers,
the agriculture and environmental restoration communities, ongoing, about the benefits and
methods (sources, specifications, companies, etc.) for compost beneficial use. For example,
County of Riverside now charges a “surcharge” on organics of $10/ton above the $30/ton
landfill tipping fee. This is designed to move organics out of landfills and into compost
facilities. However, because of the absence of permitted compost facilities in Riverside County,
much of this material is now going to new “chip and grind” facilities, which are not permitted to
produce compost. Right now we don’t know where this material is going (see project proposal
#7). However, if a statewide surcharge for “wasting organics” could be charged (may require
separate legislation first, in which case sponsoring a bill to do that would be the first step; and
some ACP members are keen on doing this if there is support from Calrecycle), then that
surcharge (say $2-5/ton or so) could be put in a fund to market compost. This, like the Milk
Producers, could be used to fund commodity marketing campaigns for compost (e.g. a “Got
Compost” campaign to landscapers and gardeners) and help to support some of the other
projects through Calrecycle and industry.
17. Organics Toolbox - 2.0: Articulation and Expansion
For organics generators, composters and compost marketers, the “Organics Toolbox” that
Calrecycle to create in 2008 to 2009 (originally called the “ACD Toolbox”), can become the
repository of all Calrecycle’s and the Compost Industry (and Generator and User Community’s)
accumulating knowledge about compost and organics management, moving forward. While all
the elements of the envisioned toolbox are not complete, it can become a central tool for the
organics and compost industry and can be articulated and expanded into at least the following
elements. Each element can be expanded via its own separate project concept (some of which
are included separately in this “Project Ideas” list). The next version of the Organics Toolbox
(version 2.0, if you will) might include:
 Organics Market Analysis & Development Calculator (further explained in another
Project Idea in this document).
 Compost & Organic Soil Amendments Marketing Documents for each Market (these are
already developed and will continue to be developed in further projects):
o Landscaping (including sustainable, edible, functional, low impact development
landscape systems)
o Agriculture (including each crop and cropping system)
o Environmental/Watershed (including enhancing water quantity through
controlled water infiltration and water quality through use of appropriate
compost BMPs)
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
Case Studies of Successful Compost Market Development Campaigns and Methods
(already in the existing, version 1.0, toolbox).
 Facility Siting Challenges and Resolutions (Systems for siting compost and chip and
grind facilities locally and integrating them into the local organics recycling market
development regimes)
 Organics Life Cycle Assessment Intelligence (the Calrecycle is completing a project on
an Organics Life Cycle Assessment for California. While the statewide data may be
useful for policy, it is likely not useful for local organics market assessment, until all the
same parameters are run though a calculator, as proposed in Project Idea #5. However,
once that occurs, it should be a permanent and evergreen upgraded part of the Organics
Toolbox)
 Compost Use Index (see Project Idea #2, for details on what needs to be completed on
this tool. Once completed, it should naturally become part of the Toolbox).
 Food Safety Methods (as per Project Idea #10, the BMPs for using compost to ensure
food safety of leafy green food crops should be made as part of this toolbox).
 Compost Research Documents (already posted on Calrecycle's website, and continuing
to make a user friendly document)
In addition to creating the Organics Toolbox 2.0, this project will also market it to all user
communities (hence it may need a new brand name that is more intuitive and/or distinctive).
The communities we have in mind include everyone (organization) that has a “hand” in
organics management and economics. These include all generator, transporter, processing,
marketing and user communities. As an internet based “Software as a Service (SaaS)” tool
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_as_a_service), it can be organized in such a way that
each user type will approach the information relevant to each of them, and information not
relevant to them can be avoided. This is becoming standard practice in SaaS tools and therefore
this project should include some experienced SaaS developers on the team.
18. Organics Market Analysis & Investment Calculator
It has become axiomatic in the compost industry to state that “all compost markets are local.”
This is especially true because at prices ranging from $4 to $40/ton of compost, the price of
compost application is generally directly related to how far it is shipped. And shipping is not
only a direct cost of compost use, it is also an environmental burden as a further generator of
green house gases, esp. CO2, and other pollutants from fossil fuel (gasoline or diesel)
consumption. As such, the generation, transportation, processing technology and investment,
storage, marketing and application costs (both direct and full life cycle assessments) factor into
whether compost use is “economic,” or not, relative to the aggregate local market conditions.
