Compost U™ Course Catalog

A day-long safety training for compost manufacturers, hosted by CREF

Presenters include

• Nellie Brown, Cornell ILSR
• Ted Dirkx, Vermeer
• Matt Cotton, IWMC
• Sarah Bulluck, St. Louis Composting

Speakers: Nellie Brown, Ted Dirkx, Matt Cotton, and Sarah Bulluck
Duration: 6 Hours
Credits: 6
Member Price: $270.00
Non-Member Price: $475.00
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This intensive day-long training from COMPOST2020 in Charleston, SC covers the basic concepts, practices and “how to’s” of commercial compost production. The course provides a broad foundation for novice compost operators, managers and regulators and refreshes veteran composters on the underlying scientific principles. Subjects include: Basic principles of composting, process insights, facility design and management, feedstock properties, qualities of compost, odor control,  major processing methods, and an overview of markets for compost. 
Serves as a review in preparation for the Certified Compost Operations Manager test or the Certified Composting Professional test.

Speakers: Bob Rynk, Matt Cotton
Duration: 6 Hours and 48 Minutes
Credits: 6.5
Member Price: $315.00
Non-Member Price: $550.00
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A Panel of Buyers and Sellers discuss what you need to know to successfully and profitably sell your business Michael Stevens, WeCare Denali: Educate participants on the process of selling their businesses. How to go about finding a buyer, the process of selling, and various aspects of completing a sale process. Discuss what aspects of a business potential buyers may find attractive. Discuss how a future seller should prepare for the sale in terms of collecting data that will be required by buyers through diligence. Kevin Bolin, Earth Holdings: Should you sell or find an investor? How can a potential seller make their business more valuable and attractive to a potential buyer or an investor. Define a transaction which fits with your goals while avoiding the landmines that exist. Discuss drivers for acquirers and then actions that can be taken to create value for a potential sale one, two, three years down the road. Ideas about qualifying a buyer or investor to meet the seller’s goals. Russell Faldik, New Earth: New Earth was grown as a family owned business from 1999-2021 when the Leonard family decided it was time to sell to strategic acquirer Denali Water Solutions. New Earth was not necessarily looking to sell, but when the right partner came along the family decided to let it go. Selling a company can be highly emotional. Negotiations and due diligence can take a toll on you and your team. The hope is discussing our experience can help you if you are considering a sale now or in the future.

Speakers: Selling Your Business Panel
Duration: 87 minutes
Credits: 1.5
Member Price: $90.00
Non-Member Price: $157.50
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In 2015 Pitkin County embarked on a journey towards significantly reducing waste and encouraging diversion; the driver for our waste diversion efforts, a rapidly filling landfill.  Pitkin County is located on the Western Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Situated in the midst of Aspen’s world-class ski resorts, tourism is the driving force of the economy. In response to the recommendations from the 2015 waste study, the County put into place a PAYT ordinance, mandating variable rates for different sized trash containers and requiring recycling to be included with trash service.  Food waste collection was not mandated but encouraged as a way to reduce waste and shrink your trash bill.  A series of ads, newspaper, and TV, as well as outreach events, were created encouraging food waste diversion.  The County promoted its SCRAPS food waste diversion program, making available six-gallon buckets with sealing lids and countertop collection bins for residents, encouraging residents and businesses to compost to reduce their trash volume.   The County’s transition to a PAYT program was a success, food waste composting was an important aspect in helping people to increase diversion and get to that smaller trash can.  Based on data from the largest hauler in Pitkin County, they were able to get approximately 30% of their customers into smaller trash cans, food waste diversion played a big role in that shift.
Speakers: Cathleen Hall
Duration: 44 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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“YP Webinar: Growing your Career in the Compost Industry! Jobs in the US may be abundant but are you positioning yourself for the best career in the compost industry? Hear what two of the largest compost manufacturers in the country look for in candidates. Learn how the USCC can give you the tools to make a positive career shift happen. From our Certification Commission to our Career Center the USCC has your back. The USCC Young Professionals Group is pleased to invite you to “Growing your Career in the Compost Industry” Sponsored by Komptech Americas. ”
Speakers: Chris Seney, Lindsey Hill, Gowri Sundaram, Cary Oshins
Duration: 65 minutes
Credits: 1.5
Member Price: $90.00
Non-Member Price: $157.50
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Life requires us to be problem solvers. Success requires us to be dreamers. Chad Hymas is both a dreamer and a problem solver. In his personal life, he has had to find new solutions to create mobility, strength, and business success. Wouldn’t you like your team to acquire those same skills? With humorous stories and innovative concepts, Chad will teach your group to . . . • Look outside the box for new and better ideas that propel you to higher returns and bigger profits • Create new mental images of success, innovation, and progress • Anticipate changing needs and new opportunities in the marketplace • Get a bird’s eye perspective of current circumstances and make long-lasting, effective changes • Sprout wings and fly faster and further than you ever thought possible Awesome for businesses going through transition, mergers, or leadership reform! This presentation is ideal to inspire employee cooperation and productivity amidst change!
Speakers: Chad Hymas
Duration: 38 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105
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This will be a presentation about customer service, providing strategies, training methods, and tackling specifc compost/soil related customer issues. We will go over how to create customer serivice culture and a reputation for a meaningful brand and repeat sales. How to use lab testing, STA Certification and local/regional labs to provide the best service for your customers. We will exam common issues, as well as break down other more intresting customer service experiances. Ultimately the presentation will be about discussing strategies to gain and maintain the trust and business of our customers and communities.
Speakers: Shota Austin
Duration: 8 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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The project objective is to identify manufactured soil mixes that support the growth of native, pollinator friendly vegetation in roadside settings. As NYSDOT’s current standard topsoil mixes have been found lacking in their ability to reliably support the establishment of native, pollinator-friendly plant populations; there is a need to develop topsoil specifications that can facilitate the establishment and subsequent growth of pollinator-friendly plant material. Develop an ecoregion map of the state, Identify dominant taxonomic soil units within each state ecoregion. Identify and characterize at least one reference site for each of the dominant taxonomic soil units within the state eco regions. Reference sites shall contain pollinator-friendly, native-plant communities. Based on data collected from the project reference sites, soil material specifications will be developed for each state ecoregion. Work with soil manufacturers to produce sample soil quantities per the soil material specifications developed for each ecoregion and estimate the costs to produce these soils.
Speakers: Jean Bonhotal
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Compost production and use in arid climates differs from temperate regions because compost and other organic matter inputs fail to persist in arid soils. We must find ways to improve finished compost to enhance its ability to store carbon and improve long-term soil health in arid cropland soils. Co-composting biochar is one potential solution to enhance both the composting process in water-limited regions and improve soil health. Adding biochar to aerobic windrows during composting has been shown to increase concentrations of slow-cycling carbon (i.e., carbon sequestration) and enhance compost’s existing benefits including water and nutrient retention. We partnered with Tanks Green Stuff to investigate the effects of co-composting commercially available biochar with dairy manure and landscape trimmings on compost quality, soil health, and crop productivity in Tucson, Arizona. We set up a field-scale wheat cropping experiment with soil treatments of (1) compost alone (control), (2) biochar plus mature compost, and (3) co-composted biochar to investigate effects on soil health, carbon storage, and crop productivity for two years. We divided plots into different irrigation treatments to investigate effects of severely and moderately reduced irrigation frequency on crop growth in each soil treatment.  We hypothesized that co-composted biochar would enhance soil health, carbon storage, and wheat growth under all irrigation regimes. To evaluate soil health throughout the two year field study, we monitored carbon cycling, nutrient cycling (nitrogen and phosphorus), and water retention. Our study revealed that co-composting biochar enhanced quality of mature compost, several components of soil health, and wheat yield. However, soil health and wheat yield improvements were not observed in treatments receiving severely infrequent irrigation. Overall, enhancing compost quality with biochar has the potential to improve cropland productivity in arid climates as long as irrigation is not severely limited.
Speakers: Shelby R Hoglund
Duration: 25 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Resource Conservation efforts are gaining traction in the world of Construction and Land Development across the Country. It’s not uncommon for State Department of Transportation Engineers to receive a variety of requests to try products on the right of way made from recycled materials, incorporate controversial materials like Municipal or Animal sludge, or even allow by products from a variety of manufacturing applications like Coal Combustion or Medicinal products. Approaching these Engineers seeking approval to apply Compost on right of way can find your efforts lost in a category labeled “Materials on Trial”. How can you separate Compost from all those others? Lets discuss some approaches.
Speakers: Donald Pearson
Duration: 41 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105
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Video is one of the top marketing tools for on online content, time to embrace it and find a strategy. VM trends are increasingly important to overall marketing strategies. In 2021, “86% of businesses indicated that they were using video as a marketing tool.” Additionally, “93% of them say it’s a critical part of their strategy, 84% of consumers have been convinced to buy a product after watching a video, and they’re twice as likely to share videos than other types of online content” (statistics credit Michael Brenner). Engage your customers with real-life content now. Learn about 2022 trends, live video opportunities on social media pages, and understand large production services are not necessary in today’s smart phone world.
Speakers: Clinton Sander
Duration: 27 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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When deciding whether to accept compostable products with food scraps – what’s in and what’s out – it pays to go beyond the lab to see how products breakdown in real-world conditions. Join a panel of field testing experts and compost manufacturers to talk about the ins and outs of on-site disintegration testing for compostable foodware and packaging. Two field testing programs and two composters will share the lay of the land and practical experiences in field testing, and how you can field test on your site. Alex Alton Thomas, Compost Manufacturing Alliance Wayne Howard, CREF Compostable Field Testing Program Marisa DeDominis, Earth Matter NYC Melissa Tashjian, Compost Crusader
Speakers: Panel
Duration: 60 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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Take a closer look at the way that aeration floors are designed by comparing temperature and oxygen piles readings gathered at high and low velocity aeration floors within the same facility. Use this data to assess the validity of the predictive models used in the industry.
Speakers: Orion Black-Brown
Duration: 23 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Learn what investors care about most when scrutinizing potential organics recycling businesses. Understanding the mindset of these stakeholders will allow facility owners and operators to avoid costly legal mistakes, obtain favorable financing, and maximize ROI.
Speakers: Kamal Daghistani
Duration: 33 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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This video discusses the tools that the Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) provides to those wanting to implement zero waste initiatives on their campus.
