Compost Quality &/or Quantity Expansion Project Ideas€¦ · Web view'Air from Compost'- Research Issues and Potential Projects – this includes 8 project concepts specifically

Project Ideas for Expanding Compost Use - Science & Marketing Last Update: 4/2/13

Science & Marketing Research & Development Project Ideas: for Expanding Compost Use

byDan Noble, Executive Director, Association of Compost Producers &

David Crohn, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. of Environmental Science & Associate CE Biosystems Engineering, College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences, UC Riverside, part of the UC Agricultural & Natural

Resources and UC Cooperative Extension ProgramsChuck Schmidt, CE Schmidt & Associates

April 2, 2013

Overview:The following project concepts are geared to expand aspects of compost quality and/or quantity markets. They fall into two broad project categories or types 1) Compost Science and Technology and 2) Market Channel Development: Scientific and technology research - including pure, but mainly applied, scientific research

for compost production, measurement of key compost parameters related to both material and use effectiveness. This includes a special subset owing to the ever tightening air regulations in California: :

o 'Air from Compost'- Research Issues and Potential Projects – this includes 8 project concepts specifically focused on air emissions from compost and other organics processing methods provided to D. Noble by CE Schmidt & Associates, on 3/28/13, at the close of a successful research project that they worked together on in California.

Market channel development methods and systems - including compost product quality measurement, utilization standards, specifications and best management practices for product and service use

This list of project concepts is designed to be an evergreen communication, i.e. continuously updated, document between the compost industry (specifically represented by the Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org), the California State Chapter of the US Composting Council, and it’s Composting Council Research and Education Foundation (CCREF), http://compostingcouncil.org/foundation-history/, and starting with one scientific establishment in California (specifically, the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources and their Cooperative Extension program, generally, www.ucanr.org, and the UC Riverside College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, specifically, http://cnas.ucr.edu), and independent scientists, consultants, e.g. on this paper and in most recent compost air emission projects in California with ACP and Valley Air, CE Schmidt & Associates.

This is just a beginning group of project concepts, and ACP, as the California State Chapter of the USCC, is very interested in working with the CCREF Trustees, and other stakeholder partners, to advance the science and use of compost.

The working titles of these proposed project concepts are headlined in the contents table on the following page. This document contains approximately ½ - 1 page descriptions of each project concept. Prior to applying for grant money to do the research or market expansion, a proposal for each project will need to be designed and written.

© 2013 Association of Compost Producers, www.healthysoil.org Page 1 of 18

http://www.healthysoil.org/

http://www.valleyair.org/Home.htm

http://cnas.ucr.edu/

http://www.ucanr.org/

http://compostingcouncil.org/foundation-history/



Project Concept Contents

Compost Science and Technology:..............................................................31. Compost Technologies to Reduce VOC Emissions................................................32. Enhancing Water Use Efficiency with Compost.....................................................33. Compost Use Index: Formalize and Publish..........................................................44. Ag Compost Project Extension................................................................................55. Compost to Ensure Food Safety..............................................................................66. Compost Desalination..............................................................................................67. Amines (Organic Nitrogen) within High Carbon Soils...........................................7

'Air from Compost'- Research Issues and Potential Projects...................98. Greenwaste Land Application Versus Greenwaste Composting - #1.....................99. Air Emissions from Naturally Composting Organic Matter - #2............................910. Air Emissions from Food Waste Composting - #3................................................1011. Follow-On to the 2012 TAP Positive Aeration ASP with BioFiltration Layer

Composting Technology - #4................................................................................1012. Positive ASP with Biofilter Technology Assessment for Food Waste and Biosolids - #5

1013. Ozone Precursor Air Emissions from Compost Operations - #6...........................1114. Air Emissions from Leachate at Compost Sites - #7.............................................1115. Evaluation of Additives Designed to Increase the Rate of Composting and/or Control

Odorous Emissions - #8.........................................................................................11

Market Channel Development Methods & Systems:...............................1316. Compost Use Expansion Fund...............................................................................1317. Organics Toolbox - 2.0: Articulation and Expansion............................................1318. Organics Market Analysis & Investment Calculator.............................................1419. Compost Standards Systems: Coordinating, and/or Harmonizing the Divergent systems

of STA, CUI, OMRI, USDA/NOP, CCOF, OFAC, CDFA..................................1620. Compost Quality Assurance: Eliminating, or Coordinating, Chip & Grind Materials

Manufacture & Use with Compost Manufacture & Use.......................................1721. Bioenergy Residuals Compost Market Development............................................18




Compost Science and Technology:

1. Compost Technologies to Reduce VOC EmissionsBackground:

Implementation of Rule 1133.1, 1133.2 and most recently the green waste VOC control rule 1133.3 in South Coast Air Quality Management District

Implementation of Rules 4565 and 4566 in San Joaquin Valley Air District Technology Innovation

Proposed Study: Technology Advancement Program RFP - let by San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution

Control District - Due Fri. Aug 19th, 2011 Kevin Barnes, City of Bakersfield making a submission.