This project proposes the initiation of development of a SaaS online calculator tool
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_as_a_service) and databases that would be made
available to organics industry players on a subscription, user funded basis, once initiated. The
users will include, but not be limited to, the following communities:
 Organics generators (municipalities, counties, and private entities)
 Haulers (public and private haulers responsible for transporting organics)
 Composters (both permitted compost facilities as well as non-compost permitted “chip
and grind” facilities)
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Soil Amendment Facilities (wet aerobic digestion, pellets, compost tea, etc.)
Bioenergy and Biofuel Facilities (anaerobic digestion, fuel production, combustion
facilities, etc.)
Marketers and advisors (entities who only market and advise on use of compost, energy,
fuels and non-composted products)
Users (all types of compost and energy users: the three main soil enhancement
applications in landscaping, agriculture and environmental/watershed compost
application markets, and the main energy users of liquid and gas fuels and direct energy
production (head and electricity)).
The tool would be used, variously, by each individual user (as mentioned above) but would
allow them to (at a minimum):
 calculate disposal vs. beneficial reuse tonnages for their defined region(s)
 local sources and facilities for organics generation and processing
 calculate distances (and costs based on local transporting economics) for transporting
feedstocks or finished products
 locate local markets and distances to those markets
 calculate profitable economics of delivering their (often proprietary) material to those
markets
Note that SaaS software systems are already designed to have privacy access of both presence
and results of independent users, so not all aspects of the system are available to every user, e.g.
when using banking software, you can only view your account, and nobody else’s. However
the entire system feeds off the same database and becomes a “learning system” for the system
owner/manager.
A "portfolio" approach to the development and implementation of this, what promises to be a
very robust¸ calculator tool demands that we think of all organics beneficial reuse options in a
fully integrated approach. This includes, at a minimum that we consider in our local
"toolbox" approach:
1. Feedstocks (green, food, biosolids and manure)
2. Processing technologies (compost/soil amendment only, combinations of
energy/compost, energy only facilities)
3. Product types (soil amendments, energy production)
4. Markets (agriculture, horticulture, landscape (commercial/bulk, residential/bagged) and
environmental (stormwater, erosion control, fire restoration, etc.)
There are many different uses for composting, and technologies to produce it, so for the sake of
this proposal we would start by limiting our calculator to the major facilities currently permitted
and existing for organics management and processing, i.e.:
 open air compost (soil amendment) production and composting production that
(including energy capture where it exists) as well as indoor and containerized facilities
 chip and grind facilities
 anaerobic and aerobic digestion facilities,
 combustion facilities.
In our initial evaluation we would factor in the:
 Types of feedstock produced by the users collection operations
 The distance to transport the material
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 Energy consumed/produced by the process
 The environmental benefits that are created by landfill diversion, compost
production and use of compost such as:
 Reduced GHG production
 Conservation of water and energy
 Impact on local waterway quality
 Uses of renewable resources (water, energy, organics)
 Creation of true renewable energy
 Affects of compost on healthy soils for sustainable (local) and organic
agriculture and landscaping, and low impact development watersheds
 A brief synopsis of the economic benefits of composting seen around the state with
some information about how that might translate to an individual marketplace would
also be provided.
It’s important that this tool be sustainable and constantly upgraded, for that reason, part of this
project is to form a private, quasi-government or social enterprise
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_enterprise) that will constantly maintain, upgrade and
market this tool for the benefit of all the main users. As can be seen, this initial project would
immediately work into an ongoing “green business” enterprise, literally.
In addition, this “Organics Calculator” would have to integrate, ongoing, with Calrecycle
accounting and assessments of organics generation and market development, and therefore
would have to be tightly linked to all CIWMB efforts ongoing.
19. Compost Standards Systems: Coordinating, and/or Harmonizing the
Divergent systems of STA, CUI, OMRI, USDA/NOP, CCOF, OFAC, CDFA
As a direct consequence of the Agricultural Compost Specifications project, it became very
clear that we were in fact promoting what we came to refer to as a “tripartite system” proposed
and marketed in our project while developing and implementing agricultural crop specifications,
i.e.:
1) STA tested compost used exclusively by compost users
2) Specifications being documented for each compost application (in the agricultural
case, for each unique crop and/or cropping system)
3) Compost Use Index that integrates compost “Product Index” with Specification,
cultivar(specific plant type or crop), soil type (based on a yet to be determined soil
test) and (possibly, yet to be determined) water quality and quantity and additional
fertilizers used on the crop or cropping system
However, we soon found that the agricultural user is not only unfamiliar with the STA test
(which we expected) but is already very familiar with the OMRI Listing of composts for
organic farming. One of the main conclusions and recommendations of the study is to:
Harmonize STA other certification systems: Create a strategy and tactics (business and
marketing plan) that will create collaboration, cooperation and “harmonizing” of the
STA compost testing methods and reporting with systems OMRI, CCOF, USDA NOP,
Primus Lab, OFAC (with CDFA).
