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| Past Issues | Subscribe | Send to a Friend | compostingcouncil.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 From the Top of the Pile On March 27, Jeff Ziegenbein, a USCC Board Member and Acting Director of Operations and Maintenance at Inland Empire Utilities Agency, spoke at a congressional briefing for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works about the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) liability in relation to compost manufacturers.
Ziegenbein's remarks were part of a larger discussion that included representatives from research, state and local governments, public works, solid waste, composting, and wastewater. These experts shared their perspectives from their roles as passive PFAS receivers concerning mitigating CERCLA liability for their respective industries.
USCC NEWS
This webinar will provide an overview of Conservation Practice Standard - Soil Carbon Amendment Code 336 and provide compost producers with resources they can use to educate their customers. Our panelists will detail how farmers and ranchers can work with NRCS to create a conservation plan that includes compost application and how that qualifies participants for reimbursement through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
It's almost the time of the year. The Seal of Testing Assurance Program renewals are scheduled to be launched May 1. The STA Certified Compost program has many benefits for compost manufacturers like you. The US Composting Council continues to grow in the services we offer. We have boosted the consumer’s knowledge of the value of compost by creating the STA Certified Compost program in 2000. The Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) Program helps you make the best decision for your application by providing the three C’s: Clarity, Consistency, Confidence. Renew your STA certificate on time without any lapse to harness the benefits of the program in growing your business. Check out the article in the in Compost Use section below titled, "While anyone can have compost tested to STA standards, only STA participants can receive a Compost Technical Data Sheet (CTDS)" where long time USCC member Charles Duprey talks about the importance of the STA program the (CTDS).
Our newest STA participant Big Lake Organics “Turning Supper into Soil” is from Ashland, WI.
Big Lake Organics grew out of the composting program at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. Almost thirty years ago, students started the campus composting program which eventually became part of the Hulings Rice Food Center. By 2020 the demand for both compost collection and finished compost in the Chequamegon Bay region had far outpaced the capacity of the college’s compost infrastructure. In the true spirit of business incubation, the college had proved out the value of a compost business and it was ready to spin-off as its own business. That’s where Todd Rothe and Jamie Tucker, co-founders of Big Lake Organics and Northland alumni, stepped in. Launched in 2021, Big Lake Organics set out to divert as much organic waste from the landfill as possible and turn it into rich, healthy soil that can help to protect our water, stabilize the climate, and grow nutritious food. To know more about the STA certified Grade A compost, and Big Lake Organics contact Jamie Tucker & Todd Rothe at info@biglakeorganics.com Physical address: PO Box 33, Ashland, WI 54806. Phone: 715-209-2357
A new whitepaper, written by Laurel Cohen, provides an overview of the Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE) federal grant program and highlights two case studies in which SARE grants have been used to fund compost related research. This paper is a resource for composters who are interested in funding opportunities for research related but not limited to composting practices, education, technology, and the joint advancement of agriculture and waste management goals. Readers can visit https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/agriculture to find this paper and other resources related to compost's role in agriculture.
ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY BRIEFS
Due to Member and Chapter advocacy, five states whose status was uncertain are now on the list of recipients of the Environmental Protection Agency’s newest grant program, the Inflation Reduction Act Climate Pollution Reduction Grants.
This multi-billion dollar pool of funding is aimed at fostering collaboration in climate planning (that includes composting and food scrap reduction and food waste avoidance) between states, municipalities and community groups. Its initial deadline of March 31, 2023 required states to opt-into $3 million in non-competitive grant funding and agree to take part in climate planning work. The states were required to reply in order for Metropolitan Statistical Areas and cities, counties and towns in their state to apply for future funding waves (the total amount available in the program is $5 billion).
Composting programs are part of this funding pool.
1. ADVOCATING: The Colorado Composting Council has been busy this winter/spring with a “truth in labeling” bill aimed at regulating compostable labeling to decrease contamination. A COCC leader, Clinton Sander, is representing the industry on the state’s advisory council for its Extended Producer Responsibility program which is in data gathering/planning stages now. The Ohio Organics Council (OHOC) has been working on arranging a meeting with federal representative on the Compost Act; MD-DC worked hard on a successful (albeit amended) bill to increase the footprint on which on-farm composting can happen Maryland; and the Florida Composting Council has launched out the gate with visits to the Florida Statehouse!
