During a recent Q&A session with Clinton Sander, Marketing Manager at A1 Organics in Colorado, he explained that their recent decision to limit the acceptance of inbound materials is aimed at reducing contamination. A1 Organics' full press release can be found here. See USCC's interview with A1 Organics below...

Tell us what’s going to happen at A1 Organics on April 1 that was just announced.

Starting on April 1, A1 will only allow food scraps, yard/plant trimmings, and use of a three-gallon or smaller Compost Manufacturing Alliance-approved compostable bag in the residential and commercial source-separated organics (SSO) streams. Contamination is the number one challenge our industry faces, as we continue to work on solutions as a community. Simplifying what we accept supports our goal to keep food scraps and yard and plant trimmings out of the landfill. It is more important than ever to reduce harmful methane emissions while creating a marketable compost. 
 
This isn’t a sudden move, correct? We know you’ve been working on this issue for some time. 

It is anything but a sudden move. It can go back to the USCC conference five years ago when I was asked to present on "contamination, solvable or not” related to the contamination challenge in SSO composting. The answer was yes, it was solvable, but it would require a paradigm shift. That has not happened; the industry (A1 included) has basically kept doing the same thing and expecting different results and the problem has grown.  A1 has been working with all our stakeholders on defining the paradigm shift we are implementing. Composting of SSO is NOT a single stream recycling process. SSO needs to be reworded. It should be OSS: Organics Separated at the SOURCE. That is the shift; we are resetting our site by committing to addressing that shift so that compostable products, current and future, can be separated at the source, treated properly and not landfilled as they are now.  
 
Is this a "one and done?" A memo to customers and that’s it? Or is there a bigger strategy behind this reset?

It is not a one and done.  Our plans are to reset our site physically and move the volume of compost with small debris in it. But more importantly we must change the paradigm narrative so that we can manage compostables separately, effectively, and create a closed loop system that supports and benefits all stakeholders. 

Why is this important for the industry in Colorado, and perhaps beyond, right now?

Colorado has ramped up the narrative on organics diversion based on development of a Statewide Organics Management Plan. More infrastructure is needed. Curbside programs expanding and new ones are coming on. The contamination problem is increasing along with confusion in the market. This shift to address the intent of the SSO narrative to what it should be—OSS with emphasis on source separation—is needed here and frankly throughout the industry. There is a difference between "can’t and won’t.” Colorado has an incredible community and this can be done.

Erin Skelly is the Environmental and Compliance Technician at the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility, a large-scale composting facility in Shakopee, MN.  Erin has been working in the composting industry for the past six years and holds a B.S. Degree in Environmental Science. In her position, she monitors all aspects of the composting process, works with haulers to reduce contamination, creates compost recipes, conducts educational tours, and ensures outgoing product meets quality standards.
 
Why did you pursue a professional credential through the USCC?

I decided to get my CCOM certification to continue growing in the field of composting and to stay abreast with the ever-evolving composting world. I pursued this certification so I could be recognized in the composting industry as someone with expertise in composting. I want others outside of the composting industry to recognize that composting is a crucial and rapidly growing field. Additionally, I want to spread awareness that composting is something you can be professionally certified in!

The USCC Young Professionals Group invites you to attend our upcoming monthly happy hour, where you will get the chance to meet some of the past winners of the Emerging Composter Competition, our an annual business pitch/poster challenge showcasing new businesses and research within the composting, compostable products, and organics recycling space.
 
Join us on Thursday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET for this great opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and gain insights into the world of composting and waste management. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out in your career, you will be able to connect with young professionals in the industry.
 
Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to expand your network and learn more about the Emerging Composter Competition. To register for the event, please visit our website at https://www.compostingcouncil.org/events/register.aspx?id=1718553

Attention all composting enthusiasts! The USCC is excited to announce that applications for the 2023 Environmental Apprenticeship program’s spring internships will be launching soon. This is a fantastic opportunity for interns interested in policy, data management, and marketing to gain hands-on experience and establish long-lasting professional connections within the industry. 
 
If you are an undergraduate or graduate student who is passionate about creating a more sustainable future, this is the opportunity for you. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this impactful program. Stay tuned for updates on when applications will open!

CREF is happy to announce that it has hired two new people to join its staff.  Both are highly qualified and experienced, bringing to the Foundation the ability to jump right in and start making an impact immediately. 

Kelsea Jacobsen joins the CREF team as a program manager.  She is from Oceanside, CA, and for the last five years she has led composting education in the San Diego region through her work with the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation. In that role, she was involved with teaching and administering Master Composter courses, mid-scale composting courses, and a wide array of other composting and environmental outreach. As CREF's new program manager, Kelsea will oversee activities that support the Compost Operations Training Courses (COTC) and provide broad-spectrum administrative assistance to the organization as it continues to expand.

Jamie Blanchard-Poling is joining the staff in a new role as an assistant project manager for the Compostable Field Testing Program (CFTP).  Jamie started in the composting industry in 2018, founding her own company, Compost Queen PBC. The Colorado-based company, Compost Queen, is both a hauler and a composter, incorporating into their compost all the food scraps they collect locally. In the past few years, Jamie has won the USCC Emerging Composter Challenge in January 2022, and the Small Composter Manufacturer of the Year in January 2023.

If you have questions about the COTC program, Kelsea can be reached at kelseajacobsen@compostfoundation.org or for questions about the CFTP, contact Jamie at jamiepoling@compostfoundation.org.