r county representativesof california the … · the state of composting in california october 16,...

“We Build Healthy Soil”

California State Chapter of the US Composting Council“We Build Healthy Soil”

RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIAThe State of Composting in California

October 16, 2014

Dan NobleExecutive Director


Topics

• Who is ACP?• Compost - a Key to Solving Local to State

Environmental Issues• Legislation, Policy & Regulations• Managing Organic Carbon and Water! -

Methods & Benefits• Steps we can take together (ACP and

RCRC)


Association of Compost ProducersCalifornia State Chapter of USCC

A Public/Private Association - 501(C)3 - of:– Public and Private Organics Residual Generators

• Green Waste, Manure (into and out of animals)• Food Waste, Biosolids (into and out of people)

– Public and Private Compost Producers– Public and Private Compost Marketer/Distributors

Our Vision:• Support beneficial reuse of organics in California,

compost playing a central role to • Build and maintain sustainable healthy soils, • Keeping our state’s lands productive, green and

biologically diverse for generations to come.

Our Mission:Increase the quality, value and amount of compost being used in California.


ACP Supporting Members• Aguinaga Green• Burrtec• CalPoly SLO• City of Bakersfield• Clements Environmental• CR&R• Engel and Gray • Filtrexx• Harvest Power

• Inland Empire Utilities Agency• Kellogg Garden Products• P.F. Ryan and Associates• Sanitation Districts of LA Co.• Serrano Creek Soils• Synagro• UC Cooperative Extension• Vision Recycling

ACP National Members (USCC Members from California):

117 Individuals, from 97 organizations (in 2014)


Programs with USCC & ACP• Public Awareness

– International Compost Awareness Week

– Earth Day– Local City Events - you lead

• Compost Market Projects– Caltrans Workshops– Sustainable Landscapes– City Roads & Parks


ACP California Compost Summit:Compost – Key to Solving California’s

Environmental Issues• California State Leadership – Mandatory Organics

Recycling, GHG and Air Pollution Reductions, Capacity Building, Water Quality & Drought Mitigation

• Local Government and Agency Perspectives –Water & Carbon Sustainability with Compost

• Compost Industry Initiatives – Building Healthy Soil to Save & Clean Water; Cleaner Air and Cooler Climate!


ACP Compost Summit Themes

• Compost = actual renewable carbon & nitrogen management

• Compost technologies can clean up air, water and solids (landfill diversion)

• Compost is a multiagency tool to enhance the environment and communities

• Compost technology innovation can be driven by regulations


Organic Carbon & Soil Organisms

• Compost Contains ~50% Organic Matter by Weight

• Organic Matter is made of Carbon Compounds so it:

– Provides food (energy) to the soil organisms

– Provides tilth for water infiltration, holding and oxygen penetration

– Sequesters carbon

• Must keep adding to the soil as it is eaten (metabolized, degraded) by the soil organisms

• Also it provides Organic Nutrients (“NPK”, i.e. nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium)


Why Use Compost?Because Compost Can …..• Improve soil tilth and structure (air and water into soil)• Improve soil aeration • Improve the water holding capacity of sandy soils • Improve drainage in heavy (clay) soils • Prevent or decrease erosion• Conserve water – 25% - 75%!• Improve soil nutrient holding capacity • Decrease the need for chemical fertilizers • Remediate chemically damaged soils • Replenish trace and macronutrient stores • Increase the activity and diversity of soil microorganisms • Reduce the incidence or severity of certain soil-borne

diseases • Reduce pesticide use• Sequester Greenhouse Gases


Projected 2020 tonnages to reach 75% recycling Goal

23 MT

20 MT

37 MT Recycled Amount in 2012

More Recycled by

2020

Still could beDisposedin 2020


Recent Legislation & RegulationsPast and OngoingAB 939

• 50% diversion requirement on jurisdictionsAB 341• 75% reduction, recycling, composting statewide

goal by 2020• Not transformation or disposal-related activities,

etc.• Doesn’t change AB 939 mandate on jurisdictions

or how CalRecycle evaluates complianceAB 32

• ARB Scoping Plan – Waste Sector • Reduce GHGs to < 1990 levels


What Will 75% Take?Moving > 20 million tons/year out of landfills 1/3 or more organic, plus many traditional recyclables Either overseas or other states OR more infrastructure

here in California CalRecycle preference to handle waste in CA

100s of new or expanded facilities


Recent Legislation & RegulationsNew Moving ForwardRecently signed into law by Governor Brown

AB 1826 (Chesbro)• Mandatory commercial organics recycling

AB 1594 (Williams)• Eliminate diversion credit for ADC by 2020


AB 1826 Jurisdiction Requirements

• Jan 2016 - Implement program – Outreach, education, monitoring– Organics recycling program– May include mandatory recycling via policy or ordinance,

franchise agreement or contract, or requiring material to go through MRF

– Identify multiple parameters and barriers; plan to address barriers under control of jurisdiction