Ginny Black, who has led the Minnesota Composting Council for the past ten years (working harder in retirement than she did for her career, some say!) is passing her longtime leadership hat to Kellie Kish of City of Minneapolis as the new chair. Kellie has served on the MNCC board for many years. Ginny spent many hours building the 10-year-old chapter and we thank her for her leadership.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Many states require some form of training or certification, but since the USCC’s rigorous certification program is less than five years old, the word still needs to get out that states should be adopting USCC’s certification requirement for their compost facility operators. This is VITAL for a well-run facility by trained personnel. COMPOST USE
Similar to a nutrition label, the STA Program’s Compost Technical Data Sheet (CTDS) includes test results, a list of ingredients, and recommended directions for use. There is no other compost testing program available to compost producers or compost buyers that give you this type of information. STA program certification help you sell more compost through consistent national lab standards, increased attention to the characteristics of your product, marketing tools, and ultimately increased customer confidence.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
The Young Professionals Mentorship Program provides mentees with valuable insights, knowledge, and experience, while building a strong professional network within the industry. The program's mission is to foster the growth and development of the next generation of compost industry leaders by encouraging innovation, highlighting achievements, and providing networking opportunities for sustainability entrepreneurs and educators. MENTEES: To receive mentorship through this year's program, please fill out the mentee application, which can be found at https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/Mentee-Application. Selected applicants will be granted a free Young Professionals membership, providing access to the USCC member portal, composting news, and other useful benefits. MENTORS: If you are interested in sharing your knowledge and expertise with the next generation of compost industry leaders and entrepreneurs, please fill out the application here: https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/Mentor-Application To learn more, please visit the YP Mentoring Program webpage: https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/MentorYoungProfessionals
In 2022, Xinci Chan joined the USCC Young Professionals (YP) Outreach Committee and the USCC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee. She took over running the monthly happy hours for the YPs and helped to develop a training program for all USCC members for DEIA. Updates from both committees will be available soon.
Xinci is currently the Organics Program Manager for Zero Waste Sonoma, a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) based in Santa Rosa, CA. Her responsibilities include leading the countywide implementation of state law Short-lived Climate Pollutants (SB 1383), being involved in the County's efforts to permit and site a new composting facility, and organizing annual compost giveaway events and education. In 2022, with the help of volunteers, Zero Waste Sonoma had 25 giveaway events and 12 large donations to non-profits and NGOs, totaling 1700 cubic yards of compost.
Register to attend the upcoming Young Professionals Happy Hour on May 4 at 7 p.m. ET, where we will be talking about the International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) and how you can celebrate in your home state by connecting with fellow young professionals, coordinators and volunteers.
The first 10 attendees to register will receive a copy of this year's winning ICAW poster, so be sure to sign up right away! To register and receive the Zoom event details, visit https://www.compostingcouncil.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1718554&group=.
The YP Happy Hour is a recurring event on the first Thursday of every month. To learn about future events and receive reminders, join the USCC Young Professionals Slack Channel.
MEMBER NEWS
I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued support and membership in the US Composting Council. The promotion and advancement of composting is only possible through you and your membership. I’m writing to let you know about what your membership dollars have accomplished this year, and about a new dues policy tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Year in Review:
This year we have:
♦ Hosted nine webinars, published 12 newsletters, and hired additional staff to provide more services such as the career center and expanded Compost U
♦ Held our largest-ever gathering of the compost industry anywhere in the world (COMPOST2023) ♦ Lobbied Congress for the bills that would include compost infrastructure, federal data collection and assessment of our industry, and scientific research on PFAS Click the button below to view a timeline of even more that has happened over the last 12 months
RFPS AND PROPOSALS
Application Deadline: June 15, 2023
USDA announced the availability of up to $9.5 million for Compost and Food Waste Reduction pilot projects for the 2023 fiscal year. The cooperative agreements support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans.
Learn more about this funding opportunity and how to apply.
OPPORTUNITIES, JOBS AND GRANTS
You are responsible for ensuring the safe, clean, consistent, and reliable running of all Sprinter Driver operations activities (the collection of compostables from our residential and office members, and distribution of compostable packaging) in the Triangle market. You lead the execution of team operational needs, personnel management, and administrative tasks for an approximately 10-person team operating between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You ensure that team members remain operationally ready; and you help set the tone, expectations, and culture of this team.
CREF NEWS
As most people know, Cary Oshins, CREF’s Education Director, retired at the end of March. Much of what he did for CREF, for many years, was managing the Compost Operations Training Course (COTC). Moving forward, Shawn Bruckman will be handling all the onsite logistics for these trainings, and Kelsea Jacobsen will be taking care of all the offsite logistics. Beth Simone will be helping with local sponsorships. If you have any questions about the COTC program, contact CREF at info@compostfoundation.org.
IN THE HEADLINESUpcoming Events
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Tim Gainer is the Operations Supervisor for the City of Raleigh Yard Waste Center and is responsible for the Yard Waste Center, the closed landfill, flare operations, gas collection and control system personally or through subordinate supervisors. He has worked for the City of Raleigh at the Yard Waste Center for five years.
Professional Certification is an important part of promotion or salary increase considerations
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The USCC Young Professionals are excited to announce the launch of the Mentorship Program on Saturday, May 15, marking 10 years of connecting aspiring professionals with seasoned experts in the composting industry.