2. Enhancing Water Use Efficiency with Compost

Background: There is extensive personal gardener experience and anecdotal evidence from compost users throughout the world that incorporating compost in or on soil will reduce the amount of irrigation water required to maintain healthy plant growth and viability. It is conjectured that compost in soils act as a sponge holding water, and that compost placed on the surface as a mulch, enhances water infiltration and retards evaporation. To examine this thesis, a literature search was conducted of articles and research papers posted on the internet. Briefly, the reported results, while consistently showing a positive correlation between compost use and water savings, nonetheless showed a very wide variability of water savings from between 10% - 2,300%. It is our perspective that the decision to use compost in landscape and agricultural applications should be based on demonstrated and quantifiable economic benefits. With such a wide range of reported values, any cost/benefit analysis, based solely on that information, could be seriously questioned. Therefore further testing of the key variables in using compost to achieve quantifiable water savings should be performed before affirmative statements are claimed. In addition to agricultural water use throughout the state, it is our finding that while all water districts in Southern California have water efficient landscape programs, few regularly advocate the use of compost to enhance water savings. Our belief for this deficiency is two fold:

1) most landscape architects and irrigation companies take a physical approach to delivering water and their ranks are not populated by soil and compost experts, and

2) they do not have good, reliable information that tells them how best to use compost to maximize water savings within their planned, installed and maintained landscapes, particularly as it relates to the current recommended methods of creating irrigation zones within the landscape of variable water quantity delivery.

Proposed Study:




ACP, UC Riverside (Extension and UCCE) and partners (local water agencies, Calrecycle, Dept. of Water Resources, etc.), in collaboration with a local water conservation garden(s), proposes to address this knowledge deficiency regarding compost’s ability to be a potentially powerful landscape water conservation tool. We propose to develop verifiable and peer reviewed research data conclusions, as well as develop information resources that landscape designers, installers and maintenance personnel can use that clearly defines the amount of water conservation savings that can be achieved by using compost as both a soil amendment as well as a mulch for them to achieve reproducible water savings.

Project questions to be answered:1) How much does compost facilitate a higher degree of water infiltration on clay soils,

when used? A. as a mulch, B. as a soil amendment, or C. in combination2) How does compost facilitate higher soil water holding capacity in the root zone

starting with clay or sandy soils, when used …? A. as a mulch, B. as a soil amendment, or C. in combination

3) How do these factors quantitatively decrease landscape water use over time, based on a 1-2 month trial during the dry season, starting with:

a. clay soils and drought tolerant plantsb. sandy soils and drought tolerant plantsc. clay soils and water loving plantsd. sandy soils and water loving plants

4) What user tools can be produced that best communicate the above findings—in both extreme and average cases—and that make them most practical for the landscape architect/designer, installer and landscape maintenance personnel.

For the details of the specific materials and methods required for this study, we will likely want to develop a "model system" that includes all the relevant parameters in a predictable methodology for applying to landscape, agricultural and natural environmental applications.

3. Compost Use Index: Formalize and Publish Two of the main recent projects funded by Calrecycle (2005 Caltrans Project, 2008 Agricultural Project), and performed in collaboration with the UC Cooperative Extension and UC Riverside Extension and the Association of Compost Producers, included a significant portion of the contract devoted to the development of a “Compost Use Index.” For the “Caltrans Compost Specification” project, the Compost Use Index was conceived and initiated. Since the Compost Use Index depends on specifications for individual uses, or applications, of compost, the Caltrans project generated 9 landscape and stormwater (environmental) specifications for the use of compost, bringing the initial body of Compost Use Index specifications to nine (9). The Agricultural Compost Specifications project presented another opportunity to expand Compost Use Index specifications, this time into the agricultural markets. This was completed for 5 crops, adding 5 more specifications to the compost use index, as well as adding the new dimensions of soil testing and, potentially, water quality to the Compost Use Index.

