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 From the Top of the Pile
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members for supporting the US Composting Council with your energy, time and funds. Each and every time you renew your membership, you are choosing to say “YES” to the Compost Industry. We, as an organization, would not exist as we are without the funding you provide us through your membership dues. Each year, the USCC’s Board, Staff, and Committees seek to connect our members with community and resources. This year we have focused on several key deliverables from our Strategic Plan.
At the forefront we have strived to advocate for the compost industry on local and national levels. The COMPOST Act got us a seat at the table and, though it was not funded, it has given us opportunities for inclusion in the Build Back Better bill and the Farm Bill (2022). Beyond our work with the US Composting Infrastructure Coalition and national advocacy, we have rebuilt our advocacy web pages and launched our Advocacy Toolkit.
USCC NEWS
I want to bring to your attention the significance of participating in our Compost Industry Study. Our industry is growing, and we have not had accurate metrics to evaluate both the environmental impact and the economic impact that we have in the US. The time is now to participate in this critical study. Every Compost Manufacturer needs to be counted to move our industry forward, we need to understand where we are currently and what our potential impact can be in the future.
This past summer the USCC and the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) began the process of undertaking a critical step in advancing the Compost Industry. This project will be the first-ever in-depth study of commercial composting. This has been made possible by the underwriting of members and the Corporate Compost Leadership Council. The EREF will be facilitating the study, which will gather data that ranges from facility throughput, compost volume sold, employee headcount and other downstream financial impacts of the industry, to the current state of practice regarding equipment types, tipping fees, feedstock types and technologies.
The STA staff and committee team are excited to announce that Phase 1 of the new technology for launching STA Renewals is ready – the Gateway. On Monday, December 13, STA Participants will receive an email from STA Program Manager Hilary Nichols with instructions on how to log in to this new system. This will include a step-by-step written guide, how-to video, and a link to Hilary’s new weekly office hours. Please be patient with this new tool as it is a work in progress, and reach out to Hilary with any snags you encounter. We are grateful that with this tool we have the ability to work with a programmer on upgrades!
To prepare to renew your STA, bring to the computer:
1. How many finished wet tons you produce for each STA product
2. What % of each feedstock you use to create those products 3. Directions for using each product that are specific The STA Renewal Deadline is January 21, the Friday before COMPOST2022.
Hilary Nichols, STA Program Manager
hnichols@compostingcouncil.org
919-592-3949
The US Composting Council celebrated World Soil Day this week by announcing our partnership with seven other international compost organizations to form the International Compost Alliance. We are thrilled to recognize and celebrate the importance of a healthy soil biome in the company of worldwide partners.
USCC members also recognize that compost application and use is a vital part of regenerating our soil system worldwide. This year, the Corporate Compost Leadership Council, in partnership with the Target Organics Committee and its members, launched the Target Organics Hub. This collection of resources is designed to assist in the process of setting up compost operations in the US with a focus on public private partnerships.
I have been involved in all aspects of the composting industry since the year 2000, beginning my employment with Synagro then moving onto WeCare Organics and now working with WeCare Denali, where I am currently an operations Manager at the WeCare Denali composting facility in Rockland County, New York.
Why did you choose to become certified through the USCC Certification Comission?
Apart from getting a better understanding of how my knowledge of composting measured up to my peers, I found it important to know my place in the diverse world of composting. The USCC with its involvement in a variety of composting enterprises seemed to be the most practical place to begin.
ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY BRIEFS
Members of the USCC can now enroll in a rewards program for advocacy actions. This member benefit is an exciting extension of our expanding advocacy efforts. You can get points for testifying, writing letters, emailing your representatives, posting on social media and more. Just snap a screenshot or picture and upload it to this advocacy reporting form. Once you reach specific point levels we will mail you your rewards.
The top prizes are five Annual Conference Complementary Passes to be drawn on January 2. Other top prizes include 50% off the annual conference, a copy of the newly released Compost handbook, and an Advocacy T-Shirt that will be delivered at the end of this membership year (June 30, 2022).
STATE CHAPTER NEWS
The North Carolina Composting Council topped the October COMPOST IS LOCAL chapter membership drive with four new members recruited. To recognize their efforts, they win a seat at a USCC COMPOST2022 workshop. California’s chapter, also known as Association of Compost Producers, with and the Colorado Composting Council qualified for a $100 certificate from USCC that can be used by a chapter member for a workshop, store item or towards conference attendance.
A total of 17 members were brought in by Chapter efforts; this allows Chapters to retain 20% of new members’ membership free for use for state programs; (state chapters retain 10% of renewing members’ fees for programs). The Member Drive was undertaken by nine of USCC’s 13 chapters to increase the local support and volunteers for USCC’s chapter states.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
“If you are an avid gardener and like to build garden beds, here is an opportunity waiting for you. Regenerative agriculture / organic gardening project - giving back to the community”. USCC Young Professionals are committed to undertake a volunteer project every year during the annual conference. The volunteer project every year focuses on organic waste diversion, composting and other sustainable initiatives. This year they are collaborating with the Sustainable Food Center for a community garden project. The mission of SFC is to “transform the food system to nourish our health, land and livelihood.” This year, volunteers will be contributing about three hours refurbishing up to eight raised beds at the SFC community garden. The volunteering group will meet at a designated spot at the convention center for a quick meet and greet before heading to the project location.