Speakers: Kayla Conway
Duration: 18 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Regenerative Agriculture Principles work well regardless of the environment, the foods being grown or raised, and the climate under which they are raised. Direct experiences with farms in all major climate regions and in many different production focuses shows that tremendous resilience can be achieved through proper application of the Six Principles of Soil Health and the Three Rules of Adaptive Stewardship. This resilience is exhibited through enhanced soil biological function, increased soil water infiltration and retention, better cycling of nutrients, more efficient water cycle, and a higher degree of diversity in plants, microbial species, beneficial insects, bird populations and wildlife. As you build diversity and functional capacity of the soil, the ability of the supporting ecosystem to withstand challenges and stressors improves significantly. Case studies conducted by Understanding Ag show that this resiliency and ecosystem strength are real and exist in all major climates in North America. Case studies representing the northern, eastern, southern, western, and arid climates reveal tremendous resilience in the face of floods, drought, extreme cold, heat and humidity. These case studies represent the regions from which the summit attendees are from and show impacts ranging from quicker recovery from flood, drought and fire, to positive alterations in local weather patterns. Data will be presented to support reported results and validate the ability of regenerative practices to be restorative. In summary, we will show the positive benefits of regenerative principles and practices on soil health, plant health, animal health, ecosystem and climate health to human health. These results benefit everyone, whether they are a farmer or a consumer. When regenerative agriculture is correctly applied, everyone wins.
Speakers: Allen Williams
Duration: 49 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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A risk-free environment will never exist. Therefore, employees must be self-motivated to develop a “personal safety culture” to reduce accidents. Participants will learn: -If you notice a dangerous situation you need to fix it -That safety should be a 24 hour concern -Any small accident can affect your future
Speakers: Chad Hymas
Duration: 1 hours 19 minutes
Credits: 1.5
Member Price: $90.00
Non-Member Price: $157.50
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A panel of experienced operators from accross the country will discuss the costs and benefits of using depackagers. Paneilisits include: Chris Seney, Republic Services Kevin Bolin, Organics by Gosh Patrick Geraty, St. Louis Composting Brian Fleury, Wecare Denali
Speakers: Panel
Duration: 1 hours 24 minutes
Credits: 1.5
Member Price: $90.00
Non-Member Price: $157.50
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This video gives information on the Don’t Waste Food campaign in South Carolina, with the purpose to increase awareness and educate the public.
Speakers: Juli Blalock
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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In the United States, over one-third of all available food goes uneaten through loss or waste. It is the single largest item in our everyday trash, and the largest item to go into municipal landfills. Consumers in their own homes make up the majority of food waste in America – more than grocery stores, restaurants, or any other part of the supply chain. However, most American consumers are either unaware of the problem, or they just don’t care.  Turn is a DFW based composting service that is focused on a subscription model for consumers that educates, motivates, and equips them to compost. We have three different product levels for consumers in paid private model with no municipal support or funding. Throughout the pandemic, our residential composting subscription service actually increased. We will provide analysis and research on what are the motivators and detractors for consumers from using our service. We will talk through creative techniques we have utilized to bring awareness and understanding to consumers in our community. We will also provide analysis (quant and qual research) of people that do not use our service and are not interested in composting. Ultimately this will have a social psychology tone to it. Getting down to the ‘why’ and ‘why not’ of composting from a broad swath of demographics in our local community.
Speakers: Lauren Clarke
Duration: 33 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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Description coming soon
Speakers: Sally Brown
Duration: 18 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video talks about Project Drawdown, the effort to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but to reach a point in which the greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere decline.
Speakers: Katharine Wilkinson
Duration: 43 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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Description coming soon
Speakers: Paul Hawken
Duration: 1 hours 2 minutes
Credits: 1.5
Member Price: $90.00
Non-Member Price: $157.50
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In this session, Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli will summarize the growing network of community composters and their benefits in promoting a circular economy in which compost is used within the same area in which the food scraps are generated. She serves on the Steering Committee of the Community Composter Coalition, convened by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Meredith will share data on the Coalition’s 170 organizational members: the number and type of operations, tons of food scraps collected and composted, key challenges, and more.
Speakers: Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli
Duration: 17 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Project Drawdown has done a pragmatic assessment of transformational changes that will be necessary to curtail global warming. When we analyze these projects, we find many of them can be clustered into a broader narrative of Organic Circularity. Researchers in Georgia have adopted the Project Drawdown methodology and created a hierarchy of initiatives to achieve carbon emission reductions for the State. Composting is one of those key initiatives. Dr. Jeff Mullen, an agricultural economist from the University of Georgia, is leading the food systems component of this initiative with a collection of colleagues from Georgia Tech and Emory University. In this talk, Dr. Mullen will share insights into methodologies and pilot programs being initiated to help the State of Georgia achieve sustainability goals through implementation of composting and reduction of food waste. Supporting this narrative, Gary Robinson from TIPA Corp will share insights into the work being done to expand consumer access to composting while helping prevent food waste. This includes exploring novel technologies, field testing, and advocacy work to collectively help us achieve the objectives of Project Drawdown.
Speakers: Gary Robinson
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Zero Foodprint is a 501.c3 leading public private collaborations with governments in CA, CO to scale carbon farming. We generate funds from businesses and citizens and depoly grants in conjunction with trusted conservation networks like the Conservation Districts and Cooperative Extensions. We are scaling this circular economy with a long term vision of enabling direct investment and incentivization of healthy soil at the infrastructural level, much in the way citizens can directly invest in renewable energy through CCA frameworks. Approximately 75% of our grants involve compost projects and so our work falls squarely in the category of market development for compost with a focus on carbon farming and regional governmental climate action plans. An example success would be for a given city or county to add $1 or $5 per month on the trash bill to “improve the grid of food” by funding the widespread creation of compost and application on agricultural lands. Leading business could also opt-in to add a 1% fee. We are in the very early stages of piloting this work in collaboration with governments in CA and CO and regulatory circumstances relating to SB1383 are creating exciting opportunities around direct service provision, and the establishment of a compost marketplace that can optimize the climate benefit of the expanding compost economy.
Speakers: Anthony Myint
Duration: 17 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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We will summarize the FSMA Produce Safety Rule standards in Subpart F, the current FDA risk assessment associated with BSAAO, and associated research efforts. Commonly-used BSAAO will be discussed, including how these requirements may affect the compost industry. We will outline additional benefits and challenges of using treated BSAAO, and identify science-based management strategies to minimize food safety risks associated with the use of BSAAO, especially in light of pre-existing recommendations and programs.
Speakers: David Ingram
Duration: 16 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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successes, challenges and opportunities for organics management
Speakers: Natasha Duarte
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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How to make more with what you got! Methods to successfully meeting market demands.
Speakers: Shota Austin
Duration: 12 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video discusses the certification process of compostable products, and more specifically, the use of the compound PFAS (fluorinated chemicals) and its concerns.
Speakers: Rhodes Yepsen
Duration: 24 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Managing an operation can mean many things, but managing a composting operation has some specific traits that should be considered among all operators in all situations. This presentation will address some serious blunders and some paths to success that may be useful to those managing, supporting, regulating, or working with a composting project. Whether a small or large facility, operations management principles and a plan are essential. These principles focus on safety, environmental compliance, and a business plan that allows for the necessary resources to carry these challenges out sustainably.
Speakers: Jeff Ziegenbein
Duration: 43 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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New policies and regulations are creating a need for organics management facilities.  Additionally, an increased interest in composting at the community-level is also driving community-based composting operations. The presentation will discuss factors that impact feasibility and design of composting projects, including but not limited to incoming waste stream volumes, food waste collection and processing options, site requirements, air and water quality issues, permitting challenges and life-cycle costs. Additionally, we will discuss two feasibility studies that assisted with decision making and overall system design.
Speakers: Tracie Bills
Duration: 23 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Add more- that was the official extension recommendation for phosphorus fertilization for many decades. Phosphorus is tightly bound in most soils. This nutrient has a strong affinity for reactive groups on soil particles including iron, aluminum and calcium. In order to make sure plants had access to enough P, extension agents typically recommended applications well in excess of plant requirements. That paradigm had a sudden shift about 30 years ago when scientists realized that heavily loaded soils could release P in cases of erosion and even by movement through the soil profile. The era of excess P was born. New soil tests have been developed to measure excess P. New rules restricting use of P have been promulgated in many areas. This new paradigm does not typically recognize the importance of recycling P through use of residuals -based amendments. At about the same time, there has been a recognition of the limited P reserves for production of additional P fertilizers. Reuse of residuals can be the answer to both P saturated soils and low reserves of phosphorus ore. Residuals typically provide slow release P and increase the soils’ ability to bind P, and reduces the movement of water that leaches P. Also, in areas where excess P is an issue, other materials can be added to compost to help bind P, as a designer compost product.
Speakers: Sally Brown
Duration: 17 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video discusses compost use in green infrastructure, and the sales methods used to get into this market.
Speakers: Ryan Cerrato
Duration: 26 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video goes into the chemistry of salinity in soils, and how it can have negative effects in certain environments if not managed.
Speakers: David Weindorf
Duration: 34 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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Exceptional Quality (EQ) biosolids are valuable sources of organic matter and nutrients for rehabilitation of disturbed urban soils. The remediation of such soils can be hastened by frequent application of EQ biosolids or at rates traditionally employed for the reclamation of mine land soils. While reclamation rates may improve the quality and ability of such soils to support vegetation, the risk of buildup of excessive concentrations of soluble P as a surface water contaminant risk must be addressed. Two clayey urban soils were amended with various formulations and rates of EQ biosolids, including those composted, for the production of turfgrass and garden vegetables. Biosolids were applied to an acid urban soil annually for 4 of 5 years from 2013 to 2018 at rates designed to provide ample plant available N for tall fescue turfgrass. Biosolids were applied to a calcareous urban subsoil annually from 2016 to 2018 at rates designed to provide 1x and 5x the recommended plant available N rate for a variety of fall and spring vegetable crops. Organic C was increased from 1% in the acid turfgrass soil to 3.5% with the composted biosolids, and from 1% in the calcareous vegetable garden soil to 2.5% with the composted biosolids. Soil test P increased to high concentrations with the high biosolids P application rates to each soil; however, the initially very low soil test P concentrations typical of disturbed urban prevented soil P levels from posing significant water impairment risks. Soil compaction was alleviated by the composted biosolids which reduced bulk density from 1.1 g/cm^3 with the synthetic fertilizer to 0.73 g/cm^3 with the composted biosolids in the top two inches of the turfgrass soils and from 1.34 g/cm^3 to 1.16 g/cm^3 in the vegetable garden soil. Co-Author/s: Odiney Alvarez-Campos, Virginia Tech, odineyac@vt.edu // Mike Badzmierowski, Virginia Tech, mikejb7@vt.edu
Speakers: Gregory Evanylo
Duration: 1 hours 29 minutes
Credits: 1.5
Member Price: $90.00
Non-Member Price: $157.50
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This video discusses exceptional quality biosolids, and the experiments done comparing soil amendments to determine which would be more beneficial for urban agriculture.
