[USCC] New Compost list member: studies on ink residues in compost?

[Elizabeth Leboe]

Hello Compost list people,
 
I am new to this email list, so please forgive me if this question has
already been batted around.  
 
I work at the North Shore Recycling Program in North Vancouver, British
Columbia.  We run a backyard composter sales program for residents, and
we plan to ramp up our community programming and services to better
support residents in their composting efforts.  One question that is
asked of me again and again is that of "what about the inks on
newspaper"?  Well, I've contacted the printers that do our local papers
and they do in fact use a canola-based ink.  Of course, this vegetable
oil contains pigments, solvents and varnishes as well to make the
printing process more effective.
 
My question to this list:  can anyone refer me to any studies that have
been written up wherein actual backyard compost - produced in a backyard
composter and/or a worm composter with the addition of newsprint - has
been tested in a lab to ascertain if there are any ink residues that
pose a health hazard to people?
 
Thank you very much.
Elizabeth Leboe

____________________ 
Elizabeth Leboe
Community Programs/GardenSmart Coordinator
North Shore Recycling Program 
____________________ 

148 East 2nd Street 
North Vancouver, BC V7L 1C3

t: (604) 984-9730 
f: (604) 984-3563 
e: elizabeth at nsrp.bc.ca 

www.nsrp.bc.ca
<file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Liz/Application%20Data/Microsoft/
Signatures/www.nsrp.bc.ca>   www.gardensmart.ca
<file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Liz/Application%20Data/Microsoft/
Signatures/www.gardensmart.ca>   www.naturalgardenstour.com
<http://www.naturalgardenstour.com/> 

Did you know... as of January 1, 2008, there are a number of items you
will no longer be able to set out as garbage (i.e., you must now recycle
them), including newspaper, corrugated cardboard, office paper, Blue Box
recyclables, computers, televisions and other electronic items, yard
trimmings and a variety of other items.  For details, visit
www.metrovancouver.org/zerowaste
<blocked::http://www.metrovancouver.org/zerowaste>  or
www.northshorerecycling.ca <blocked::http://www.northshorerecycling.ca/>
.