Certified Compost Operations Manager™ Spotlight: Matt Ball

Matt Ball is the compost facility operator at the North Carolina State University Compost Facility and Research Cooperative. The facility is located at the NCSU Lake Wheeler Road Field Lab and processes all food waste collected at the university as well as animal bedding from the School of Veterinary Medicine, greenhouse material from the College of Agriculture and Life Science, and wood chips generated on campus. The facility also serves as a living learning lab where students can regularly tour and learn about composting and faculty can use its resources for their own research.

Matt was hired as the facility operator in July 2019, just prior to its official opening.  Before starting with NCSU Waste Reduction and Recycling, Matt worked for NCSU’s Center for Environmental Farming Systems where his focus was on organic crop research and extension. Prior to that, Matt spent years managing an organic vegetable farm in Orange County, NC, where he first started making and utilizing compost.

He lives in Wake Forest, NC.

Why I chose to pursue the Certified Compost Operations Manager Certification...

"I just think that if there is a reputable professional certification that’s available in your field, it’s a good idea to pursue it. It can be a catalyst in your career and it helps to build the industry you’re a part of. The Certified Compost Operations Manager certification exemplifies all of this."