Speakers: Gregory Evanylo
Duration: 36 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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Among the many benefits of compost to soil is the addition of organic matter to soils. Organic matter increases nutrient- and water-holding capacity, adds slow-release nutrients, builds soil structure, and reduces compaction. However, many people misunderstand how to calculate the number of cubic yards of compost to add, in order to follow industry recommendations or specifier requirements for the target % organic matter. To understand how to do this calculation, the bulk density of both the target soil and the compost product in question are needed. This talk will discuss what organic matter is, how addition of compost changes soil physical and chemical properties, and how we can best measure those properties.
Speakers: Doug Collins
Duration: 28 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Although interest in organically managing turfgrass has grown, research regarding the benefits of compost tea application on turfgrass is relatively recent and limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of compost tea applications on overall turf quality and soil microbial activity. Evaluations of turfgrass were based on The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program’s guidelines and included color, turf density, overall density, percent living, and texture. Soil samples were analyzed for chemical attributes and microbial activity. The four sites of this study included: 1) soil drench compost tea application and irrigation, 2) soil drench compost tea application and no irrigation), 3) no compost tea application and irrigation, and 4) no compost tea application and no irrigation. Fifteen soil samples and turf quality observations were collected for pretest data. Then, post-test data were collected after each additional seasonal test period over the course of one year for each of the four locations. Of the four locations, the site which received compost tea applications and regular irrigation received statistically significantly higher turf quality ratings, and compost tea improved turf quality ratings beyond that of regular irrigation. Microbial populations appeared to be highest in soil samples of irrigated-compost tea treatment areas compared to control (non-treated) and non-irrigated areas. Microbial populations also increased in treated non-irrigated areas. Overall, the study results provide evidence of the value of compost tea to overall turf quality and beneficial soil microbial populations.  
Speakers: Nicole Wagner
Duration: 18 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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The Construction Industry is highly regulated and soil specifications are becoming more specific with every project. With increased demand comes the increased opportunity for Compost Manufactures to capitalize on these trends. While all Compost Manufacturers possess the necessary ingredients to create the soil, the requisite knowledge remains the greatest barrier to entry. Ascertaining the knowledge provides Compost Manufactures with another higher margin outlet for their compost. Most regulations are overseen by some form of government and understanding their unique soil specifications is only the starting point. Understanding which laboratories can generate acceptable tests, which tests and forms must be completed, and the timeline and frequency of testing. Demonstrating dedication to compliance and adherence to each specification will develop a strategic partnership with each government you work with.  Once you understand the specifications of any soil you choose to manufacture, you will be in need of a construction materials testing firm. Most specifications will indicate which specific tests/methods must be included with a submittal. Generally, all tests must also be conducted by an accredited laboratory with a current certification. Finding a testing firm that can supply acceptable testing results on time and within budget will improve your ability to supply any soil you choose to manufacture. Not to mention, the relationship cultivated with the testing firm can provide invaluable knowledge in the future. Lastly, Manufacturers must understand and embrace the end-user of these manufactured soils, in most cases Construction Companies. By now, you will know what information and tests you will need to share with Construction Companies and when they will need it. You can cultivate relationships with whomever may be responsible for purchasing decisions within the companies you supply. Creating an open dialogue with your consumers will provide you with feedback and insight into additional manufactured soil opportunities. 
Speakers: Tyler Scott Wright
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Applying compost to rangelands has proven to increase the Soil Organic Matter and therefore, sequestering carbon under the ground for years to come.
Speakers: Erin Levine
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Agrilab Technologies Inc. (AGT) is one of the teams funded through the Vermont Phosphorus (P) Innovation Challenge. The larger effort seeks to reduce P loading to Lake Champlain and other Vermont waters through new practices. AGT is setting up a network of on-farm composting and P processing sites to stabilize and fortify compost with concentrated P from livestock manure sources. End products are anticipated to better distribute and apply P within farm operations, within watersheds and for export. This specialty P-fortified product will reduce P moving to undesirable locations and keep it where it is a highly valued fertilizer and soil amendment for growing crops.”
Speakers: Brian Jerose
Duration: 30 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
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The free-floating algae known as sargassum (Sargassum fluitans and Sargassum natans) drifts onto coastlines throughout the Atlantic Ocean during spring and summer months.  Beach communities seek to maintain tourist appeal and remove or relocate the sargassum drifts collecting on shore.  Maintenance efforts have attempted to incorporate sargassum into dunes.  However, not all communities have the resources to manage the biomass and must dispose of it in a landfill.  The utility of the seaweed biomass as a fertilizer for plant growth has been renowned for centuries.  The purpose of this project was to evaluate the appropriate proportion of sargassum to other compost ingredients used in a large-scale composting system to create a quality product for utilization in horticultural and/or agricultural products.  This study used approximately 32 yard^3 of sargassum as part of 96 yard^3 of compost material, which also included food waste, fish waste and wood chips.  Four protocols were prepared and included either 25% or 41.5% sargassum and various proportions of food or fish waste and wood chips, ingredients that would be readily available in coastline communities, to determine the ideal ratios of materials to create a quality compost.  Piles were turned regularly and monitored for compost industry standards.  All final compost products and protocols were of reasonable quality to those required by current compost standards. However, the protocol incorporating equal parts sargassum (41.5%) and wood chips (41.5%), fish waste (4%), and food waste (13%) had the best results in terms of organic matter content and overall nutrient levels.  Therefore, this study determined waste management industries can utilize sargassum as a feedstock through a large-scale composting system to create a desirable compost product that could be used in the horticulture industries.  Sargassum could also be composted and returned to the shoreline where it would build soils and vegetation.
Speakers: Tina Marie Cade
Duration: 18 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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The Illinois State University Farm (Lexington, IL, USA) has been composting food scraps, landscape waste and livestock waste on a routine basis since 1993. This facility annually composts about 7,500 to 11,500 cubic meters of leaves, 3,000 to 4,000 cubic meters of grass clippings and yard waste, less than 750 cubic meters of sawdust and woodchips, 750,000 liters of separated biosolids from liquid swine manure, 190,000 liters of unprocessed liquid swine manure and 11,500 cubic meters of livestock manure/bedding. Starting in 2010, a research study was implemented to evaluate soybean (Glycine max) and corn (Zea mays) productivity in response to solid-separated compost application. The entire experimental site has uniform soil (Parr-Libson-Drummer Association). The 4.0 ha site has been split into three equal ‘plots’. One plot is the zero-rate control, the second plot received compost (at 18 Mg/ha, dry weight basis), and the third plot received traditional fertilizers.  Representative agronomic practices for most Illinois producers (except for compost) have been utilized for these plots at this experimental site. Soil samples and plant tissue and productivity data were collected for several growing seasons. Preliminary results indicate that corn and soybean yield was similar between compost and fertilizer plots. The application of compost also increased soil P levels, as compared to the zero-rate control. The ultimate impact of this study is to maintain high crop yield and productivity in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable manner.
Speakers: Ken Smicilas
Duration: 27 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Composts are increasingly used as components of growing media for greenhouse, nursery and garden crops. While they are known to improve chemical, physical and biological properties that impact plant health, little is known about the specific effects of compost amendments on the composition of microbial communities in these media. In this study, microbial consortia were characterized in growing media containing different amounts and types of composts. Ribosomal RNA gene and intergenic spacer region sequencing with bacterial and fungal specific PCR primers were used to amplify DNA isolated from growing media in containers after 0, 1 and 2 months in a greenhouse environment. The amplified sequences were compared to 16S gene and ITS sequence databases to identify and quantify individual microorganisms in the growing media. In one experiment, a peat/pine bark mix was prepared with 0, 10 and 20% leaf compost. The mixes were potted with a single birch tree seedling (Betula nigra ‘Cully’) and amended with controlled release fertilizer. In another, a biosolids compost and a leaf compost, with and without gamma irradiation, were used as amendments at 20% v/v and potted with sunflower (Helianthus annuus ‘Pacino Gold’) (n=6). Gamma irradiation (25 kGy for 30 minutes) largely destroyed the microbial community in the composts reducing the culturable bacteria by 99.9%. Results showed that microbial communities in media mixes differed from those in peat, bark or compost alone, and most closely resembled those in composts. After 1 and 2 months, the communities in all of the mixes became similar to one another and differed substantially from the initial mixes and feedstocks. Microbial communities in irradiated and control mixes differed initially but became similar after 2 months. Sunflower grew more slowly initially in irradiated compost amended mixes. Microbial community structure was affected most by media age, then by compost type, then irradiation.  
Speakers: Frederick Michel
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Our collaborative partnership explores the science and application of compost amendments to steep slopes.
Speakers: Rebecca Ryals
Duration: 16 minutes
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We will seek to show that compost use was effective or ineffective at improving hemp production and the costs associated with the experiment and potential costs if compost usage were scaled up.
Speakers: Jim Davis
Duration: 15 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video goes over the experiments done on hemp production and how compost can affect growth and pH levels.
Speakers: Jim Davis
Duration: 23 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video gives background on the science of soil, and the research done to determine how different soil systems can affect carbon sequestration.
Speakers: Jessica Chiartas
Duration: 33 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
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This video gives information on the Compost Manufacturing Alliance and its educational and legislative efforts to reduce contamination.
Speakers: Susan Thoman
Duration: 13 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video gives advice on how to have breakthroughs and encourage innovation in organizations and companies.
Speakers: Ted Dirkx
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses how and what types of mobile technology can be used to assist compost facilities in becoming more efficient.