Prior to actually publishing a functional “Compost Use Index” as outlined and more fully explained in those projects, the Compost Use Index teams needs to create an online tool, or calculator that can be used by any potential composter, advisor or user on an as-need basis.

This project would:




Accumulate and summarize all the existing compost specifications that are application specific.

Build a Compost Use Index calculator or tool for those applications Expand the Compost Use Index to include Soil test and water need (and quality?)

parameters Add new Compost Use Index specifications (not in the previous project) but for

applications that are common (e.g. turf grass, tree planting, etc.) and make them part of the model (based on secondary research of those specifications, i.e. not primary experiments)

Publish the Compost Use Index as part of the developing “Organics Toolbox” (see separate project concept)

Give a series of Webinar workshops for composters, advisors and user communities on how to use the tool (version 1.0), and gather feedback on how to improve the tool.

Based on the Webinar feedback, and user input, build and publish a version 2.0 of the Compost Use Index.

Determine who will continue to support and promote the Compost Use Index moving forward (e.g. Calrecycle via the Organics Toolbox, version 2.0, ACP or UCCE, independently or in collaboration with Calrecycle or other agencies, e.g. CDFA, etc.).

4. Ag Compost Project ExtensionExtend the recently completed Ag Compost Specifications project and/or tie it into the salt management projects. The Ag Compost Project (completed May 2009), was designed to extend the Compost Use Index into five important crops within the California Agricultural markets. That is, as shown in the “Compost Specifications 043009” document (shown graphically in the table below, from that document), compost can be used for up to six applications in three phases of growth, for most crops, i.e. the three phases of germination, initial planting and maintenance. While we only tested a small fraction in this study, there was sufficient secondary research information to draft specifications for both amendment in initial planting and mulch for maintenance. These are provided in that document and will be used in the Use Index.

Crop Type

Compost Use LettuceStrawberr

y Blueberry Grape Avocado Tomato AlmondGermination

Seed BeddingPotting Mix N/A

Initial PlantingSoil Amendment

MulchMaintenance

Soil Amendment N/A N/AMulch N/A

Legend:N/A = Not applicable

= Greenhouse study & specification & Use Index




= Potential specifications & Use Index In future studies= Project specification & Use Index

We recommend that this work be extended to include all possible applications as necessary. Or simply continue to keep the various uses more general for compost applications on California’s key agricultural crops. Our view is that with further application use and experience, of tested compost, that this can actually be handled through proper implementation of the Compost Use Index online tool, especially if it is set up as a “wiki” process, as recommended in other sections of this project report.

5. Compost to Ensure Food SafetyOne of the major discoveries in the Agricultural Compost Project was the fact that at least one composter in the Salinas Valley area had developed a simple method to use their permitted compost sampling, time and temperature and STA testing documentation to ensure that the compost that they used on their lettuce crops was free of pathogens. They put together a notebook of all the documentation and was able to deliver it their buyer crop auditors (a private sector consultant in the sensitive agricultural markets). They found that this notebook was sufficient to allay any fears, or concerns, on the part of the auditors that pathogens would be coming from the compost to the fresh vegetable crops.

This project would extend this method to all farmers using compost. This could also be added to not only the organics and/or STA certification of the material and methods, but also to the specifications. This would require developing at least the following steps:

Create a mock up case study notebook as an example of this. Write up best practices for using this tool on food safety sensitive crops Give workshops on the use of this tool to composters, growers and auditors Include this new “tool” in the Organics Toolbox.

6. Compost DesalinationSome composts seem to contain high amounts of salt, especially if derived from high salt containing feedstocks. One method to remediate this situation in affected feedstocks, would be to chip and/or grind that material, then run it through a batch of water. This water would then have to be treated prior to discharge to any affected water bodies, possibly run through a local wastewater treatment facility. This project would:

Bench test the salinity and washing methodologies that would yield acceptable materials once composted.

Field test in a portion of a compost facility to determine the economics of scaling ups such a feedstock washing facility,

Run the facility and operational and market costs of such an operation Include the results of this calculation in the “Organics Market Analysis & Investment

Calculator (see Project Idea #5).




