[USCC] Compost vs. Landfilling

[David Goldstein]

"Landfilling organics is better than composting, according to EPA data."
That's the shocking headline; now for the caveats...

It looks like the EPA's WARM on-line calculator (
http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/tools.html#warm  ) has data
inputs indicating that in some circumstances, for at least one
measurement of environmental consequences, landfilling organics is
better than collecting them at the curbside and composting them. If a
landfill recovers methane for energy, and if the organics for composting
are collected on a typical curbside collection route, the calculation
shows the curbside collection and composting resulting in more carbon
emissions than the mixed waste/organics collection with landfilling.


This, of course, doesn’t account for other environmental benefits of
composting and mulching unrelated to climate change, such as retention
of topsoil, suppression of weeds without use of chemicals, and
conservation of water. In fact, since the pumping of water to southern
California is one of our biggest users of energy, it may be that factors
related to the use of compost, rather than just related to the handling
of green waste, actually could make yard waste recycling programs net
greenhouse gas reducers compared to landfilling.

D.G.


On Aug 30, 2007, at 10:42 AM, Osborne, Ted wrote:

> Are there any recent study's on composting versus landfilling for:
> A: Leachate production and collection
> B: Gas production, collection, use.	
>
> Theodore W. Osborne
> Project Coordinator - Rural Solid Waste
> County of Erie
> Environment & Planning
> Edward A. Rath County Office BLDG.
> 95 Franklin Street, Room 1077
> Buffalo, NY 14202
> Ph. 716-858-8077
> Fax 716-858-7713
>
> osbornet at erie.gov 
>
> www.erie.gov/environment/compliance/index.asp 
>
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Join us at the US Composting Council's 16th Annual Conference & Trade
Show
Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland, CA | February 9-12, 2008.
The National forum for those involved in the development and expansion
of the composting and organics recycling industry.
Conference Highlights, Registration forms, Exhibitor information and
Sponsorship Opportunities available at the USCC website:
www.compostingcouncil.org or call the USCC at 631.737.4931 
______________________________________________________________________________
Compost maillist - compost at mailman.cloudnet.com 
http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost 
_______________________________________
This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council (USCC).
(c) Copyright 2004 United States Composting Council - All rights
reserved

Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the
Foundation, or the Board of Directors.

Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its
website at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm 

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