Speakers: Sashti Balasundaram
Duration: 15 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Persistent herbicides (PH) pose an existential threat to commercial, municipal and community composting, and to the emerging circular economy. PH have been found in composts in many states and have cost compost producers millions of dollars. A survey of US Compost Council members composts revealed that approximately 4% of ready to sell composts have phytotoxic levels of PH. Common garden plants including tomato and bean are sensitive to these compounds at concentrations below 10 ppb. Chemical analysis is inconsistent and requires expensive liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry equipment, as well as highly trained analytical chemists, to detect in composts at these concentrations. A number of bioassays have been developed for the detection of these compounds. Methods differ in plant species used, watering methods, mix rations, and rating systems. In my work I applied some of these past methods to create an easy to use and follow approach that anyone could do. I started with the general peat moss and compost ratios and worked up to an approach that does not use potted plants at all, but soil blocks in planting trays. A clay based soilless media was tried but proved to be ineffective and temperamental and thus disqualified for further investigation. Soil blocks proved to be effective as many plant species and samples could be analyzed in series with minimal equipment and experimental footprint in a green house or under grow lights indoors. I found that most methods used large quantities of material, while not all that much is required to get representative samples. The best bioassay is the one that is used and detect PH at phytotoxic levels, and this approach is a fair and measured approach that can be used by compost producers to screen their ready to sell compost for potential PH contamination.
Speakers: Gerard Braun
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses the issues behind odor in compost facilities, and what methods you can use to control it by looking at the science of why it happens.
Speakers: Tim O’Neill
Duration: 28 minutes
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This video discusses persistent herbicide contamination, and how the levels of each compounds change in the composting process and application to plants.
Speakers: Fred Michel
Duration: 20 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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San Antonio now has the first composting operation in the western hemisphere using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to remove contaminants prior to composting. In partnership with several companies, the patent-pending NOCRAP (Non-Organics Contamination Removal Automation Process) was installed in Spring 2020 and uses shredding and screening to increase the effectiveness of the picking. The AI robots use computer vision and machine learning to continually improve the removal of contaminants and learn how to identify new materials. Come learn about the challenges and solutions we have experience and where the future of the composting industry is heading.
Speakers: Michael Larrivee
Duration: 11 minutes
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This video discusses temperature regulation in composting, and how it can be used to destroy pathogens such as the swine parasite.
Speakers: Rick Carr
Duration: 21 minutes
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This video analyzes the accuracy of the testing process for air emissions in composting facilities, and goes over the information gained from the investigation.
Speakers: Andrew Carpenter
Duration: 40 minutes
Credits: 1.0
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Composting is a microbial process that converts organic waste materials into valuable organic matter rich in plant nutrients that is of great value to farmers and home gardeners.  The methods used to produce compost have a strong influence on the compost’s microbial community during the process and this in turn determines the greenhouse gases released and the quality of the final product.  Since microbes cannot be seen directly, it is difficult for producers to recognize when conditions in the composting process have gone awry and to make the appropriate adjustments.  This can lead to variation across batches and result in unreliable performance in the field that undermines consumer confidence. Methods exist to perform DNA sequencing of the microbial community during the composting process but they have historically been too expensive and slow to be practical for producers and are typically only used by researchers.  The situation is changing with the advent of new low-cost, hand-held DNA sequencers and mobile sequencing laboratories.  It is now possible to perform on-site DNA sequencing in real-time at a reduced cost that is projected to continue to drop.  This emerging technology presents many possibilities for enhancing the compost industry by ensuring greater compost quality and enabling development of customized products for amending soils, suppressing pathogens, and supporting target crops. In this talk, I will present the latest developments in DNA sequencing technology and discuss how it could be applied during the composting process to enhance compost quality.  I will provide information on costs, equipment, and skills needed to perform the sequencing.  I will also offer ideas on how these technologies might be used to establish new compost standards that enhance product consistency.  These tools will promote expanded use of compost by improving customer satisfaction with the consistent positive performance of the compost they buy.
Speakers: Laura Kavanaugh
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses composting and biopiles, and the experiments done to find a method that can effectively inactivate CWD prions.
Speakers: Rob Michitsch
Duration: 26 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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We will summarize the FSMA Produce Safety Rule standards in Subpart F, the current FDA risk assessment associated with BSAAO, and associated research efforts. Commonly-used BSAAO will be discussed, including how these requirements may affect the compost industry. We will outline additional benefits and challenges of using treated BSAAO, and identify science-based management strategies to minimize food safety risks associated with the use of BSAAO, especially in light of pre-existing recommendations and programs.
Speakers: Billy Mitchell
Duration: 7 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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We will summarize the FSMA Produce Safety Rule standards in Subpart F, the current FDA risk assessment associated with BSAAO, and associated research efforts. Commonly-used BSAAO will be discussed, including how these requirements may affect the compost industry. We will outline additional benefits and challenges of using treated BSAAO, and identify science-based management strategies to minimize food safety risks associated with the use of BSAAO, especially in light of pre-existing recommendations and programs.
Speakers: Donna Clements
Duration: 23 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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The NJ Composting Council in the last 3 years has gone from formation to influencing policy by building a coalition that includes composting industry members, like minded non-profits, academics, current and former regulators, and even groups who some might find odd partners. This coalition included both grassroots organizations and small companies as well as the biggest composters in the country so those sitting at the table with us know we have the interest of climate change, sustainability, and economics. While putting it together was not easy, it has built our credibility and image quickly allowing us to influence policy on food waste diversion bills, compostable products and regulations. A strong educational program has been the foundation for building this coalition alongside an understanding of the issues faced by composters generally but by your state in particular.
Speakers: Isaac Bearg
Duration: 12 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video gives information on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and how different models can be utilized for composting.
Speakers: Michael Bryan-Brown
Duration: 31 minutes
Credits: 1.0
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Speakers: Neil Rhodes, Edgar Yepsen
Duration: 1 hours 3 minutes
Credits: 1.5
Member Price: $90.00
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For decades, compost (and other organic recycled product) application rates have been governed by the amount of plant available nitrogen they provide. However, over the last 5-10 years, concerns about phosphorous application, and its effect on the environment, have led to State regulation limiting its application. Currently, 16 states have phosphorus regulation in place, and in many states, it limits the amount of compost that can be used in specific applications. In most states, politically expedient and not scientifically valid regulations have been established. The hardest hit markets are turf maintenance, which can be high value markets for compost.   The paper will outline Findings identified in the development of a Minnesota white paper on phosphorous risk in various applications of compost, Suggestions on limiting phosphorous risk, Options for how the composting industry can curtail the expansion of phosphorous regulation, and New labeling options for promoting the slowly releasing nature of phosphorous.
Speakers: Ronald Alexander
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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SB 1383 is an ambitious attempt in California to simultaneously address both climate change and resource management. Focussing on methane reduction, SB 1383 is anticipated to create hundreds of new residential, commercial and institutional food scrap collection programs, adding to CA’s already robust composting infrastructure. This presentation will provide a quick overview of the legislation and it’s multi-pronged approach, followed by an update on early administrative efforts and finally a sneak peak at how Californian’s are implementing this aspirational goal, implications for jurisdictions, and on compost markets. The presentation will focus on lesson’s learned, challenges faced, and impacts for future policy makers. The talk will also present results of CalRecycle’s most recent SB 1383 Infrastructure and Markets Study.
Speakers: Matt Cotton
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Like in other states, almost 30% (by weight) of the disposed load in Washington is organic material. As Washington takes major steps to enact climate change policy, diversion of this landfill load to avoid generation of a super emitter gas – methane – is now under serious consideration.  The imperative to address food waste has particularly caught the attention of decision-makers. In 2020, Zero Waste Washington interviewed 63 organic waste agency and industry staff and researchers from Washington. Based on those interviews, literature review and assessment of current data, we produced a report identifying existing organic waste flows, barriers and opportunities for management and concluded with 37 policy recommendations for Washington. The identified barriers to expanding organic waste management ranged from logistical challenges (including apple maggot quarantine restrictions) and business models that depend on external factors to tipping fees, regulatory interpretations, air quality emission factors (based on California’s conditions), and knowledge disconnects.  We also reviewed organics management legislation in the US and abroad, including implementation, so we can benefit from lessons learned. A stakeholder process was initiated in July 2021 and continued through December, to work through technical issues and regulatory and funding questions for a Washington-tailored major policy directive for landfill diversion, edible food rescue, and infrastructure expansion. This talk will highlight the results of the study and the current status of the stakeholder discussion results as we coalesce around significant policy to be introduced in early 2022.
Speakers: Xenia Dolovova
Duration: 14 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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successes, challenges and opportunities for organics management
Speakers: Natasha Duarte
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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How to move your state on the new path of supporting Organics and food diversion Programs.
Speakers: Jairo Gonzalez
Duration: 25 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses phosphorous (P) applications, and how there are better ways to regulate its use depending on the soil type and phosphorous type.
Speakers: Ron Alexander
Duration: 30 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Before we can sell more compost, we need to be able to talk about it with Clarity – Confidence – Consistency! We listened – throughout the past few years and the past few days – and developed easy-to-repeat messaging and tools you can use TODAY to increase compost’s brand awareness through STA! Our STA Ambassadors will share feedback gathered from Conference attendees, to help bring clarity to the program for both STA Participants and those on the fence. STA is an excellent program that’s been developed over 20 years, and with this new focus, will unify all of the industry!
Speakers: Clinton Sanders, Suzanne Longacre
Duration: 8 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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In order to successfully operate compost sites, managers must find a home for their finished products.  In this session we’ll give an overview on developing markets, and moving large, and small volumes of compost.  Get a broad overview of finding projects, working with and educating architects, and developing relationships with contractors and customers to successfully move compost off your site!  
Speakers: Ryan Cerrato
Duration: 28 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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The composting industry can benefit from further documenting compost application instructions and benefits of end use, as well as quantifying and monetizing their benefits whenever possible. Good data exists which quantifies soil and plant improvement through compost usage in many applications, but actually monetizing the benefits is much more difficult.   Understanding this, the CREF has begun the development of the “Compost Application ROI Library” which is to be comprised of concise compost product application data sheets that provide users (as well as product specifiers, soil/crop consultants) with application specifications and quantified benefits so they may better assess the value of compost application.   The paper will outline the deliverables of the project, review the tools that were developed, and explain how to use them expand compost sales.
Speakers: Ronald Alexander
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses evaluating the performance of composting analysis labs, and assessing accuracy and precision using the proficiency testing programs.
