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 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:
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:
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.