[USCC] Making Compost Regulations

Fri Oct 13 08:02:08 CDT 2006

 Frank,
To trust that an individual grower or foreman for the construction
project has the necessary background to use materials properly is asking
for trouble.  The state environmental engineers should make the call on
what materials are suitable to stabilize banks, reduce erosion, filter
sediments, etc., and not the foreman or growers.  Keep in mind that road
construction is a state project and is only performed by contracted
construction companies.  Generally speaking, aside from soil specific
factors that would regulate application rates and particle sizes used,
the base requirements for specific end uses would probably be very
similar in nearly all cases anyway.  

More often than not, the vegetation specialists used on construction
projects have never used any other material other than typical straw
mulch, hydro seeding or some variation of erosion mat to stabilize
slopes to be seeded.  Using composted materials not intuitive to all as
one might expect.  Environmental considerations are required to assure
that contaminants and sedimentation are minimized from these locations.

Trust that the state environmental engineers may be more capable of
determining the appropriate standards of materials and application
rates.  If the contractors adhere to the prescribed application of
materials, adverse environmental results from improper use of materials
should be minimized.  

Dave Schellinger
W. A. Callegari Environmental Center  

-----Original Message-----
From: Schellinger, David A. 
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 4:36 PM
To: 'frank at compostlab.com'; 'US Composting Council Compost Discussion
List'
Subject: RE: [USCC] Making Compost Regulations

Frank,
To trust that an individual grower or foreman for the construction
project has the necessary background to use materials properly is asking
for trouble.  The state environmental engineers should make the call on
what materials are suitable to stabilize banks, reduce erosion, filter
sediments, etc., and not the foreman or growers.  Generally speaking,
aside from soil specific factors that would regulate application rates
and particle sizes used, the base requirements for specific end uses
would probably be very similar in nearly all cases anyway.  

More often than not, the vegetation specialists used on construction
projects have never used any other material other than typical straw
mulch, hydro seeding or some variation of erosion mat to stabilize
slopes to be seeded.  Using composted materials not intuitive to all as
one might expect.  Environmental considerations are required to assure
that contaminants and sedimentation are minimized from these locations.

Trust that the state environmental engineers may be more capable of
determining the appropriate standards of materials and application
rates.  If the contractors adhere to the prescribed application of
materials, adverse environmental results from improper use of materials
should be minimized.  

Dave Schellinger
W. A. Callegari Environmental Center  

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at composter.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com] On Behalf Of frank
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 12:04 PM
To: US Composting Council Compost Discussion List
Subject: [USCC] Making Compost Regulations

U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW Wyndham
Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007 The National forum
for those involved in the development and expansion of the composting
and organics recycling industry CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION FORMS,
WORKSHOP AGENDAS, EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
ARE AVAILABLE AT THE USCC WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE
USCC AT 631-737-4931 

Compost huggers and regulators;

Most regulations first list 'uses', then list the requirements the
compost must meet for that use.

IMO this does not work because each 'use' (mulch, top dress, soil
application, potting mix, etc) has many different requirements based on
things like; receiving soil, slope, climate, plants, other materials in
the mix ...and many more.

What should be done:
Compost should be put into groups based on test results:
1) High -to- low nutrient provider
2) High -to- low salts (EC)
3) woody -to- high organic -to- medium organic -to-  low organic -to-
soil-like
4) Stable -to- unstable
5) High -to- low carbonates
6) High -to- low C/N ratio
7) high -to- low size distribution
8) ......

Let the GROWER, the DOT foreman, the one trained to stabilize a bank or
grow a pine tree; the one who knows what TYPE of material is needed and
HOW MUCH is needed for a specific site make the decisions. They are not
stupid and they know more than the regulators do about what is needed at
a specific site because there are so many on site variables and they get
to look at the site. From experience they know what works. If they want
to keep their job they will do the right thing so they can be TRUSTED. 
And let the composters provide them with a wide variety of materials to
work with. In fact let them provide the COMPLETE RANGE of materials in
the list above. The feedstock of each compost facility will determine
the type of material they can provide. And they will formulate for the
best market - but let them sell ALL.

Frank

--
Frank Shields
Soil Control Lab
42 Hangar way
Watsonville, CA  95076
(831) 724-5422 tel
(831) 724-3188 fax
frank at compostlab.com
www.compostlab.com

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