This project would endeavor to do exactly that. It would engage with various industry
participants in a collaborative process (likely ~1-2 years) to attempt to get all the current
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systems in place with all the various players, this would, initially include, at least the following
players:
 US Composting Council STA System:
http://www.compostingcouncil.org/programs/sta/
 Association of Compost Producers, Compost Use Index: www.healthysoil.org
 Organic Materials Research Institute – OMRI Listing program:
http://www.omri.org/OMRI_about_list.html
 US Department of Agriculture – National Organics Program: www.ams.usda.gov/nop/
 California Certified Organic Farmer programs: www.ccof.org
 Primus Laboratory Certification Programs: http://www.primuslabs.com/psr/platino.aspx
 Organic Fertilizer Association of California organic certification programs:
www.organicfertilizerassociation.org
 California Department of Forest and Agriculture programs and regulations:
www.cdfa.ca.gov
The goal of this project is to create a seamless, agreed upon system that will at a minimum
certify, if not guarantee, that quality organic soil amendments (compost) are being
manufactured and used throughout California.
20. Compost Quality Assurance: Eliminating, or Coordinating, Chip & Grind
Materials Manufacture & Use with Compost Manufacture & Use
One of the other discoveries of the composters in the Agricultural Compost Specifications
study, and following up with composters who were directly involved with the Caltrans, STA
specifications project, is that there are a ever growing numbers of “chip and grind” facilities that
are springing up around the state because compost facilities are too costly to permit and
maintain. What this means is that there is a lot of material that is being “manufactured” and
used that is not even compost. And since it’s not coming from a permitted compost facility and
is not being testing. And in the words of the STA program, “if it’s not STA, what is it?”
One composter in Southern California stated:
“We’ve found that Caltrans is using chipped green waste on their roadsides rather than
compost. We have found that District Project Managers are getting paid to take this
material, rather than having to pay for it. In effect, they’re get a ‘tipping fee.’ We would
really like to see Caltrans follow the law! Also, before moving forward with an extension of
STA, like with the Compost Use Index, we need a lot of support to push the current specs
with Caltrans in So. Calif.
Based on this, and other independent reports and findings from this project, we made the
recommendation in the project to:
 Disallow “Chip and Grind” facilities: The STA system, and our entire tripartite
approach to compost quality and eliminating bad experiences requires that Calrecycle
eliminate the “chip and grind” designation, since there is literally millions of tons of
“organics amendments” currently being produced without not only a compost permit
(time and temperature) but also the material is NOT being STA tested. This material
undercuts the entire efficacy of our current program. Calrecycle should disallow the
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“production” of this material.
This project would work with Calrecycle and STA composters to resolve this issue. It may
mean coming up with unique, or special specifications for this untested “chip and grind”
material. This may work itself into another project where either more research, regulations and
or demonstrations may be required.
21. Bioenergy Residuals Compost Market Development
With the national push toward renewable energy, as well as the need to proactively deal with
the manure and food wastes generated in California, it is likely that the amount of energy
produced from anaerobic digestion (AD) as well as combustion, will increase. However, all of
these facilities produce a residual that may, or may not, be suitable for use as a feedstock to
composting operations. In the permitting, manufacture and market operation of AD or woody
waste combustion facilities, the linking of the residuals with a local (or even onsite) compost
facility to stabilize and mature the solids residuals needs to be a part of the process. This
project would work with existing AD and/or combustion facilities under construction and
make/arrange special relationships with local composters and/or compost technology producers
to develop beneficial reuse (compost) manufacturing methods and case studies as well as
markets (and case studies) for market development of the residuals. The information and data
from this project would be used in the Organics Market Analysis & Investment Calculator
(Project Idea #5) and the Organics Toolbox – 2.0 (Project Idea #4).
Agricultural Water Quality Enhancement with Compost
As a part of creating quality compost for agricultural crops, creating agronomic systems that
enhance rather than degrade the water and air environments using compost, is of key importance
to creating a sustainable agricultural industry in California. This project would take existing
data on the use of compost in enhancing water quality, and apply it to specifications for
compost applications that also enhance water quality for compost use in agriculture, in general.
These new, or enhanced, compost specifications and applications would be integrated with both
the food safety approaches (See Project Idea #10) as well as the Compost Use Index (See
Project Idea #2).
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