– Rural exemption process (less than 70,000 excempt)• Aug 2017 – begin reporting in Annual Reports on

education/outreach/monitoring– Including # of regulated businesses that generate organics and,

if available, # recycling organics


Title 14/27 Regulatory ReisionsProposed Regulations: Key Issues

Formal • Food Material/Vegetative Food Material

• Physical Contamination Limits (0.1% by weight)

• Land Application of Compostable Materials

• Odor • In-Vessel Digestion Regulations• Solid Waste Facility Permit Application


Existing Land Application Regulations

Under existing regulations, land application is considered “beneficial use” (and not “disposal”) if it meets California Department of Food & Agriculture requirements

Need better method to determine when land application is considered disposal


Proposed Land Application Regulations

– 0.1% physical contaminant limit

– Maximum metals concentrations

– Pathogen density requirements

– Standards for application frequency and depth


COMPOST - Healthy Soil Benefits & Markets

• Water Holding & Cleaning– Water Conservation & Groundwater Protection– Erosion Prevention & Stormwater Management

• GHG Sequestration – “carbon farming”• Markets

– Low Impact Development – functional landscapes & urban farming

– Watershed protection enhancement– Rangelands & working lands– Regenerative Agriculture


SOILS: Foundation of the Watershed EcosystemUrban Watershed: Runoff from increased Impervious Surfaces -

Stormwater 101


Native Soil Environment Stormwater 201: Healthy Soil + Plants = Best Stormwater BMP

Low Impact Development (LID) approach –new hydrologic pattern mimics predevelopment patterns


Landscape Applications


Landscape Markets

• Landscape Architects

• Landscape Contractors

“Low volume, higher value”


Landscape Markets

• Low Impact Development

• Urban Gardens & Farms


COMPOST: From Dead Dirt, to Living Soil

Main Applications– Landscape– Erosion Control and

Restoration – Agriculture

Specifications are Key– User Driven

Specifications– Landscape Specifications

(Manual)– Compost Use Index


Erosion Control - ‘Prevention’VS

Sediment Control – ‘Treatment’


Filter Media = Sediment Control

Designed for Optimum Water Absorption &

Plant Growth

Designed for Optimum Filtration & Hydraulic-flow

Growing Media = Erosion Control


Blowing on Compost with Blower Truck


Designed to:1) Dissipate energy of

rain impact;2) Hold, infiltrate &

evaporate water;

3) Slow down/disperse energy of sheet flow;

4) Provide for optimum vegetation growth

EC/Slope StabilizationCompost Erosion Control Blanket


Compost EC BMP ExamplesEcoBlanket® –

Hydroseeding Alternative

EcoBerm® – Silt Fence Alternative


Compost Blanket

Rolled Erosion Control Blanket

CECBs Fill Low Points in Soil Surface


Main Street Materials – 1:1 slope, 4” compostProject near Lompoc


Compost: Agricultural Applications(Green Leaf Lettuce)


Agricultural Markets

• Monoculture growers:– Orchards– Feed– Fiber– Rangelands!

• Organic Growers– Grapes– Tomatoes– Strawberries– Etc., etc.

“High volume, lower value”


Water Holding Capacity of Organic Matter in various soil types

Organic Matter (%)0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Avai

labl

e W

ater

Con

tent

(%)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Data Points Sand, AWC = 3.8 + 2.2 OMSilt Loam, AWC = 9.2 + 3.7 OMSilty clay loam, AWC = 6.3 + 2.8 OM

Figure 3. Available soil water content in a sand, silt loam, and silty clay loam soils relative to organic matter content. (Adapted from Hudson, 1994).


THERE ARE 3.5 BILLION HECTARESOF GRAZED RANGELAND ON EARTH

*30% of global land surface *Over half of the global land use *33% of the US land area *56% of California land area


Steps We Can Take Together

• Policy & Legislation – that may affect rural counties

• Rural County Carbon & Water Management– Carbon farming Working lands … especially

range lands– Watershed protection & enhancement (more,

richer living soils) – Reverse Desertification


AGRICULTUREIS THE BUSINESS

OF MOVING CARBONBETWEEN

CARBON POOLSTO PRODUCE

FOOD, FUEL, FIBER, AND FLORA


40

Journey to Sustainability:Development of a Circular Economy

Linear Economy*Natural Resources &Resource Industries

•Air•Water•Land & Minerals•Energy•Biological

IndustrialProcesses, Distribution & Product Use

Waste & Pollution

From Eugene Odum, Ecology, 1963and www.Ecocycle.org, 2008


Efficiency of “Closing the Loop:”

Emerging Circular Economy: an industrial system that is restorative by design

41

Biological Nutrients“Biotic”

Technical Nutrients“Abiotic”


42

The Organics Value Cycle

Generate:•Landscape trimmings•Food/Ag waste•Biosolids•Manure

Use:•Landscape•Agriculture•Environmental•Bioenergy

Haul, Pre-process:

