California’s Compost- & MulchProducing Infrastructure

• Funded by CIWMB in 2001 & 2003 • Contractor: Integrated Waste Management Consulting, Nevada City, CA

Study Objective

Number of Compost & Mulch Producers Amount Diverted from Landfill Feedstock Sources Products Markets for Compost & Mulch ADC Use

Study Design

Steering Committee Independent Contractor Promotional Campaign Survey mail-out, Aggressive Follow-Up, Site

Visits Use of CIWMB Report on Landfill Green

Waste ADC Use Current Challenges to Organics Industry

Then Current Challenges

South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Proposed Rule 1133

Sudden Oak Death Syndrome

Persistent Herbicides –Clopyralid

Survey Overview

2001 2003

Participating Operating Facilities 169 170 Composters 104 101

Processors 65 69

Operating Facilities Not Participating 11 32Composters 5 16Processors 6 16

Landfills Reporting Green Waste ADC Use N/A 58

Total Feedstock Processed(tons)

2001 2003Composters 3,407,000 4,730,081Processors 2,701,000 5,138,031

Total 6,108,000 9,868,112 *

* Approximately 2.1 million tons of feedstock consists of green waste used as

ADC.

% of Facilities Using Specific Feedstocks

Feedstock Sources

Volume of Product by Type(in cubic yards)

Quantity of Product by Type 2001 & 2003 (in cubic yards)

  2001 2003

Compost 4,232,000 3,011,182

Mulch 1,872,000 2,325,708

Boiler Fuel 3,446,000 3,872,983

ADC 2,795,000 8,482,372

Beneficial Reuse at Landfills

N/A 258,150

Other 2,608,000 469,843

Total 14,953,000 18,420,238

“Other” includes products such as fines, wood chips, steer manure, bark products.

Statewide Market for Materials

Perceived Impact of Clopyralid on Compost Sales

Response to Production Cost Increase Due to PR1133

Impact of Green Waste ADC Use -Statewide-

Impacts of ADC on Composters by Region

Impact of Green Waste ADC Use on Processors by Region

ADC Impacts on Composting & Processing Businesses

Key Findings

Number of facilities constant; 10 Million Tons Diverted

Ag is the largest single market for urban compost

CalTrans remains an untapped market

Large increase in ADC use --8.4 million cu (47% of market)

ADC use has impacted compost facilities in some regions of Ca.

28% decline in Compost Production

Areas for Further Study

Study the impact of ADC on the compost industry

Identify those sectors of agricultural that buy compost

Work with CalTrans to increase market Include financial and employment data in

subsequent study

Implications of Study on CIWMB

1. Green Waste ADC Continues to Increase

Implications of Study on CIWMB-2-

2. Compost Production Decreased 28%

3. 45% Diversion 2003

33% Diversion 2001

Implications of Study on CIWMB-3-

4. Does Green Waste ADC Impact Compost Markets?