7. Amines (Organic Nitrogen) within High Carbon SoilsThere is increasing anecdotal and research evidence in the organic agriculture literature that amino acids (organic amine nitrogen compounds, which are the precursor to proteins) are more readily taken up by plants than other forms of nitrogen. This is a biogenic process and is depending on having abundant organic (high energy carbon molecules) to feed the microorganisms (especially bacterial and mycillium) in the root zone. Compost has an abundance of both carbon microbe food, as well as protein based nitrogen. However, much more research needs to be done, and we need to determine:

1. Should the TMECC methods of US Composting Council that support the STA program include specific protocols for testing amines in the compost?

2. What is the ratio of amines to other nitrogen compounds (NO3, NH4, etc.) and in what ways are this important?

3. How do composters use this information to build healthy soil?

A couple of abstracts that point to this affect include:Protein Content of Seed: Increase Improves Growth and Yield C. J. Schweizer 1 and S. K. Ries (Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823)Oat seeds with a higher protein content as a result of chemical applications in 1967 yielded 21 to 42 percent more grain in 1968. Wheat seed, whether from Michigan, Illinois, or Mexico, that contained more protein as a result of field applications of chemicals or nitrogen developed into larger seedlings. The content of protein in the seed correlated with subsequent growth and yield, indicating that the amount of endogenous protein or of a proteinaceous moiety, which can be controlled, may be an important factor in subsequent yield of major agronomic crops.

Note: underline added




Now we need to understand more about Nitrogen and this is the key to understanding organics




Date: March 28, 2013To: Dan NobleFrom: CE Schmidt

RE: Response to Email Dated March 12, 2013 Regarding

'Air from Compost'- Research Issues and Potential Projects

There are several issues that loom on the horizon for the compost industry regarding air emissions. The species of interest fall into four general classes of air pollutants: odor; regulatory total VOC and ammonia emissions; greenhouse gas (GHG) including methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide (N2O) and NOx (NO and NO2); and speciated emissions related to ozone precursors. Regardless of the type of compost operations and the species as listed, the type of area source testing that can be performed as with the TAP research last summer, is accomplished with the same area source testing technology, namely the USEPA flux chamber technology and the SCAQMD modified flux chamber technology for advective area emission sources. Virtually all the area sources found at compost sites, regardless of the composting technology, can be measured with this sample collection technology and the appropriate analytical methodology.

I have listed several concept proposals below, any of which would likely benefit the compost industry. Some of these concepts are species specific, and others are source feed related, or general in nature. Know that we can test for any species of interest (odor, GHGs, VOCs, individual species, etc) on any type of compost operation or for any general purpose.

A detailed letter proposal and cost estimate can be prepared on any of these research issues; a few of these have already been prepared and are available.

8. Greenwaste Land Application Versus Greenwaste Composting - #1Direct land application of greenwaste in lieu of composting presents many potential problems for the environment with regard to air emissions, and is a threat to the compost industry related to sustainability. The research concept is to conduct a limited study where two plots of ag land are prepared side-by-side, one with greenwaste applied to the land surface, the other with the same layer applied but then tilled into the ground. The focus of the project to collect 'baseline' emission factors from the direct application of chopped greenwaste to ag land, and compare these emissions on a per ton basis to published air emissions from composted greenwaste. A concept proposal for this work is attached for review.

9. Air Emissions from Naturally Composting Organic Matter - #2One data point not available in the literature that may be useful to the compost industry is the air emissions from naturally composting organic matter (grasses, leaves, wood) as compared to air emissions from managed composting operations. Given the long time-period of natural composting process, it is likely that naturally occurring composting emits more air emissions per ton as compared to managed composting. Anaerobic mechanism contribution may also be




more significant. Emission factors for greenwaste composting are available, and these data can be compared to measured emission factors from naturally occurring composting by conducting a limited time dependent study. Any and all of the key species identified above can be part of this study.

10. Air Emissions from Food Waste Composting - #3Air emissions data for food waste composting is essentially absent from the literature. As such, for a facility to venture into food waste composting presents a significant risk to site owners. Odor emissions and off-site impact to neighbors is likely the crushing issue. Likewise, given the high organic content of food waste as compared to greenwaste and biosolid waste feed stock, it is likely the sites that compost significant percentages of food waste in the feed will likely encounter compliance issues where total VOCs are monitored. This research would focus on the types and levels of air emission species from standard composting operations including the effect of higher VOC loadings on biofiltration air pollution control devices. It is likely that odor emission factors, coupled with simple dispersion modeling specific to a given site, can be a cost-effective tool for predicting off site odor impacts.

