In October, CREF conducted our last COTC of 2023 in San Marcos, TX. The training’s 42 graduates came from seven U.S. states, one U.S. territory, and two other nations. Despite inclement weather (including a tornado warning) the course was a great success. The TX Composting Council and TX Commission on Environmental Quality gave presentations. The class visited TX State University’s compost operation, Bobcat Blend, and toured four San Antonio-area commercial facilities. On the tour, attendees sported new branded vests purchased through generous funding from Viably, one of the COTC’s national sponsors.

 

Two attendees to the Texas course received Cary Oshins Training Scholarships.Tumar Tolkynkyzy traveled all the way from Kazakhstan, where she plans to launch the nation’s first compost facility; and Christopher Trullaz came from Durango, CO, where he serves as Operations Manager for Table to Farm Compost. They’re pictured here with Shawn Bruckman, our COTC facilitator. These scholarships are possible only through contributions from our community. if you’d like to help sustain these opportunities, please consider donating to the scholarship fund.

 

CREF also held COTCs in California, New Jersey, and North Carolina in 2023, with over 150 total graduates just this year. Interested in joining a COTC in 2024? We plan to announce new trainings in the coming weeks. Submit to our interest list to be among the first to know!