Venue: Sustainable Food Center – 2921 E. 17th St., Bldg. C, Austin, TX 78702
Date and Time: 1:00 p.m. CT January 24
Save your seat by emailing Jana Pearce, Volunteer Committee Chair
jana@bpiworld.org
WeRadiate LLC Named Among the Top Winners at 2021 Grow-NY
“We are thrilled to be a winner of the 2021 Grow-NY Competition. Improving soil health through data and technology is important to us and we are grateful that our company vision was recognized by the judges. We look forward to investing in people and in creating a local supply chain in upstate New York.” Sashti Balasundaram, CEO WeRadiate. More here
Happy Hour:
The popular YP networking event happens every month. Grab a drink, relax and chit-chat with the fun group. YPHH is on 6th, January 2022 from 7 to 8 PM (EST). Contact Coryanne Mansell and Leilani Ching to know more about YP happy hour. Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85607596445 Meeting ID: 856 0759 6445
Passcode: YPG2021 Emerging Composter Challenge: applications are closed for the COMPOST2022 challenge. If you have submitted applications and have questions, please reach out to Antoine Abou Moussa.
antoineaboumoussa@gmail.com
MEMBER NEWS
Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to Getting Started with Vermicomposting!
I aim to make this page the internet’s top resource on taking you from complete ignorance about vermicomposting to being able to:
• Understand vermicomposting and how it works
• Explain the benefits of vermicompost to plants and soil • Set up your own worm bin to include choosing and preparing the bedding • Understand what to feed worms, and what not to feed them • Identify and correct common worm bin problems • Understand the financial opportunities in the vermiculture and vermicomposting industry
Over the course of the last three months, Rotochopper has hosted three Field Day events across the country. The events, hosted at Rotochopper customers sites in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Texas, provided an opportunity for attendees to see Rotochopper equipment in action, network with other business owners and operators, and connect with the Rotochopper team.
The first event took Rotochopper to Hay Creek Companies in Pittsville, Wisconsin. Machines demoed at the event included two horizontal grinders owned by Hay Creek Companies – a B-66 and an EC-366 that feeds into a Rotochopper RMT Hammermill. In addition, the 75DK slow speed shredder, GB-250 Bagger and Rotochopper’s new 365R Radial Stacking Conveyor were demonstrated at the event. Attendees were able to tour Hay Creek Companies facility and learn more about their operation to produce animal bedding, wood pellets and mulch.
OPPORTUNITIES, JOBS AND GRANTS
Get your hands on the latest in compost and sustainability jobs by taking a look at the job postings from our member organizations on our website. Plus, your membership gives you the benefit of posting jobs on our Career Center for free. It's easy, so why not take advantage of it?
How to post a job on the USCC website: Step 1: In your membership account go to Account Settings Step 2: Click Content & Features Step 3: Submit an Opening Have questions? Contact Gowri Sundaram at gsundaram@compostingcouncil.org. CREF NEWS
The winners of both the ICAW 2022 Poster Contest and the video contest have been chosen. This year’s winner of the ICAW 2022 Poster Contest is Angelo Esquivel. Out of hundreds and hundreds of entries from around the world, his entry was chosen. Angelo is an artist and graphic designer from Sacramento, CA. Here’s how he explained his poster design, “The poster that I created expresses the use of regenerative practices in agriculture. It shows a farmer using composting into the crops where it creates a regenerative cycle and better crops.”
The winner of the video contest, which is for children ages 10-13, is Senya Palkovitz. She’s an 11-year-old sixth-grader living in Vermont on 64 acres of land. She loves her cat, art, reading and playing outside. And, she loves composting. Her family started composting three years ago and now generates enough compost to replenish their vegetable gardens each year. You can watch her winning video here: https://youtu.be/NTWozsd0Wmw
You can now pre-order your electronic or printed copy of The Composting Handbook on the CREF store. It is scheduled to be printed sometime in December so you will not have to wait long to receive your pre-ordered copy. You can place your orders HERE.
IN THE HEADLINESBy Amy Sowder, The Packer
The Pennsylvania mushroom industry won a grant from Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration to study how to better use the spent compost from growing mushrooms.
The research would focus on the carbon sequestration gleaned from applying spent mushroom compost, part of a larger spate of grants to state agriculture groups, totaling almost $1.3 million, according to a news release.
By James Rainey, Los Angeles Times
Trash never dies. Sometimes it’s not even trash.
That’s the notion behind a state law that on Jan. 1 will require Californians to separate organic material from their other garbage. It’s a landmark reform that aims to transform the state’s throwaway culture — not just to ease pressure on landfills but to reduce the climate-warming fallout of our trashy norm.
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