11. Follow-On to the 2012 TAP Positive Aeration ASP with BioFiltration Layer Composting Technology - #4

As a follow-on to 20112 SJVAPCD TAP research program, a 'parametric study' of key operating variables is proposed with the goal of producing a 'User's Guide' intended to assist site operators in adopting positive aeration ASP composting technologies. There are many variables that affect the composting process, especially for ASP technologies. The two most significant are aeration rate and water content. A follow-on project is proposed to evaluate these two key variables in ASP/biofilter layer operation so that a site operator can take the information provided in the guidance document and install and operate an ASP/biofilter technology with less trial and error and better air emission control efficiency. The intent is to allow the compost industry to properly evaluate the efficacy of moving toward this technology that has been proven to be very effective at controlling air emissions and reducing operating costs with the goal of maintaining long-term sustainability for the industry. A cost estimate and a more detailed conceptual proposal for this research issue is available on request.

12. Positive ASP with Biofilter Technology Assessment for Food Waste and Biosolids - #5

Positive ASP with biofiltration layer technology has been demonstrated to be a viable technology for the compost industry producing compost in shorter time periods with far less air emissions as compared to windrow compost technologies. The research was conducted for greenwaste only, and similar data are needed for food waste and biosolid waste composting feed stocks. This conceptual proposal includes conducting limited research on this new hybrid compost technology applied to food waste and biosolids feed stock. Any of the species of interest can be included in the study, however emphasis should be placed on odor, total VOCs, and GHGs. A cost estimate and a more detailed conceptual proposal for this research issue is available on request.




13. Ozone Precursor Air Emissions from Compost Operations - #6Limited work has been performed on assessing true ozone precursor (hydrocarbon compounds reactive with NOx and sunlight producing ozone) emissions from greenwaste, food waste and biosolids composting. Most sites are regulated on total non-methane and non-ethane organic carbon emissions, when it has been shown that typically less than 20% of the total organic carbon emitted actually produces ozone at significant levels. This research would include assessing ozone growth testing from various compost feed types, as well as hydrocarbon speciation studies to identify the hydrocarbon compounds emitted, and thus the ozone production equivalents produced from the air emissions. If successful, these data can have a significant impact on how sites are regulated in non-attainment areas, in particular in the Central Valley of California.

14. Air Emissions from Leachate at Compost Sites - #7Often times, even at sites with leachate collection and treatment, leachate is found spreading out from under compost piles onto paved areas and roadways, and evaporating to the air. No data are available in the literature regarding air emissions from non-diluted leachate found at compost sites, and it is likely that the air emission issues related to this fugitive source contributes to site air emissions. This concept proposal includes conducting very limited (screening) testing of leachate air emissions from greenwaste, food waste, and biosolids composting operations. This information is useful in that it is advantageous for the industry to determine if this source is an issue or not, and do so in the advance of any future regulations that may adversely affect the industry.

15. Evaluation of Additives Designed to Increase the Rate of Composting and/or Control Odorous Emissions - #8

There are several 'additives' available on the market that claim to be able to increase the rate of aerobic digestion of organic matter and thus improve the mechanism of aerobic composting. Two mechanisms for improving the composting process used by these products either increase the oxygen transfer by mineral surfactants, or feed microbes by using enzymes. Our team has tested two of these products and it is likely that one or more of the products available on the market can in fact assist compost operations by changing emissions (higher percentage of less odorous compounds) or reducing the time-constant for compost production increasing site through-put. A conceptual proposal for this evaluation would include building a control greenwaste windrow at a site managed in typical fashion (watering and mixing), and building one greenwaste windrow inoculated with each product including one test pile per product. The control windrow and test windrows would be tested on the same schedule, and the effectiveness of each additive would be evaluated over the life-cycle of the composting process. The product of the applied research would be an evaluation of each additive in the study. These data would be a benefit to any site operator dealing with the issues of increasing site through-put and addressing site odor emissions using a very low-cost operational enhancement.

We would be happy to provide additional information on any and all of these research concepts, so please let us know if there is an interest in pursuing these research concepts.