Speakers: Robert Miller
Duration: 51 minutes
Credits: 1.0
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Solid waste facilities are coming under pressure to adapt to organics legislation seeking to divert organics (predominantly food waste) from the municipal solid waste stream.  Food waste recycling can create economic benefits in addition to environmental ones. Most organics legislation puts the burden for source separation and organics diversion on the food waste generator. Tetra Tech has developed a geographic information system (GIS) to perform food waste generation market analyses to help assess the feasibility of such programs. These analyses provide valuable information for investors, solid waste facilities, and waste haulers to assess the potential impact to their operations and direct strategic planning. Food waste generators can use the GIS mapping for locating recyclers or to demonstrate a lack of relevant options under an organics diversion law. GIS-based applications and queries can be customized to meet the needs of a facility planning to incorporate organics recycling. These tools can estimate market potential based on site-specific generator data. Many solid waste facilities are located within or near disadvantaged communities and are looking for ways to be a good neighbor through job creation, clean energy use/generation and reducing emission. Queries can be formulated to focus on specific generator categories, including waste hauling route efficiencies, or reflect legal settings such as waste flow regulations and environmental justice considerations, among other challenges. This presentation will demonstrate the implementation of GIS tools and showcase several potential applications for a variety of stakeholders, including organics recycling facilities, waste haulers, operators of solid waste facilities, generators, regulators, and local and regional planners. Tetra Tech will present a case study of a solid waste facility where the site operator wanted to understand the landfill gas/organics tonnage they could potentially lose with the new commercial organics ban and evaluate the potential benefit of developing an onsite organics recycling program.  
Speakers: Debra Darby
Duration: 18 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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We open under a microscope. It’s dead quiet. Tiny little particles bounce around at random like the white ball in the classic Atari game, Pong. As we zoom in to take a closer look, the movements begin to slow; we begin to hear the first notes of Debussy’s Clair de Lune.  Through a series of macro shots, we see soil slowly being peeled from the earth’s surface. A mixture of wood and organic matter suspended in space, an explosion of oxygen and fuel combusting into a ball of fire. The combination of tranquil cinematography and classical music is meditative, even mesmerizing. For a moment, we are entirely absorbed. CUT TO: The ear-piercing roar of an engine disrupts our dream-like state. From afar, we see a John Deere tractor pulling a compost-turner. Debris erupts from the massive horizontal blender consuming everything in its sight. In the distance, we can hear microbes screaming for their life, knowing all too well, their date with destiny has come. FADE TO BLACK: This presentation will advise businesses to consider the importance of writing their own story. The script above paints very different pictures of a compost operation, evoking varied emotions. As a USC professor once told me, you can’t sit with your ass between two chairs. From the consumer’s perspective, the compost marketplace can be confusing; finding your brand’s unique story can not only help them choose your product but create brand loyalty lasting long after the sale. More often than not, entrepreneurs start with the product, leaving the marketing for another day. This presentation will challenge that instinct. Identifying your demographic, creating positioning statements, conducting focus groups, and determining who you want to be are daunting tasks. I’ll discuss our approach, similarities in filmmaking, lessons learned, and keys to success. 
Speakers: Adam Brummond
Duration: 15 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Although it may be hard to believe, not everyone stares at only their phone or computer screens. As such, not all marketing needs to be digital. Traditional marketing, also known as physical marketing, has taken a backseat to today’s focus on digital marketing programs. Currently, many companies believe physical marketing materials are a thing of the past, and therefore exclusively utilize digital platforms for all their marketing. This mentality could and will limit your ability to effectively market your products and services. Yes, digital marketing needs to be a major focus of your marketing program, but that doesn’t mean using physical marketing materials are not beneficial in today’s digital environment. Using physical marketing materials to amplify your digital campaigns is highly beneficial for your business, by helping to create impactful promotional campaigns and strengthen brand awareness. This session will highlight the many benefits of utilizing physical marketing materials which have stronger impacts on customers and prospects. By outlining how printed material should be used to complement your online marketing programs, you will gain insight why this will drive traffic to your website and increase the efficacy of your digital programs. Learn how utilizing printed materials, such as brochures, signs, and various promotional materials will create stronger awareness of your products and generate higher sales & profits.
Speakers: Gary Gittere
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Mark Twain said “Synergy – the bonus that is achieved when things work together harmoniously.” Learn how to create synergy, excitement and engagement with other stakeholders to promote compost use. Building on events such as International Compost Awareness Week and World Landscape Architect Month provide great opportunities to target and reach influencers within and outside the compost industry.
Speakers: Suzanne Longacre
Duration: 20 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video goes over the use of compost blankets for erosion control, and does research on whether the DOT across states follow the recommendations discovered from compost erosion control.
Speakers: Charles Duprey
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses the composting program in Denver, Colorado, mentioning the resources and partnerships made to create a closed loop system.
Speakers: Tay Dunklee
Duration: 32 minutes
Credits: 1.0
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This video discusses the benefits of using STA certified compost, and how it can improve quality of the terrain for the Department of Transportations roadways.
Speakers: Luis Chamorro
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Marketing your finished compost and compost-based products can provide significant income, often making the difference between net profit and loss.But for municipal governments and agencies, who are service-driven and not for-profit, even the act of selling compost can be controversial.Fear of accusations of unfair competition with the private sector is an issue.Just managing the bureaucracy can be a hurdle.Listen to 3 municipal compost managers explain how they are working to overcome these and other barriers in this interactive session. Introduction and Moderator: Ron Alexander, R. Alexander Associates, Inc. Panelists: Tim Gainer – City of Raleigh (Yard Debris), Elliot Schneider – City of St Peters (Biosolids and Yard Debris (separate products)), Jeff Ziegenbein – Inland Empire Utilities Agency (Biosolids)
Speakers: Jeff Ziegenbein
Duration: 1 hours 31 minutes
Credits: 2.0
Member Price: $120.00
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This video discusses the past, present, and future of composting, from talking about its history and when it started, where it is now, and how things have changed to impact its future.
Speakers: Mike Carignan
Duration: 15 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses safety management, going beyond compliance and focusing on how company culture can affect behavior and safety.
Speakers: Justin Ganschow
Duration: 1 hours 28 minutes
Credits: 1.5
Member Price: $90.00
Non-Member Price: $157.50
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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that has been detected in cervid (e.g. deer, elk, moose) populations across the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, and South Korea. CWD, like other TSEs, is a progressively degenerative neurological disease caused by a misfolded protein known as a prion. The course of the disease consists of abnormal behavior, emaciation, and ultimately death. Prions are extremely persistent in the environment, including in soils . Additionally, prions also remain infectious when bound to soil particles, survive many chemical treatments, and can be taken up through the vascular systems of plants. In Wisconsin, disposal of CWD-positive hunter-harvested deer is the responsibility of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Of the licensed landfills in Wisconsin, only 12 will accept CWD-positive carcasses, limiting disposal options for infected materials and increasing costs for proper disposal. Increasing regulations on disposal, meant to limit CWD spread, have further increased cost and time for landfills and has highlighted the need for alternative disposal methods. Composting has been shown to be effective at reducing recalcitrant organic contaminants and is a common waste disposal method for animal carcasses. The high microbial activity and temperatures achieved during composting raises the possibility that this method could deactivate infectious CWD prions. Previous studies suggest that composting may have some efficacy in this regard, but this has yet to be demonstrated using whole tissues. In this study we are investigating the effectiveness of composting for inactivation of CWD prions using whole and butchered carcasses. If successful, these methods will provide much needed relief to agencies seeking alternative means of CWD infected waste disposal. Preliminary data from two experiments will be presented regarding the composting process, media nutrient contents, and CWD prion presence/absence. This project includes increased microbial analysis thanks to the Compost Research Education Foundation.
Speakers: Alex Alton Thomas
Duration: 26 minutes
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This talk covers the “voluntary (ie, non-regulatory) approach” to labeling–what compostable product manufcturers and distributors that accept the BPI Certification are required to do
Speakers: Wendell Simonson
Duration: 24 minutes
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In 2021 BPI released a Roadmap to address the top barriers to the acceptance and successful processing of certified compostable products. The Roadmap was a culmination of a series of BioCycle-facilitated workshops with stakeholders from across the value chain — composters, haulers, municipalities, foodservice operators, brands, and compostable product companies. The goal was to “build consensus for a single set of acceptability criteria so that compostable products can be accepted and successfully processed by a broader set of composters processing food scraps.” We will examine the top barriers, along with “future states” where these barriers cease to be an issue, and projects that will help get us there. You will hear about progress that’s being made on regulatory Inconsistency, contamination, infrastructure funding, compostability standards, and Organic agriculture rules.
Speakers: Rhodes Yepsen
Duration: 30 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Presentation will walk attendees through the USCC’s Compost Manufacturers’ Decision Making Guide to Accepting or Rejecting Compostable Products, released in September 2021 and written by BioCycle Associates. The Guide includes key observations regarding composting certified compostable products, a Decision Tree, and accompanying worksheets that cover composting site assessment, business implications, feedstock source control, composting equipment assessment, and compost manufacturing operations assessment. The final sections of the Guide include Interactive Worksheets to help determine if your facility is a candidate to accept and successfully compost compostable products, and a spreadsheet to assess the financial viability of of accepting food scraps with compostable products included.
Speakers: Cary Oshins
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Is PFAS in biosolids composts a concern? Measured concentrations will be compared against regulatory guidance values.
Speakers: Todd Williams
Duration: 26 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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There are few things more frustrating to an organics recycling professional than contamination. In the case of organics, there is no “silver bullet” for addressing the challenges posed by materials that contaminate the source-separated waste stream. In this session, Rubicon’s Director of Circular Economy Solutions, Ryan Cooper, will discuss, alongside panelists from Atlas Organics and the City of San Antonio, how recent improvements in technology have reduced organics contamination in Texas’s second-largest city. The panel will also examine key examples of contamination reduction techniques at quick service restaurants (QSRs) and other businesses, the design changes that are improving the depackaging and contaminant removal process, and the importance of cultural change and training in preventing contamination at the source.
