[USCC] Fecal Coliform testing issues

[frank]

Al, composters,

There are two reasons for this as I see it.
1) We take the temperature of every compost sample when we receive it 
and many come in at room temperature. I suggest we look at the 
packaging. I suggest a small compact, well insulated package containing 
two one gallon plastic bags of compost  with plenty of 'blue' frozen ice 
packs. Also, I suggest making sure the compost is refrigerated before 
the compost is placed into the container because I think a lot of warm 
compost is placed into the container and the ice is long used up just 
bringing the temperature from warm to cold.

2) When in an active compost pile the bacteria is in decline due to 
temperature and not due to lack of carbon. When time-temperature has 
been met the compost is moved to curing and the temperature moves in the 
direction to a more favorable condition and the microbes become more 
active. We should expect an increase. Only if the compost is very stable 
(no available carbon) or dried out will the count stay low. The question 
for me is should we test the compost directly after time-temp and before 
curing? We are counting on all the real pathogens to be killed off 
during this heat process so can we assume its only the indicator 
microbes that regrow? I think this is a valid assumption because we 
permit up to 1000 indicator microbes per gram to live and still call it 
safe. Allowing them to live we can only expect them to increase during 
curing and, perhaps increase to above the 1000 limit.  As I have 
mentioned before I think we should put more importance on measuring heat 
and suggest the fecal test be samples directly after temp-time and 
before curing as an indicator the heat has been met through out the pile.

Frank





ALFRED RATTIE 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 
>
>
>Some participants of the USCC's STA Program are experiencing a failure to meet pathogen reduction (fecal coliform) standards as required by EPA 503 regulations. This, while not a seemingly unusual situation;
>- does not always occur with a given producer's compost
>- sometimes occurs only after shipping to a distant STA lab, but not during local lab testing (some producers test twice) 
>- is occurring with both yard trimming and biosolids compost
>Two examples of recent problems are listed below:
>*********************************************************************************************************************************************************
>1) I had a series of conversation with an STA lab and several others regarding the fecal regrowth issues. Case in point, a recent analysis showing a fecal count of 1,900 was received. The five windrows that were composited and sampled for this test each passed local lab PFRP testing, i.e. fecal coliform analysis. I have documented proof of this. Now we have a set of lab results that reflects data that makes this a class 2 product rather than a class 1 product that it started out as when it came out of the PFRP process. Again, we have records documenting time and temperature data as well as the local lab fecal colifrom results. What would account for this?
> 
>2) I was failing fecal coliform testing when I shipped my compost to an STA lab using the prescribed TMECC practices. This ended when I used a courier service to make an immediate delivery. Is there a regrowth issue associated with shipping and handling?
>*********************************************************************************************************************************************************
>The USCC's STA Program requires participants to pass both pathogen and metals testing. We are struggling to understand why these compost producers are experiencing this problem. All input is welcome.
> 
>Thanks,
>Al Rattie
>USCC STA Program Administrative/Technical Manager
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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