Sincerely,

CE Schmidt and TR Card




Market Channel Development Methods & Systems:

16.Compost Use Expansion FundCompost has long been recognized as a sustainable recycling technology for beneficial reuse of organics and environmental remediation and enhancement. From that perspective, as (or if?) California develops a more ubiquitous “pay to throw” system for burying organics in landfills, money from “wasting organics” could be used to help develop a fund for educating landscapers, the agriculture and environmental restoration communities, ongoing, about the benefits and methods (sources, specifications, companies, etc.) for compost beneficial use. For example, County of Riverside now charges a “surcharge” on organics of $10/ton above the $30/ton landfill tipping fee. This is designed to move organics out of landfills and into compost facilities. However, because of the absence of permitted compost facilities in Riverside County, much of this material is now going to new “chip and grind” facilities, which are not permitted to produce compost. Right now we don’t know where this material is going (see project proposal #7). However, if a statewide surcharge for “wasting organics” could be charged (may require separate legislation first, in which case sponsoring a bill to do that would be the first step; and some ACP members are keen on doing this if there is support from Calrecycle), then that surcharge (say $2-5/ton or so) could be put in a fund to market compost. This, like the Milk Producers, could be used to fund commodity marketing campaigns for compost (e.g. a “Got Compost” campaign to landscapers and gardeners) and help to support some of the other projects through Calrecycle and industry.

17.Organics Toolbox - 2.0 : Articulation and ExpansionFor organics generators, composters and compost marketers, the “Organics Toolbox” that Calrecycle to create in 2008 to 2009 (originally called the “ACD Toolbox”), can become the repository of all Calrecycle’s and the Compost Industry (and Generator and User Community’s) accumulating knowledge about compost and organics management, moving forward. While all the elements of the envisioned toolbox are not complete, it can become a central tool for the organics and compost industry and can be articulated and expanded into at least the following elements. Each element can be expanded via its own separate project concept (some of which are included separately in this “Project Ideas” list). The next version of the Organics Toolbox (version 2.0, if you will) might include:

Organics Market Analysis & Development Calculator (further explained in another Project Idea in this document).

Compost & Organic Soil Amendments Marketing Documents for each Market (these are already developed and will continue to be developed in further projects):

o Landscaping (including sustainable, edible, functional, low impact development landscape systems)

o Agriculture (including each crop and cropping system)o Environmental/Watershed (including enhancing water quantity through

controlled water infiltration and water quality through use of appropriate compost BMPs)




Case Studies of Successful Compost Market Development Campaigns and Methods (already in the existing, version 1.0, toolbox).

Facility Siting Challenges and Resolutions (Systems for siting compost and chip and grind facilities locally and integrating them into the local organics recycling market development regimes)

Organics Life Cycle Assessment Intelligence (the Calrecycle is completing a project on an Organics Life Cycle Assessment for California. While the statewide data may be useful for policy, it is likely not useful for local organics market assessment, until all the same parameters are run though a calculator, as proposed in Project Idea #5. However, once that occurs, it should be a permanent and evergreen upgraded part of the Organics Toolbox)

Compost Use Index (see Project Idea #2, for details on what needs to be completed on this tool. Once completed, it should naturally become part of the Toolbox).

Food Safety Methods (as per Project Idea #10, the BMPs for using compost to ensure food safety of leafy green food crops should be made as part of this toolbox).

Compost Research Documents (already posted on Calrecycle's website, and continuing to make a user friendly document)

In addition to creating the Organics Toolbox 2.0, this project will also market it to all user communities (hence it may need a new brand name that is more intuitive and/or distinctive). The communities we have in mind include everyone (organization) that has a “hand” in organics management and economics. These include all generator, transporter, processing, marketing and user communities. As an internet based “Software as a Service (SaaS)” tool (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_as_a_service), it can be organized in such a way that each user type will approach the information relevant to each of them, and information not relevant to them can be avoided. This is becoming standard practice in SaaS tools and therefore this project should include some experienced SaaS developers on the team.

18.Organics Market Analysis & Investment CalculatorIt has become axiomatic in the compost industry to state that “all compost markets are local.” This is especially true because at prices ranging from $4 to $40/ton of compost, the price of compost application is generally directly related to how far it is shipped. And shipping is not only a direct cost of compost use, it is also an environmental burden as a further generator of green house gases, esp. CO2, and other pollutants from fossil fuel (gasoline or diesel) consumption. As such, the generation, transportation, processing technology and investment, storage, marketing and application costs (both direct and full life cycle assessments) factor into whether compost use is “economic,” or not, relative to the aggregate local market conditions.

This project proposes the initiation of development of a SaaS online calculator tool (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_as_a_service) and databases that would be made available to organics industry players on a subscription, user funded basis, once initiated. The users will include, but not be limited to, the following communities:

Organics generators (municipalities, counties, and private entities) Haulers (public and private haulers responsible for transporting organics) Composters (both permitted compost facilities as well as non-compost permitted “chip

and grind” facilities) Soil Amendment Facilities (wet aerobic digestion, pellets, compost tea, etc.)



