[USCC] Fecal Coliform testing issues
epsteinee@comcast.net
epsteinee at comcast.net
Fri Oct 20 15:32:56 CDT 2006
Frank,
1. Regarding sampling and shipping I suggest that composters follow the USEPA 40CFR503 Appendix F in the Document Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge. The latest document EPA/625/R-92/013 was issued on July 2003.
2. Since in the document a give-away sample should be tested before it leaves the gate, I absolutly recommend that only a cured sample be tested and that the end of curing be based on a stability test of either carbon dioxide evolution or oxygen uptake.
Eliot
--
Eliot Epstein
19 Preston Place
North Easton, MA 02356
Tel: 508-238-1631
Cell: 781-603-7151
E-mail: epsteinee at comcast.net
-------------- Original message --------------
From: frank <frank at compostlab.com>
> 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
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Compost maillist - Compost at composter.com
> http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
>
> This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council.
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
> Ongoing Sponsors of the USCC Discussion list are:
>
> Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN), a regulatory and policy e-mail alert
> service for environmental, food and agricultural industry professionals.
> Contact Jack Cooper 301/384-8287 JLC at fien.com --- www.fien.com
>
> Renewable Carbon Management, LLC with the containerized, in-vessel NaturTech
> Composting System www.composter.com rcm at composter.com
>
> (c) Copyright 2006 United States - All rights reserved
>
> Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses will have their
> posting privelages suspended. No exceptions!
>
> Opinions expressed represent only the poster and are not necessarily the opinion
> or policy of any organization.
>
> Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through our website at:
> http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm For discussion list policies
> and information regarding subscribing, unsubscribing, digest or other options,
> go to:http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
>
> For additional help in unsubscribing or to report bugs and problems, send a
> message to the List Manager, Jim McNelly, at compost-owner at composter.com
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