Webinar Series Addresses COVID-19 Issues Across the Compost Industry

Did you know: Like SARS, COVID viruses will not survive the composting process because they are inactivated in minutes at typical composting temperatures? That’s one of the takeaways from experts on the first webinar in the USCC series, “Composting in the Time of COVID-19.”

USCC began receiving dozens of inquiries about maintaining organics collections and composting at the same time the world’s schedules and plans were being upended by the spread of COVID-19. USCC knew we needed to convey answers as quickly and comprehensively as possible.

Fortunately, as we were formulating our plans, we were approached by two members, the Institute for Local Self Reliance and the Composting Association of Vermont, who were willing to partner on webinars they were planning as well. We have put together the resulting series, “Composting in the Time of COVID-19.”

While some sessions were more focused on larger-scale composters and others on community composters, especially small-scale collectors, the partners  to make all the webinars in the series free and open to all, at least for now (some may end up in a “members’ only” section later on).

Our first webinar, “Reviewing Safe Procedures for Composting Feedstocks with Possible Coronavirus Contamination” featured Pat Millner, USDA-ARS Microbiologist, and Jean Bonhotal from Cornell University’s Waste Management Institute. It was attended by nearly 700 attended the webinar people! The bottom line:

• The virus the causes COVID-19 will not survive the composting process, because it is inactivated in minutes at typical composting temperatures;
• Workers handling raw feedstocks need to scrupulously use standard safety precautions.  These include facemasks, gloves, disinfecting of high-touch areas and frequent handwashing.

The second webinar, “Composting IS an Essential Service,” was a question-and-answer panel from four compost facilities, some of who collect as well. Speakers were Lora Hinchcliff, Living Earth; Brian Fleury, WeCare Denali; Justen Garrity, Veteran Compost; and Pierce Louis, Dirt Hugger.

 Key takeaways included:

• Compost manufacturers, working with a variety of rules in varying states, are in most cases staying open for production and using a variety of measures to keep employees and customers safe, such as staggered shifts, “dedicating” equipment to single employees, and using “cashless” payment mechanisms.
• Demand for compost is up in many cases, but is shifting from commercial to residential users.

The third webinar, “Navigating COVID-19 For Small-Scale Food Scrap Collectors,” was organized by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, and featured stories from six speakers: Daryl Braithwaite, City of Takoma Park MD, Dan Matsch, EcoCycle; Eileen Banyra, Community Compost Company; Jeremy Brosowsky, Compost Cab; Natasha Duarte, Composting Association of Vermont; and Ceci Pineda, BK ROT. It took place on Tuesday, April 14.

 Key takeaways included:

• With proper planning and supplies (masks, washable gloves, sanitizer, etc) residential collection of compost can continue and even expand
• In the words of Jeremy Brosowsky, composting enables individuals to “live their values” by supporting local businesses and a cleaner environment. Now is not the time to back away from that.

On April 21, the focus will be on marketing and selling compost with COVID-19 limitations.

The full series, with registration links and recordings of webinars, can be found at www.compostingcouncil.org/page/Composting-In-The-Time-of-COVID-19, or just go to the homepage and put “COVID” into the search bar.