Speakers: Ryan Cooper
Duration: 18 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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When it comes to compostable products, generators and processors may view the decision to use these materials differently. Center for EcoTechnology (CET) will present industry trends from the perspective of food businesses and compost sites as they decide to accept compostable products. As a neutral third party, CET has extensive experience serving as a bridge between generators and their composters as these entities navigate considerations and parameters for acceptable items while seeking opportunities to maximize organics diversion. While decision-makers at businesses debate between compostable, recyclable, or reusable service ware options, processors are left with considerations of contamination, operational logistics, and consumer education. With entities such as Green Blue, BPI, and CMA focusing on supporting the development of innovative compostable wares, decision-makers are left asking when is the right place and time for utilizing these products? Attendees will learn about: Factors that compost sites and generators are taking into consideration when establishing lists of acceptable items. Why there has been a trend for composters to begin accepting these materials only to remove these items from the list at a later date. Evolutions in the industry, which may signal that it is time to reassess accepting these materials. Navigating options for compostable, recyclable, and/or reusable to-go products. The Center for EcoTechnology (CET) is an environmental nonprofit that helps people and businesses save energy and reduce waste. CET is partnered with federal agencies such as the EPA and USDA, and state partners including MassDEP, RI DEM, and CT DEEP to help support state and national goals for recycling and food waste reduction. CET offers one-on-one program design and implementation for businesses and institutions and develops tools utilized by businesses nationally.
Speakers: Coryanne Mansell
Duration: 27 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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I will share my top ten best practices for mitigating contaminates from both a proactive and reactive approach. The goal of this presentation is to inspire the audience to think differently about how they can take these best practices and develop a strategy to address the specific challenges they face.
Speakers: Ted Dirkx
Duration: 13 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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My presentation will detail the ability to produce contamination-free organics for compost through the separation of food (and other organic) waste from its packaging onsite at compost facilities, food manufacturing, retail, municipalities, standalone facilities and transfer stations as a means to divert organic waste from landfills and repurpose/recycle the material.
Speakers: Corey Rossen
Duration: 16 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Contamination removal is not just one step or one machine that will solve the problem.
Speakers: Todd Dunderdale
Duration: 14 minutes
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Herbicides that can remain in compost and cause damage in home gardens continues to harm our industry. These so-called “Persistent Herbicides”, including clopyralid, picloram, and aminopyralid, may be present in a variety of feedstocks. This past year has seen outbreaks of PH damage in North Carolina, Oregon and South Dakota. In this presentation you will learn more about these recent events, and efforts of the USCC to address this issue through education, research and advocacy.
Speakers: Dan Goosen
Duration: 37 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
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This video discusses the use of bioassays to determine persistent herbicide contamination, giving instructions on how to do your own test.
Speakers: Tera Lewandowski
Duration: 17 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses the difficulty in getting persistent herbicide contamination identified due to lack of availability in lab testing.
Speakers: Daniel Goosen
Duration: 19 minutes
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This video goes over the methods and results of biochar experiments done in relation to composting, and how it can affect temperature and nutrients.
Speakers: Doug Collins
Duration: 22 minutes
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This video discusses persistent herbicide (PH) contamination, along with how to find the source of the problem and what solutions to use.
Speakers: Craig Coker
Duration: 24 minutes
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This video gives more information on PFAS, and how it is in so many products we use and not a problem solely related to composting.
Speakers: Bill Brower
Duration: 25 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses the experiments done using compost soil amendments to find the most efficient method in increasing nutrient content and productivity of wetlands.
Speakers: Donald De Alwis
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses issues of a moratorium on the biosolids recycling program due to high levels of PFAS found at a farm, and goes into the science and information of the compound.
Speakers: Andrew Carpenter
Duration: 24 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Odor concerns continue to challenge the composting industry, with complaints from neighbouring communities being frequent while solutions are few. This study presents a novel solution to address odors from composting facilities using continuous, intelligent emissions monitoring of problematic compounds. The system uses one high-end instrument to measure concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H_2S) in air samples drawn from several remote sampling inlets. This data is combined with wind speed and direction data using a proprietary analysis methodology to identify H_2S plumes, track them back to their sources, and quantify their emission rates. While the presence of H_2S may not be representative of all odorous compounds that are emitted from composting facilities, the system can be applied to other compounds to allow for a more complete understanding of odor sources. Although this system has been successful in addressing odor and other emission-related concerns in the wastewater treatment and oil and gas industries, it has never been applied in the composting industry. The system was deployed at Cleanit Greenit Composting Systems Inc., where it was operational from October 2019 to March 2020. During this monitoring period, two focal points of H_2S emissions were identified on the site with average emission rates of 35.1 L/min and 30.6 L/min. The system also identified a plume of H_2S coming from the direction of several potential off-site emission sources, which may further explain the odors being experienced in the community that have been attributed primarily to the composting facility. Additional monitoring was performed from October 2020 to January 2021 and showed that interventions made at the facility had reduced on-site H_2S emissions by 80%. This case study illustrates the potential for emissions monitoring technologies to identify focal points of problematic emissions, demonstrate improvement in facility operations, and resolve uncertainty regarding who is responsible for community odor problems. 
Speakers: Dennis Prince
Duration: 16 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This presentation is going to take a closer look at one of the biggest, but most underestimated, risks to industrial composters: odor. We will take a deep dive into the various components of composting sites and how/why they can contribute to odor issues. We will discuss the science of odor as well as the complexity of the human olfactory system. We will review the types and significance of the classification of odor causing compounds (odorants) relevant to the composting industry. We will also touch on the correlation between temperature, barometric pressure, and wind patterns and why monitoring environmental conditions such as those in real time is critical to developing a comprehensive odor management plan. We will discuss successful odor mitigation technologies as they apply to a specific industrial composting site with odor issues as a result of the introduction of highly odorous industrial residual into their facility (case study). We will explain the chemistry behind odor neutralization, as well as a unique utilization/deployment of atomization for a composting facility. Finally, we will help attendees understand the importance and impact of real-time data collection, reporting, remote monitoring and operation of odor mitigation systems on not only for regulatory  compliance but community advocacy and engagement.
Speakers: Josh Rembusch
Duration: 23 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Country Oaks Landscape Supply in Burton, MI has been increasing its scale of compost production.  In February 2020 a Compost Aeration and Heat Recovery (CAHR) system was installed by Agrilab Technologies Inc. (AGT).  Over 30,000 cubic yards (CY) of mixed feedstocks are composted annually on an 8-zone working pad.  This has enabled Country Oaks to increase its total volume of compost produced on a smaller footprint while also reducing the number of hours on the straddle turner by over 50%. Odor complaints have been eliminated following installation of the CAHR system after receiving multiple complaints in 2019. The CAHR unit, the AGT Compost Hot Box 250-8RD, has aeration blowers, valve controls, sensors, controls and other components mounted in a 20′ insulated shipping container.  Automated timed aeration can function in negative, positive recirculating and positive drying modes depending on process needs. When in negative aeration mode, a specialized heat exchanger captures renewable thermal energy for on-site use.  At Country Oaks heat is provided to the nearby shop and sales building, and a newly constructed aquaponics greenhouse. Compost feedstocks include ground leaves, wood chips, grass clippings and source-separated food scraps.  Eight 300 CY batches are loaded on a 110′ x 120′ working pad with recessed aeration channels.  With a 3-4 week residence time, annual volumes are over 30,000 CY.  Following the primary aeration phase, batches are transferred to piles for secondary composting and curing using a straddle turner.  Total compost processing time has been reduced by two months and valuable site space has been freed for other material handling needs. AGT provides on-going remote operating support to optimize performance of the CAHR system.  Tracking temperature, oxygen and flow readings, the aeration interval length, recirculation and fan power settings are adjusted to meet compost process demands, achieve PFRP and make quality STA-certified products.
Speakers: Brian Jerose
Duration: 27 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
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The Napa aerated static pile facility began operations in early 2020 with a hard-won air permit to accept 315 tons/day of food and yard waste, and other residuals.  The primary goal of the 10,700-word air permit was to keep the VOC emission factor below 1.8 lbs/ton of feedstock out of concerns for public health.  Starting in Q2 of 2020, the facility was required to conduct four quarters of official source testing which demonstrated an average VOC emission factor of 0.15 lbs/ton.  This low emission factor is the product of optimized biological process conditions in the pile, and not the result of an enclosure and scrubbing system to capture and treat the exhaust air.  Maintaining these conditions is accomplished through competent operations and an aeration and control system designed to optimize the process.  In this talk we will present the key requirements of the air permit, the science behind the aeration system design, the daily operating practices, and a summary of the extensive process QC data collected by staff to comply with the permit.  This talk is intended to highlight the effectiveness of focusing on a few easily measured process conditions when designing, operating, and regulating a composting facility.
Speakers: Tim O’Neill
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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The presentation covers a design and operational approach for compost facilities that accept food and yard waste.  Technologies to be covered include aerated static pile (ASP) systems; equipment to mix feedstocks; compost turners; dump trucks and conveyors for material handling; and, star and trommel screens.  An ASP system can be combined with open windrow technology to achieve necessary process control, while maintaining cost efficiencies (i.e., hybrid approach). We will present and discuss the following design and operational items: Site layout to support hybrid operations. Use of a compost turner to pre-mix feedstocks. Use of an ASP system for the initial phase of composting. Use of a compost turner for subsequent phases of composting and to make soil blends. Use of star and trommel screen to screen the compost, in process and at finish. 6. Business plan issues
Speakers: Greg McCarron
Duration: 34 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
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This video describes Missouri Organic’s creation of a biochar and compost product called the Green Frontier.
Speakers: Stan Slaughter
Duration: 17 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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The cost of energy inputs in the form or diesel and electricity are significant factors in the overall cost of operating a composting facility.   Finding strategies that minimize those inputs will reduce operating expenses as well as emissions of CO2 equivalents.  The primary areas of energy use once the feedstocks are delivered to the facility are: * Preprocessing and grinding * Material handling to place on the compost pad * Method of aeration (either forced aeration, windrow turning or static pile) * Energy use for odor control and leachate management * Curing and screening The presenter will provide typical energy use for each of these steps using manufacturers specifications and operational data.  The presenter will review three operational scenarios for estimated energy consumption: * Windrow vs ASP for energy inputs for forced aeration vs turning * Processing in a building with biofiltration vs outside with biocover and leachate collection and treatment * Using a course grind which uses less fuel and provides a more porous mix which in turn requires less energy to aerate but yields less product   The intent of the presentation is to bring more awareness to the equipment selection and facility design to minimize energy use and CO2e emissions.  The target audience are facility operators and system designers and regulators concerned with GHG and air pollution emissions from composting operations. 