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_as_a_service

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_as_a_service


Bioenergy and Biofuel Facilities (anaerobic digestion, fuel production, combustion facilities, etc.)

Marketers and advisors (entities who only market and advise on use of compost, energy, fuels and non-composted products)

Users (all types of compost and energy users: the three main soil enhancement applications in landscaping, agriculture and environmental/watershed compost application markets, and the main energy users of liquid and gas fuels and direct energy production (head and electricity)).

The tool would be used, variously, by each individual user (as mentioned above) but would allow them to (at a minimum):

calculate disposal vs. beneficial reuse tonnages for their defined region(s) local sources and facilities for organics generation and processing calculate distances (and costs based on local transporting economics) for transporting

feedstocks or finished products locate local markets and distances to those markets calculate profitable economics of delivering their (often proprietary) material to those

marketsNote that SaaS software systems are already designed to have privacy access of both presence and results of independent users, so not all aspects of the system are available to every user, e.g. when using banking software, you can only view your account, and nobody else’s. However the entire system feeds off the same database and becomes a “learning system” for the system owner/manager.

A "portfolio" approach to the development and implementation of this, what promises to be a very robust¸ calculator tool demands that we think of all organics beneficial reuse options in a fully integrated approach. This includes, at a minimum that we consider in our local "toolbox" approach:

1. Feedstocks (green, food, biosolids and manure) 2. Processing technologies (compost/soil amendment only, combinations of

energy/compost, energy only facilities) 3. Product types (soil amendments, energy production) 4. Markets (agriculture, horticulture, landscape (commercial/bulk, residential/bagged) and

environmental (stormwater, erosion control, fire restoration, etc.)There are many different uses for composting, and technologies to produce it, so for the sake of this proposal we would start by limiting our calculator to the major facilities currently permitted and existing for organics management and processing, i.e.:

open air compost (soil amendment) production and composting production that (including energy capture where it exists) as well as indoor and containerized facilities

chip and grind facilities anaerobic and aerobic digestion facilities, combustion facilities.

In our initial evaluation we would factor in the: Types of feedstock produced by the users collection operations The distance to transport the material Energy consumed/produced by the process




The environmental benefits that are created by landfill diversion, compost production and use of compost such as:

Reduced GHG production Conservation of water and energy Impact on local waterway quality Uses of renewable resources (water, energy, organics) Creation of true renewable energy Affects of compost on healthy soils for sustainable (local) and organic

agriculture and landscaping, and low impact development watersheds A brief synopsis of the economic benefits of composting seen around the state with

some information about how that might translate to an individual marketplace would also be provided.

It’s important that this tool be sustainable and constantly upgraded, for that reason, part of this project is to form a private, quasi-government or social enterprise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_enterprise) that will constantly maintain, upgrade and market this tool for the benefit of all the main users. As can be seen, this initial project would immediately work into an ongoing “green business” enterprise, literally.

In addition, this “Organics Calculator” would have to integrate, ongoing, with Calrecycle accounting and assessments of organics generation and market development, and therefore would have to be tightly linked to all CIWMB efforts ongoing.

19.Compost Standards Systems : Coordinating, and/or Harmonizing the Divergent systems of STA, CUI, OMRI, USDA/NOP, CCOF, OFAC, CDFA

As a direct consequence of the Agricultural Compost Specifications project, it became very clear that we were in fact promoting what we came to refer to as a “tripartite system” proposed and marketed in our project while developing and implementing agricultural crop specifications, i.e.:

1) STA tested compost used exclusively by compost users2) Specifications being documented for each compost application (in the agricultural

case, for each unique crop and/or cropping system)3) Compost Use Index that integrates compost “Product Index” with Specification,

cultivar(specific plant type or crop), soil type (based on a yet to be determined soil test) and (possibly, yet to be determined) water quality and quantity and additional fertilizers used on the crop or cropping system

However, we soon found that the agricultural user is not only unfamiliar with the STA test (which we expected) but is already very familiar with the OMRI Listing of composts for organic farming. One of the main conclusions and recommendations of the study is to:

Harmonize STA other certification systems: Create a strategy and tactics (business and marketing plan) that will create collaboration, cooperation and “harmonizing” of the STA compost testing methods and reporting with systems OMRI, CCOF, USDA NOP, Primus Lab, OFAC (with CDFA).

