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We can say, with pleasure, that we have a great experience planned for you! Our virtual platform allows for meaningful interactions while organizing dozens of networking opportunities into a single space. With 35 speakers, including Paul Hawken, author of Drawdown, movie director Rob Herring, an opening plenary featuring an international panel with compost industry leaders from six major countries, and a lineup of top professionals from across the industry, VIRTUAL COMPOST2021 will have the brain power to facilitate a fruitful educational and networking experience. The conference starts in just one week. The entire council is enthusiastic facilitate the connection of more than 20 sponsors and 30 exhibitors with the more than 500 registered attendees.
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Newly elected as President is Brian Fleury, WeCare Denali, who has served on the board for eight years. Incoming Vice President will be Pierce Louis, Dirt Hugger; Treasurer will be Russell Faldik, New Earth; and Secretary will be Jennifer Trent, Iowa Waste Reduction Center. Elected as new members to the board are:
Board member Tim Goodman, Natureworks, was re-elected to another term. The new board members join the executive committee and continuing board members Jeff Dannis, Howard County (MD) Department of Public Works; Bob Schanz, Barnes Nursery; Eileen Banyra, Community Compost Company; Joseph DiNorscia, Laurel Valley Soils; and Bob Yost, A1 Organics. "It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm of these new board members," said outgoing President Patrick Geraty. "I also want to thank Robert Michitsch of the University of Wisconsin, Jim Cowhey of JPM Development; Sarah Martinez, now with The Clorox Company, and Jeff Bradley of Vermeer for their dedicated service. We're also grateful to Joe DiNorscia and Bob Yost, board members who finished their terms on the Executive Committee." Geraty will hold the Past President position in the coming year. The new Board and Officers will be introduced at the Members Meeting at Virtual COMPOST2021 later this month. New USCC board members are, clockwise from top left, Ryan Cooper, Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli, Samantha Fleischner, and Melissa Tashjian.
"Hello! My name is Megan Lundequam, and I am so excited to join the US Composting Council team for this Model Rules Project. I graduated this past spring from the University of Florida, where I spent five years studying Environmental Science and Agricultural Education and Communication. I have a strong interest in society’s relationship with and understanding of science and how we can foster this relationship to collectively make wise and sustainable decisions moving forward. I am now a first year Master of Environmental Management candidate at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, specializing in Environmental Economics and Policy. Outside of school, things that make me happy include my two yellow Labs, Moby and Jax, live music, practicing yoga, surfing, scuba diving, sailing, riding my bike, and these days, puzzling. I can’t wait to get to know you all!"
Read below to learn more about the USCC Young Professionals Group. Are you a young professional passionate about sustainability, committed to expanding the compost industry nation/worldwide, and looking to chat with other young professionals who will be attending COMPOST2021? Well, we've got just the event for you! Come join the US Composting Council’s Young Professionals Group at their COMPOST2021 Happy Hour on January 26 from 6 to 7 p.m. (Registration to VIRTUAL COMPOST2021 required.) The Young Professionals Group began in October 2013 for those aged 18 to 40 (or with less than five years in the industry) to connect with each other through networking and volunteer events as well as to have the opportunity to learn from and interact with leaders in the compost industry. Here are some highlights of what they do together:
Once you are a member, you can join a committee to make some of this work happen!
After the Chapter Leaders meeting in December 2020, in which attendees split into breakout groups to discuss the issue, a list of "Top Templates” was produced, including:
The first of those, a bylaws template, has been assembled by integrating templates from non-profit governance websites and the existing documents for the New Jersey, North Carolina, and Virginia chapters. Next up: event flyers! Chapter leaders can access those documents through the Chapter Leaders Portal (login to your account and go to Groups to find it, or email Linda Norris-Waldt, Chapter Relations Director, for video instructions). Members from states where there are not chapters yet who are interested in the bylaws template should contact Linda Norris-Waldt (lnorriswaldt@compostingcouncil.org) to receive a copy. The Chapter Advisory Committee, which meets monthly, is expected to finalize new Prospective Chapter Requirements to be approved by the USCC Board of Directors opening the "window” for 2021 new chapter applications.
The proposed ordinance will likely go out for an additional round of Stakeholder Comments, due to the format changes and additions. The Task Force, made up of chair Marcus Zbinden (Carver County), members Neil Edgar (Edgar & Associates), Brian Freeman (Robinson & Cole), Jorge Montezuma (Atlas Organics); and Angel Arroyo-Rodriguez (Ohio EPA). It also recently added the expertise of Kourtnii Brown (Common Compost), an environmental policy analyst with experience in small, community-scale site regulations.