Speakers: Michael J Bryan-Brown
Duration: 29 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This year’s live Question and Answer session with an experienced panel of operators will focus on efficiency–How to analyse your operation and identify inefficiencies that are costing you money.
Speakers: Brian Fleury
Duration: 59 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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This video gives more information on soil amendment mixtures, and the different ratios and benefits of combining compost and biochar.
Speakers: Peter Hirst
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Using case studies to illustrate different aeration systems and the maintenance issues associate with each.
Speakers: Thomas Herlihy
Duration: 39 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
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This video discusses the management of waste on the island of Guam, focusing on biosolids composting, and noting the amount of food waste and pallets that go into the landfill.
Speakers: Todd Williams
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses the research and experiments done by Elliot Schneider in the City of St. Peters to increase the efficiency in degrading polymers in biosolids composting.
Speakers: Elliot Schneider
Duration: 23 minutes
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This video discusses the preprocessing technique to sort through contaminants in composting piles.
Speakers: Pierce Louis
Duration: 22 minutes
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The efficiency with which aerobic bacteria consume oxygen and convert organic matter (OM) to CO2 is the primary measure of composting stabilization rates and a determining factor in air emissions.  Process conditions (primarily temperature and oxygen) and feedstock characteristics determine the efficiency of this process.  Researchers, such as McCartney, Sundberg, and others, have used highly controlled laboratory benchtop composting units to conduct peer-reviewed research on the fundamental relationships of this bio-oxidative process, but to date, lab quality benchtop units have not been generally available to help facility designers value-engineer compost facilities.  Considering the growing demand to compost challenging feedstocks in increasingly complicated regulatory environments, ECS has developed the Aeration Demand Tester (ADT) to provide designers with a feedstock specific basis-of design for their aerated composting process. The ADT consists of a highly instrumented 20-liter volume that maintains precise temperatures and air flow rates and records real-time CO2 production over a period of days or weeks.  CO2 production is stoichiometrically related to the bio-oxidation of OM and the generation of heat.  These results provide an accurate assessment of the retention time required to achieve the desired compost stability, and through the application of thermodynamic modelling, the aeration demand to provide adequate cooling to maintain the temperatures used in the test.  This presentation will include the results of ADT trials conducted to answer real-world questions posed facility designers such as: Can our stability goal be met with our designed retention time without adding amendments to our raw digestate feedstock?  What peak aeration rate is required to reliably neutralize the initially acidic pH of our food waste + yard waste mix within three days?  How low of a C/N ratio can my poultry manure mix be without overly inhibiting the bio-oxidation process and producing excessive air emissions?
Speakers: Charlie Krauter
Duration: 27 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses the development of an affordable in vessel composter that can be utilized by other small organizations or communities.
Speakers: John Culpepper
Duration: 13 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses the challenges and benefits of compostable products in a case study in Sonoma County, California, noting the research conducted and the various experts worked with to overcome these challenges and choose the best strategy.
Speakers: Leslie Lukacs
Duration: 24 minutes
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Investing in the cleanliness of the feedstock stream before it reaches the facility is an important step that saves time, resources, and money. Your sales team, education and outreach efforts and customer support team can be major assets in this.  As the composter, we have the opportunity to control our streams through these individuals: The decision-maker Regulations (in some areas) The compostable products manufacturer The customer’s purchasing department Foodservice or stream handlers team The waste generator/user Custodial services Hauler These individuals need to know the how and why of composting. How do you communicate this and at what stages is this accomplished? The sales team starts this process with a thorough analysis of the customers’ organics, the employees that interact with the organics stream, and what the systems of operations are within the organization. Asking the right questions on limitations is also important at this stage. Once an understanding of the process and variables is achieved, the sales team can identify other compostables that could be added to the stream and or transitioning to compostable alternatives.   The sales team then has the opportunity to connect customers to vendors and products that are known and trusted. This puts the composter in control of what is coming to the facility. Helping the customer minimize duplication and optimize their operations is always a value add as well. Once the process, products, and systems are decided on, the education and customer support team can support with signage, education on products, correct separation process, and the why of composting. Follow-ups and feedback on mistakes right away are essential. Having a way to track mistakes either from your drivers or from your receiving staff catches mistakes before they head to the piles and maintains good habits from the customer.
Speakers: Leslie Rodgers
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Composting has been part of the Chiefs waste diversion program since 2011. We will discuss our process along with our accomplishments and failures.
Speakers: Brandon Hamilton
Duration: 29 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Food waste reduction activities benefit hospitals, provide community benefit to local nonprofits and help to ensure over produced food does not go to the landfill.
Speakers: Jack Breezee
Duration: 11 minutes
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There will be a continued increased of single serve coffee in workplaces where hopefully we can reduce the plastic with sustainable compostable solutions. Collaboration across the supply chain will be critical to ensure compostable solutions are properly certified and tested to ensure they can be properly processed.
Speakers: Solange Ackrill
Duration: 13 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Qualitative research using an innovative platform to crowdsource insights on community composting was conducted. Real-time data was collected in a structured collaborative format enabling contributors to connect and react to information and add deeper meaning to the conversation. Our report contains careful examination of these conversations allowing the compost sector to understand current community composting insights, predict future trends and areas for innovation in technology and impact.
Speakers: Sashti Balasundaram
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video goes over data collected by the Compost Manufacturing Alliance of the waste composition at the University of Washington.
Speakers: Susan Thoman
Duration: 23 minutes
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This video discusses the issue of contamination in compost, from who may be responsible to what possible solutions can be implemented.
Speakers: Bob Yost
Duration: 21 minutes
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This video discusses the process of creating an on-site composting program in Washington and Lee University, and how it has benefitted the campus and it’s community
Speakers: Julianna Keeling
Duration: 23 minutes
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This video gives information on the practices of a farm at Furman University, along with the benefits of their composting program.
Speakers: Bruce Adams
Duration: 29 minutes
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This video discusses curbside composting in Iowa City, including educating residents on preventative food waste and proper disposal methods.
Speakers: Jane Wilch
Duration: 18 minutes
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This video discusses efforts to implement food waste programs in Orlando, Florida, from advertising, education, and collection.
Speakers: Joseph England
Duration: 19 minutes
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This video discusses the implementation of a campus composting project, going over the operational processes used at Princeton University.
Speakers: Gina Talt
Duration: 35 minutes
Credits: 1.0
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This video goes over the many programs at Rubicon Global regarding food waste recycling, along with challenges and solutions they face when implementing them in companies and organizations.
Speakers: Ryan Cooper
Duration: 18 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Establishing an industrial-scale composting facility is an expensive undertaking. Compost manufacturers report that acquiring and preparing the land, purchasing and installing the equipment, and securing the necessary permits can require anywhere from $500,000 to $2,000,000. For most people who are interested in opening a compost facility, these costs are prohibitive. Normally, entrepreneurs who face high up-front costs when starting new businesses can seek funding through bank loans or, depending on the type of enterprise, venture capital investment. For compost manufacturers, traditional bank loans are often not an option: many banks do not understand the business model or biological process of composting. Their confusion, combined with the hefty price tag and lack of credit history associated with emerging compost operations, means that many banks reject loan applications from fledgling composters out of hand. Government grant programs also tend to be risk-averse, so they gravitate to relatively mature businesses, and often require matching funds to share the risk burdens with the grant applicants. Venture capital firms sometimes show a greater tolerance for risk and are willing to give compost businesses a chance, but those investors expect generous equity shares or robust returns over a short time span, either of which can put undue pressure on new businesses. So even before beginning to accept feedstocks and test out their recipes, composters must already be creative and resourceful: most commercial compost manufacturers must pull together a variety of funding sources to get their facilities up and running. This presentation will examine the different sources of funding, supported by case studies to showcase the advantages and drawbacks of each option.
Speakers: Laurel Cohen
Duration: 20 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video highlights the Mercedes Benz Stadium and their efforts in wanting to create a zero waste, LEED certified, recycling and composting friendly establishment. Partnering with Erth Products, Cowart, and NatureWorks LLC, the companies are able to create their own compost manufacturer, discussing the benefits of team effort.
Speakers: Rhett Marlow
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses the opportunity and benefits that partnerships can bring, and gives advice on how to overcome the challenges.
Speakers: Mitch Kessler
Duration: 24 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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In the ever-changing world of marketing and advertising, it can be tough to keep up, let alone stay current. This session will educate and inform attendees about: — Social media’s current role in business today — Where B2C and B2B companies should be focusing their time — Basic network by network overview of what it is, who is on it and how to use it — Creative inspiration and examples of others in the composting industry — Next steps for approaching online marketing with clear takeaways Presentation length will be 45 minutes with 15 minutes open for Q&A.
Speakers: Ashley Caldwell
Duration: 54 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
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This video discusses how municipalities can incorporate food waste in their yard waste composting facilities, giving information on the things that must be considered before making a decision.
Speakers: Coryanne Mansell, Nora Goldstein
Duration: 17 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses the creation of a cost analysis calculator, going over what data is needed and how to apply it to your compost.
Speakers: Shota Austin
Duration: 24 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video goes over the process of implementing compost and recycling methods at a sports stadium, from choosing bin locations, designing signage, and ensuring proper waste methods are used by informing fans and clean up crew.
Speakers: Jon Klapperich
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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This video discusses municipalities outsourcing yard waste composting facilities, and gives information on the things that need to be considered and done before making a decision.
Speakers: Gary Nihart
Duration: 19 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Current status in North America of carbon credit incentive programs and opportunties for organic waste composting
Speakers: Scott Subler
Duration: 26 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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Domino Park (DP) is a 6-acre park and the Brooklyn waterfront redevelopment by Two Trees Management. The Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn has historically offered very little public access to the waterfront and is underserved by park space. Two Trees prioritized public access of the waterfront through a park that would give back to the community, including a composting program, which provides compost for local community gardens and residents. In 2019, Two Trees started collecting food scraps from local restaurants as part of a sustainable initiative. Horticultural waste from the park is combined with food scraps, keeping things local. After COVID closed the restaurants and NYC’s organic waste programs, DP’s response to the pandemic was to set up a Food Scrap Drop-Off program. It would help the community and ensure food scrap was a resource instead of being landfilled. Approx 80-120 participants come to each drop-off day. This closed-loop, community-redistribution model means that Williamsburg’s residents can divert food scraps to landfills and use the compost onsite. In addition, the community learns about composting, improving local soils, job creation, healthier neighborhoods, food security, resource management, energy savings, carbon reduction, greenhouse gases, etc. The educational component is significant. The Park team explains the biological process and how technology can speed up the process. In addition, many community members bring along their children, who get to feed their food scraps into the in-vessel and see the finished compost coming out. This project is a truly circular and sustainable nature community composting project. The produced compost goes back to the park lawns, green areas and for other public spaces. Most importantly, it is given back to the community for personal use, closing the recycling loop onsite. DP offers workshops and tours and plan to start a volunteer program to allow further community engagement.
