[USCC] Making Compost Regulations

[stuti sharma]

 Frank and fellow composters,
>
> I couldnt agree more with your assessment of an information overload.
> Recently we compiled an list of criteria whereby farmers and commercial
> nurseries could procure and sell compost. The list is as follows. Its
> simplistic yet sufficeint as per our experience.
>
> 1. Good crumb structure
>
> 2. Germination
>
> 3. Absence of NH4
>
> 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 > 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 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 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
> > www.compostlab.com
> >
> >
> >
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