The summer survey noted trends toward major reorganizations of collection operations shifts from reusables to single-use disposables and towards to-go dining operations. The follow-up survey sought to dig deeper into the trends to find long-term impacts. Busch Systems’ Alec Cooley put together the data received from the second survey in a fascinating blog post showing:
"PPE and food packaging are particularly treacherous areas for the average person’s understanding of recyclability and compost-ability,” Cooley noted, as "a number of schools cited their increased usage as the cause of growing contamination rates.” So far 131 institutions have responded to the survey, administered by partners Busch Systems, CURC, USCC, the Zero Waste Campus Council and the NRC Campus Council. It is open until January 22; the link can be found in the blog post. ![]()
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"Why I pursued certification?” "Approaching 10 years in the industry, I was excited to use what I've learned and helped others learn as a catalyst for this certification program. The USCC has done such a tremendous job putting this program together, and it really encompasses all facets of composting. Having this certification is a testament to the work I have put in, as well as all the work of everyone who has come before me. I look forward to watching the certification program see the same growth our industry has seen while working to further legitimize composters across the country and beyond.” Will Kelley has worked for Napa Recycling & Waste Services (NRWS) for eight years and is responsible for managing all composting operations onsite, including but not limited to:
Kelley has contributed to numerous business development projects focused on innovative and sustainable solutions. In January 2020, Kelley completed NRWS’s transition from traditional windrow composting to an engineered covered aerated static pile (CASP) composting system thus decreasing air pollutants while increasing composting throughput. Other successes managed and implemented by Kelley include: 1) the modernization of the greenwaste processing line by converting diesel machinery to an all-electric fleet of screens, grinders, and equipment; 2) working with local businesses to capture and reuse wastewater for beneficial uses within the composting processes; and 3) installing a food depackager with funding from CalRecycle resulting in expansion of organics collected and processed onsite and reduction in wasted packaged foods. Currently, Kelley is managing the development for a regional CASP composting system in Yolo County, which would serve surrounding communities and increase Yolo County’s composting throughput by 100,000 tons. "Why I pursued certification?” "I received USCC certification for industry recognition and to challenge my current knowledge of composting operations management.” ![]()
Alan Schumacher, President of the IRA, said, "It just makes sense. The IRA is here to promote recycling. Organics are the largest waste stream in Iowa. Of course, we should promote the recycling of organics through composting. It's a perfect fit." The group, which is seeking Iowa members, will educate state regulators, local officials and the public about the importance of the compost manufacturing industry to local waste management programs, jobs and business development as well as the benefits of using compost in commercial and residential landscaping and farm fields. Educational outreach will also include the benefits of using compost for storm water management, erosion control and green infrastructure. The IACC, IRA and USCC will jointly take positions on regulations and legislation that affect the industry and the market for compost in the state. "The USCC – and the compost industry – is most effective in states where a local and organized industry group is at the table,” said Frank Franciosi, executive director of the USCC. "Our chapters are important because their leadership is directly in touch with the members we work to serve.” The Iowa Composting Council becomes the 13th regional chapter of the USCC after stakeholders in Iowa identified a need to provide training to compost operators, as well as education promoting compost benefits with the potential to grow current composting infrastructure in the state. Currently, the IRA is soliciting nominations for officers to serve on the IACC subcommittee. For more information about the Iowa Composting Council, contact Jennifer Trent at jennifer.trent@uni.org. ![]()
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Russellville, Arkansas – Denali Water Solutions, LLC, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, WeCare Denali, LLC is pleased to announce the acquisition of Madden Brothers, Inc. compost, mulch, and soil operations in Brunswick, Ohio. WeCare Denali, LLC is the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary focused on producing high-end compost, mulch, and soil products from recycled waste. WeCare Denali’s services and products are known for quality, consistency, and value throughout the landscaping, construction, and agricultural industries.
“Our purpose is to make the world a better place by handling waste responsibly. Joining forces with a team as respected as Madden Brothers aligns with our values and goals to expand our high-quality products and service offerings to our valued customers across the United States,” said Jeffrey J. LeBlanc, President of Denali Water Solutions.
Italy’s Novamont, a world leader in the development and production of biochemicals and compostable bioplastics, announced today it has acquired BioBag Group, a Norway based leading supplier of low-impact solutions for waste collection and packaging.
The acquisition will allow Novamont to benefit from BioBag’s highly specialized independent distribution in areas where the buyer is less present. The two companies will be able to offer a more complete solution set to the market and to create long-lasting alliances with key stakeholders such as large retailers and communities.
These are meaningful and impactful ways to improve the quality of human life AND reverse the damage humans have done to the planet. The Rodale Institute recently reported "If regenerative agriculture were adopted globally the Drawdown Rate is greater than the current global Carbon Emissions” (55 drawdown vs. 37.5 current emissions: Gt/yr CO2e). Rarely does an opportunity come along that can touch on energy, water, air, soil, food, jobs, and education simultaneously. This one does. Impact Bioenergy has a seed round capital campaign in progress to execute a scale up and meet the demands of the 2021 pipeline of partnerships and projects.
Atlas Organics, a leading commercial composting company seeking to increase municipal waste-solution partnerships across the U.S., announced the company's expansion of operations in San Antonio, Texas, to provide food waste and yard waste processing and composting management. Atlas estimates that 15 jobs will be created at the new facility with hiring focused within the region of San Antonio. The first phase of site construction has begun, and operations will begin in January.
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In 2018, Dominion Energy launched its first “Corporate Composting” program, aimed at reducing food waste in its on-site cafeterias. Since its inception, the program has offset more than 160,000 pounds of organic waste that would have otherwise gone to landfill. Dominion Energy has enjoyed partnering with USCC-affiliated organizations like Rust Belt Riders and NOPE RVA and other partners like Rubber City Reuse and Wasatch Resource Recovery to collect scrap material and process it off-site.
However, when one of our small power generation facilities in Ladysmith, VA wanted to adopt the program this summer, it didn’t make sense to follow the same off-site model. Because the site is so remote, the carbon footprint of hauling would have outsized their impact. Dominion Energy began exploring on-site composting methods, but wanted to stay consistent with company values by prioritizing safety and avoiding the heavy physical lifting involved in traditional composting methods.
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