[USCC] Making Compost Regulations
frank
frank at compostlab.com
Wed Oct 18 12:18:15 CDT 2006
Stuti, and composters
Thanks for the list. Information on what characteristics users want of
the compost for handling and a list of what they want it to do to the
soil are the parameters we need to move forward. If anyone can add to
the two lists would be helpful.Looking over your list I now realize we
need to make a few additions to my list.
Odor, texture and crumb structure of the compost are three that we may
need to develop some test procedures for. These are things I tend to not
think about.
I think the toxicity of NH4, sulfides and nitrites will show in the
Germination test as all three are in the 'maturity' group.
Beneficial bacteria either need be tested of we can consider them always
in a well stabilized, mature compost(?).
Particle size; I was thinking of a 'bell curve' to place the compost in
a category of Fine, Medium Fine, Medium, Medium Course and Course. Your
suggesting of adding the Uniformity Coefficient is great.
Adding Price (and availability?) is a great idea
Pathogen bacteria is Time & Temp followed by fecal and/or coliform
bacteria. We have that covered. There are the 503 regs for most places.
I might suggest lower limits for compost applied on playgrounds and
higher ones for 'fenced off' sites. This would be 'regulated'
Improvements to the receiving soil fall into your: Increased water
holding capacity, oxygen, General improvements in tilth, Improved water
penetration and crumb structure. In my thinking this falls into
categories if the compost is wanted for a high readily available
nutrient source OR a soil amendment where the nutrients should have low
availability and high slow release so you can add a lot of compost to
the soil. Larger particles where long term organics with fewer
applications are wanted or small particles for germinating seed, or a
midrange with high uniformity coiff. for general use. This is where the
user decides what they want the compost to do.
Thanks for the reply.
Frank
> 1. Good crumb structure
>
> 2. Germination
>
> 3. Absence of NH_4
>
> 4. Absence of sulfides
>
> 5. Absence of nitrites
>
> 6. Presence of beneficial bacteria
>
> 7. Uniform particle size
>
> 8. Price
>
> 9. Absence of pathogenic bacteria
>
> 10. Is there a level of pathogens that would be acceptable?
>
> 11. Increased water-holding capacity
>
> 12. Pleasing odor and texture
>
> 13. Disease suppression
>
> 14. Increased nutrient availability. State specific nutrients and
> concentrations
>
> 15.Increased oxygen in the soil
>
> 16. General improvement of soil tilth
>
> 17. Improved water penetration of the soil
>
> 18. Improve crumb structure of soil**
>
> * *
>
>
>
> On 10/17/06, *frank* <frank at compostlab.com
> <mailto:frank at compostlab.com>> wrote:
>
> 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
> <http://www.compostingcouncil.org> OR CALL THE USCC AT 631-737-4931
>
>
> David, and composters,
>
> >From what I have seen there are three ways compost is regulated.
>
> The first is a sheet of paper handed to out that state all the
> materials (compost, lime, fertilizer etc.) and amounts that must be
> added at all projects. Doesn't matter what the soil pH already is
> or the
> crop or the make-up of the compost you just add that amount.
>
> The second method is restricting materials that exceed an upper or
> lower range (ex. EC5 must be below 10 or organic matter above
> 25%). This
> is nothing more than a definition of 'compost'. I agree with the
> definition approach but not restricting a product outside the
> range for
> purchase and use.
>
> The third is the End Use guidelines. What type of compost is best
> used
> for potting mixes, mulches, berms or blankets. This has been
> tried over
> the years by many and found to seem simple at first but quickly so
> complex it is impossible and results are meaningless.
>
> IMO all these types of regulations are -completely- meaningless
> without
> considering application rate and specific site conditions. They only
> serve as another hoop the compost producer and end user must jump
> through, while at the same time, trying to reduce inventory and
> establish optimum conditions.
>
> Problem is we labs generate so much information about the
> compost then
> hand all the results to the regulators and users. They have no
> idea how
> to use the data. So ignore all the results or pick out just a few
> of the
> numbers and regulate them without considering their connection with
> other numbers.
>
> There is a better way:
>
> I suggest the regulators need to stick to health and environmental
> safety and, once those conditions are meet, let the grower make the
> decisions as to how much and what product is needed. Phosphorus
> applications to sensitive areas around water, special restrictions for
> materials used on playgrounds, the definition of what can be called
> 'compost' all need to be regulated.
>
> Before the grower can make good decisions about how much and type of
> material to use we (USCC) need to take the lab data produced and, via
> grouping and interpreting, provide the grower with information (not
> numbers) about the product. I started working on this when in the
> S & P
> committee before they went in the End Use direction and then I worked
> with the CaDOT group until they went off in their direction of
> restricting upper and lower ranges in connection with End Use. There
> needs to be more work on this but I have already done a lot, what
> I can
> without help.
>
> I suggest about ten characteristics about each product is enough.
> Growers need to know if a product is, or is not a good nutrient source
> or if it is a high or low organic source, stable or has high
> carbonates.
> I picture a sheet of paper that has on it a check list that the DOT
> foreman, while looking over a site; the slope, soil type, water,
> plants
> etc. make check marks listing characteristics of materials he
> wants to
> use to do what he wants done. Then goes out and finds, or have
> formulated, that type of material needed.
>
> Not being able to do this with USCC and again with CaDOT has been
> a bit
> of a disappointment for me because I think it is the direction we need
> to go.
>
> Frank
>
> Schellinger, David A. wrote:
>
> > 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
> <http://www.compostingcouncil.org> OR CALL THE USCC AT 631-737-4931
> >
> >
> > 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
> >
> >
> >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 Shields
> Soil Control Lab
> 42 Hangar way
> Watsonville, CA 95076
> (831) 724-5422 tel
> (831) 724-3188 fax
> frank at compostlab.com <mailto:frank at compostlab.com>
> www.compostlab.com <http://www.compostlab.com>
>
>
>
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--
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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