Speakers: Gerardo Soto
Duration: 16 minutes
Credits: 0.5
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One of the hardest parts of running a composting business is creating financial systems that enables operators, site supervisors, general managers, etc… to know how the how the business is performing financially in real-time. There are lags in receiving and processing invoices, difficulty in tracking data, time consumed in error-checking measures, etc… that can leave the businesses performance largely up-in-the-air until a month-end close or other financial close. This leads to backward looking analysis, treating issues retrospectively, and diagnosing challenges days or weeks after they have occurred. Similar to a machine, the best business maintenance is predictive maintenance, and creating robust financial systems for all levels of employees enables managers to predict variances with a greater degree of accuracy, adjust plans accordingly, and forecast potential problems ahead of time, rather than treating symptoms retroactively. This session will discuss how to maximize the use of operational data to achieve more accurate financial reporting, stronger financial planning, and visualization of this data for all personnel.
Speakers: Jarrett Bond
Duration: 18 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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A panel of funders and a composter discuss options: Michael Castellarin, Clairvest Group: we will discuss how private equity can partner with entrepreneurial management teams to accelerate their growth and achieve their aggressive strategies by providing patient capital as well as complimentary skills, expertise and experience. Hannah Friedman, Closed Loop Partners: We are in a transition from our linear “make, take, waste” economy to a circular economy that recaptures value of the materials, keeping them in play and out of landfill. As states develop landfill diversion mandates and as residents and restaurants wake up to the climate impact of their food waste, expanding composting infrastructure is critical. This expansion requires capital and successful business models to scale. Closed Loop Partners is investing behind this transition and invests across material innovation, new packaging formats, collection and logistics, industrial composting companies and distributed anaerobic digestion solutions. Chip Homer, Honey Comb Credit: Honeycomb Credit is a loan crowdfunding platform that allows small business owners to borrow directly from their community and superfans. We believe in a financial circular economy where your community and consumers have the ability to participate in your growth. Our mission is to unlock growth opportunities for small businesses to build vibrant financially empowered communities. Gary Nihart, Atlas Organics: Developing infrastructure is one of the greatest needs of the composting industry in the present day. With increased implementation in organic diversion legislation and corporate responsibility on the increase it is more important than ever for our industry to rise to the occasion, however, one prevalent issue often exist; How do we fund new infrastructure? It is important that our industry looks into the appropriate funding solutions for every size and stage of business whether it be angel capital, alternative debt, or private equity. Many unique combinations of capital are now available in the market place with ESG and impact investing at an all time high. There are numerous ways to structure capital from early to late stage growth which can be explored.
Speakers: Funding Your Expansion Panel nan
Duration: 1 hours 38 minutes
Credits: 2.0
Member Price: $120.00
Non-Member Price: $210.00
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This video goes over the steps taken and the lessons learned in the creation of a composting system on Iowa State University.
Speakers: Carissa Moyna
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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I’ll be sharing how Rust Belt Riders+Tilth Soil have been able to access capital as a startup in the food waste collections and compost/soil blend manufacturing industry.
Speakers: Michael Robinson
Duration: 36 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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This video discusses how a partnership between the Office of Waste Reduction & Recycling and the UNC Charlotte Dining Services led to an increase in composting and sustainable waste practices around campus.
Speakers: Lindsay Klingenschmidt
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Local governments will play a major role in setting standards for organics recycling for years to come. Composters can quickly implement simple programs to kick-start municipal food scrap collection programs, then leverage this foothold to make sure composting and soil health are at the forefront of organics recycling plans.
Speakers: Ben Parry
Duration: 13 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video goes over the recommended steps to implement commercial composting in schools, from educating students and staff, to creating a self-reliant composting system.
Speakers: Leslie Rodgers
Duration: 20 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video gives background on some of Freestate Farms LLC facilities, discussing the benefits and trade offs that they had when using a public-private partnership for their projects.
Speakers: Douglas Ross
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Cross-Sector collaborations are the driving force of the Baltimore Office of Sustainability’s (BoS) citywide composting efforts. BoS works closely with non-profit organizations, city agencies and countless community stakeholders, leaders and environmental activists to advance composting infrastructure across the city. With robust support from the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Food Matters program, BoS is helping the city divert food from its waste stream for composting and improve the environment of the city in the process. In this session, Ava Richardson, Food Matters Technical Adviser with BoS, will share the city’s model for advancing community composting through creative programming with key partners including the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and the Baltimore Compost Collective (BCC). Founded in 1974, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a nonprofit advancing recycling, zero waste, decentralized energy, independent businesses, and other facets of a homegrown economy. ILSR has a long history of advancing composting as a means to create jobs, enhance soils, sequester carbon, and reduce waste. The organization will be offering a series of workshops on how to compost at home and at the community garden level. Participants will learn the basics of composting and how to compost successfully. ILSR is collaborating with several sites throughout the City to host the training including Real Food Farm, Filbert Street Community Garden, and the Recovery Garden. Brenda Platt, Director of Composting for Community Initiative at ILSR, is one of the nation’s leading experts on community composting. She has authored numerous reports on the social, environmental and economic benefits of composting including – the Yes! In My Backyard: A Home Composting Guide for Local Government, The State of Composting in the U.S.: What, Why, Where, How and Pay Dirt: Composting in Maryland to Reduce Waste. The Baltimore Compost Collective is a project of United Workers in partnership with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Filbert Street Community Garden. The Baltimore Compost Collective is a youth entrepreneurship program that trains participants in workforce skills, food access programming, and community-scale composting in the Curtis Bay neighborhood of South Baltimore. BCC provides first-time employment for area youth, giving them experience working with a green start-up enterprise and entrepreneurial skills. Under the leadership of Master Composter, Marvin Hayes, youth are trained in composting best management practices receiving guided, hands-on experience managing a small-scale composting operations through experiential learning. The program also supports Filbert Street Garden outdoor education and food access programming. BCC anticipates that the success of the Baltimore Compost Collective as a model for community-oriented composting operation that will lead the City to invest in a distributed composting infrastructure that builds community and equity. Co-Author/s: Brenda Platt, Institute for Local Self Reliance, bplatt@ilsr.org // Marvin Hayes, United Workers/Baltimore Compost Collective,Marvinhayes30@yahoo.com
Speakers: Ava Richardson
Duration: 40 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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This presentation will address these aspects of facility financing: 1. What is EBITDA, why should you care more than net income. 2. Debt vs. Equity financing of your business. 3. How do I know if my business is doing good? 4. How do I decide to spend on that capital improvement or not? 5. Risks to watch out for
Speakers: Russell Faldik
Duration: 56 minutes
Credits: 1.0
Member Price: $60.00
Non-Member Price: $105.00
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Overview of the greenhouse gas emissions and sinks associated with composting operations and compost use, including from equipment usage, process emissions, transport and carbon sequestration. Guidance for developing a greenhouse gas inventory.
Speakers: Bill Brower
Duration: 24 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video gives information and tips on financing equipment and what businesses need to watch out for and know.
Speakers: Greg Pabich
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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Community composting presents scalable food diversion options for managing food scraps/organics within a community. The strategy builds community resilience and lets residents put sustainability into practice on a local level, by diverting food scraps from landfills and providing training in food waste composting. Our session addresses the role that these small-scale operations can play in rural and small town communities. This includes: working to create a community of home composters and community groups to divert a significant portion of organics, as well as educating and involving their wider communities in learning about food scrap diversion, the benefits of composting, and the uses of compost. An overview of the technical aspects to community composting will be provided, including: 1) Siting and planning small scale operations, locations include community gardens, schools, businesses, churches, food pantries, farms, recreational areas, housing developments; 2) Systems from tumblers to worm bins; 3) Sizing operations to stay within state regulations and how this translates into site and system needs, capacity, volunteer/staff duties, etc.; 4) Sourcing the right materials; 5) Ensuring success: from site inspection to process management and maintenance. System Support is vital in community composting success. Panelists will address compost team/staff recruitment, retention, duties, and training; communication (team, site, signage, etc.); identifying community or neighborhood resources, strengths, opportunities, and challenges; building community support and good neighbor practices; and fundraising. While there are many similarities in common between urban and rural community compost sites, there are also differences. Our session will discuss specific issues, needs, benefits, and solutions for rural and small town community composting. These include identifying volunteers and resources in low population areas, overcoming lack of awareness about the importance of diverting food scraps, concerns over attracting wildlife and system options and best management practices that address and provide solutions to effectively keep wildlife out. Co-Author/s: Natasha Duarte, B.A. M.S., Composting Association of Vermont (CAV), natasha@compostingvermont.org
Speakers: Athena Lee Bradley
Duration: 26 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video discusses the issues the Yard Waste Center in Raleigh had with keeping a large stockpile on their land, along with the measures that needed to be taken to solve the problem.
Speakers: Ryan Duckett
Duration: 17 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video discusses the process of using mobile covered aerated static pile (CASP) technology, including the challenges in the beginning and the goals of the future.
Speakers: Burton Ewert
Duration: 20 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video discusses small scale community composting, and how partnerships with these rural communities can benefit urban industrial composting facilities
Speakers: Linda Bilsens Brolis
Duration: 22 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video details the different areas of the Lexington Compost Facility, discussing the various ways it generates revenue and encourages home composting.
Speakers: Robert Beaudoin
Duration: 23 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This video discusses the benefits of black soldier fly larvae in composting, and the experiments being done to determine further uses in material classification.
Speakers: David Haines
Duration: 11 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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This speaker introduces the concept of biochar, and how their company, Cool Planet, is utilizing this process in the creation of their product.
Speakers: Keith Vodrazka
Duration: 21 minutes
Credits: 0.5
Member Price: $30.00
Non-Member Price: $52.50
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