[USCC] Biodegradable Plastics

[Warren Quinn]

The nursery industry is moving out on research to see whether plastic made from chicken feather waste can be applied to nursery containers.  We have struggled for years with recycling and disposal issues, regulations, controls, etc.  We assume the regulatory climate will get worse rather than better (that's an easy one), so we are trying to keep up with the technology - even if it may be a poor prioritization of environmental objectives.  Wal-Mart may soon require that nursery containers meet their new "greening" initiative, and we need to be prepared to deal with that elephant.

w

________________________ 
Warren A. Quinn, Esq., CAE
Director of Operations
American Nursery & Landscape Association
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-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at composter.com [mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com] On Behalf Of Mike Morin
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 3:28 PM
To: US Composting Council Compost Discussion List
Subject: Re: [USCC] Biosolids testing report

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 


I'm not a chemical engineer, but the concept of bio-degradable plastics 
strikes me as absurd. The whole concept of plastics is that they are to be 
durable and/or not leach toxic substances into a drink, for example.

It's a shame that some people without environmental consciousness and with a 
product they want to sell put the environmentalists on the defensive. As the 
former governor of Oregon said, "If  they can get you asking the wrong 
questions, then they are winning their game".


Workin for peace and cooperation,

Mike Morin

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "frank" <frank at compostlab.com>
To: "US Composting Council Compost Discussion List" <compost at composter.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: [USCC] Biosolids testing report


> 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
>
>
> Composters
>
> The Biodegradable Plastics Test is a first of its kind, as far as I
> know. Producers make a claim that it is biodegradable in the composting
> process and then a test is developed to prove if they are correct.
> Plastic is mostly harmless but because we see it and it looks bad we do
> not want it in the compost. There are many other things going down the
> drain that we do see nor do we know if it breaks down under normal
> composting conditions. Many of these compounds found in soaps etc. we
> can do without. I suggest if someone wants to manufacture a product that
> is likely to end up in the compost that every ingredient in that product
> go through a testing procedure like what the biodegradable plastic
> industry need to do. It may seem expensive but for each compound it only
> needs be tested once and is then but on the biodegradable list. If
> something is not on the list, or fails the test, then it should not be
> used or special considerations should be made before it is used.
> Medicines could be in this group or places where the use of antibiotic
> soaps are most important are a couple of examples.
>
> Frank
>
>
>
>
> CAVM at aol.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
>>
>>
>>_http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2006/sep/science/nl_compostin
>>g.html_
>>(http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2006/sep/science/nl_composting.html)
>>
>>Now that we have developed the ability to test for contaminants in the ppb
>>we can find nearly anything we are looking for at some concentration.
>>
>>Neal Van Milligen
>>_______________________________________________
>>Compost maillist  -  Compost at composter.com
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>>
>>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 
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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
> 


_______________________________________________
Compost maillist  -  Compost at composter.com
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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