This project would endeavor to do exactly that. It would engage with various industry participants in a collaborative process (likely ~1-2 years) to attempt to get all the current



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systems in place with all the various players, this would, initially include, at least the following players:

US Composting Council STA System: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/programs/sta/

Association of Compost Producers, Compost Use Index: www.healthysoil.org Organic Materials Research Institute – OMRI Listing program:

http://www.omri.org/OMRI_about_list.html US Department of Agriculture – National Organics Program: www.ams.usda.gov/nop/ California Certified Organic Farmer programs: www.ccof.org Primus Laboratory Certification Programs: http://www.primuslabs.com/psr/platino.aspx Organic Fertilizer Association of California organic certification programs:

www.organicfertilizerassociation.org California Department of Forest and Agriculture programs and regulations:

www.cdfa.ca.gov

The goal of this project is to create a seamless, agreed upon system that will at a minimum certify, if not guarantee, that quality organic soil amendments (compost) are being manufactured and used throughout California.

20.Compost Quality Assurance : Eliminating, or Coordinating, Chip & Grind Materials Manufacture & Use with Compost Manufacture & Use

One of the other discoveries of the composters in the Agricultural Compost Specifications study, and following up with composters who were directly involved with the Caltrans, STA specifications project, is that there are a ever growing numbers of “chip and grind” facilities that are springing up around the state because compost facilities are too costly to permit and maintain. What this means is that there is a lot of material that is being “manufactured” and used that is not even compost. And since it’s not coming from a permitted compost facility and is not being testing. And in the words of the STA program, “if it’s not STA, what is it?”

One composter in Southern California stated:“We’ve found that Caltrans is using chipped green waste on their roadsides rather than compost. We have found that District Project Managers are getting paid to take this material, rather than having to pay for it. In effect, they’re get a ‘tipping fee.’ We would really like to see Caltrans follow the law! Also, before moving forward with an extension of STA, like with the Compost Use Index, we need a lot of support to push the current specs with Caltrans in So. Calif.

Based on this, and other independent reports and findings from this project, we made the recommendation in the project to:

Disallow “Chip and Grind” facilities: The STA system, and our entire tripartite approach to compost quality and eliminating bad experiences requires that Calrecycle eliminate the “chip and grind” designation, since there is literally millions of tons of “organics amendments” currently being produced without not only a compost permit (time and temperature) but also the material is NOT being STA tested. This material undercuts the entire efficacy of our current program. Calrecycle should disallow the “production” of this material.



http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/

http://www.organicfertilizerassociation.org/

http://www.primuslabs.com/psr/platino.aspx

http://www.ccof.org/

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/

http://www.omri.org/OMRI_about_list.html


http://www.compostingcouncil.org/programs/sta/


This project would work with Calrecycle and STA composters to resolve this issue. It may mean coming up with unique, or special specifications for this untested “chip and grind” material. This may work itself into another project where either more research, regulations and or demonstrations may be required.

21.Bioenergy Residuals Compost Market DevelopmentWith the national push toward renewable energy, as well as the need to proactively deal with the manure and food wastes generated in California, it is likely that the amount of energy produced from anaerobic digestion (AD) as well as combustion, will increase. However, all of these facilities produce a residual that may, or may not, be suitable for use as a feedstock to composting operations. In the permitting, manufacture and market operation of AD or woody waste combustion facilities, the linking of the residuals with a local (or even onsite) compost facility to stabilize and mature the solids residuals needs to be a part of the process. This project would work with existing AD and/or combustion facilities under construction and make/arrange special relationships with local composters and/or compost technology producers to develop beneficial reuse (compost) manufacturing methods and case studies as well as markets (and case studies) for market development of the residuals. The information and data from this project would be used in the Organics Market Analysis & Investment Calculator (Project Idea #5) and the Organics Toolbox – 2.0 (Project Idea #4).

Agricultural Water Quality Enhancement with CompostAs a part of creating quality compost for agricultural crops, creating agronomic systems that enhance rather than degrade the water and air environments using compost, is of key importance to creating a sustainable agricultural industry in California. This project would take existing data on the use of compost in enhancing water quality, and apply it to specifications for compost applications that also enhance water quality for compost use in agriculture, in general. These new, or enhanced, compost specifications and applications would be integrated with both the food safety approaches (See Project Idea #10) as well as the Compost Use Index (See Project Idea #2).