Process:•Compost•Chip and Grind•Anaerobic Digestion•Biofertilizer•Energy (biofuel,

electricity)

Market:•Compost•Fertilizer•Energy

Gov. Agencies• EPA: air, water, solids• LEA, Planning, CDFA• CEC/PUC, etc., etc.Stakeholders• Env. Eng. & Tech.• Env. Activists

Communicate (Sell!)& Report

Communicate& Report

Communicate& Report

Communicate& Report

Communicate& Report


Carbon’s “6 F’s”

Food

Fiber

Feed

Biological Nutrients

43

Fuel

Flowers

Fertilizer


Food

Fiber

Flowers

Feed

Fuel

Fertilizer


44

From Agricultural Product to Organics Residual

Biosolids

Food scraps

Green material

Manure

No Residual (except pollution!)

Disposer & Sewage

Solid Waste

Landscape Maintenance

Livestock Waste



– Mulch

– Compost

– Animal Feed

– Biofertilizer

45

Organics Residuals Product Categories Electricity

Biofuels

Chemicals

Product Materials


From Residuals to Products

46

Green Material Mulch

Compost

Food Scraps Animal Feed

Biofertilizer

Manure Electricity

Biofuel

Biosolids Chemicals

Product Materials

Organics Residual

Organic Product Category

Manufactured into…


Spectrum of Values from Recycled Organics

47

Mulch Chop & Drop, Chip/Grind & Reuse, Chip & Ship $2‐10/tpy $0‐$15/ton (FOB)

CompostBackyard, Container, Windrow, eASP, Gore, ECS, enclosed, AgBag, Vermicompost, etc.

$25‐$450/tpy$10‐$30/ton ‐ bulk (whsl), $80‐120/ton ‐ bagged (retail)

Animal Feed straight foodscraps, food dehydrator/cooker, aquaponics

$10‐$750/tpy $50‐$150/ton

Biofertilizer High nitrogen composting, biosolids pellets, manure pellets

$100‐$800/tpy $80‐200/ton

Electricity Anerobic Digestion ‐‐> Methane ‐‐> gas turbine $200‐$850/tpy $150‐$300/ton

BiofuelAnerobic Digestion ‐‐> Methane Pyrolytic Conversion ‐‐> methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, etc.

$250‐$900/tpy $250‐$750/ton

Chemicals Distributed Biorefinery (emerging) $300‐$1,000/tpy $500‐$10,000/ton

Product Materials ecorUSA.com $500‐$1,500/tpy $500‐$10,000/ton

Current Market Value Range of

Finished Products

Organic Product

CategoryTechnology Options

Technology/ Facility

Capital Cost Range

“We Build Healthy Soil”48

On-site (0 miles) Local (1 -250 miles) Region to National (>250 miles)

Scope Value (Rich Facility)

Scope & Scale (Rich Community)

Scale Value (Rich Investors)

Mulch Water efficient, high carbon soils

Water efficient, high carbon soils

Rare

Compost DIY CompostBulk and Bagged,

Landscape, Farms, LIDRare

Animal Feed Aquaponics Hog & Chicken Farms Rare

Biofertilizer Resorts, Parks, FarmsWholesale & Retail Stores & Customers

Available

Electricity Net Zero Energy Feed into Grid Available

BiofuelFleet Fuel Substitutes, industrial processing,

HVALocal Fueling Stations Available

Chemicals Rare Local to RegionalInternational Available

Product Materials Rare Mostly

International Available

Market Types and Proximity

Organic Product

Category

Spectrum of Values from Recycled Organics


Drought: As Seen From Below


Drought Is A Symptom Of The Desertification Disease


Cause: Destruction Of Soil Structure


Cause: Chemical Herbicides And Fertilizers


Cause: Poor Irrigation Practices

Too Much Water Balanced Water Too Little Water


Result: Compaction Affects Plant Root Growth

Brick

Sponge


We Can Change Soil From Brick To Sponge


By Creating Living Soil “Sponge”

“We Build Healthy Soil”58

Unique Characteristics of Soil Amendment Markets

Public Agencies Have Valuable Resources, However……

• Historically Not Used to Developing/Investing in Markets– Markets Not Viewed as Assets (Like a Landfill is)– Dialogue and Actions Not Focused on Trust, Market Development,

Creating Strong Brands and Public Perceptions

• Production of Raw Materials Happens Independent of the State of Market Development– Products Often Viewed as a Waste Management Solution

• Resource Suppliers Can’t Go Out of Business – Must Move the Material– Traditional Market Economics Don’t Apply


59

The Organics Value Cycle

Generate:•Landscape trimmings•Food/Ag waste•Biosolids•Manure

Use:•Landscape•Agriculture•Environmental•Bioenergy

Haul, Pre-process:

Process:•Compost•Chip and Grind•Anaerobic Digestion•Biofertilizer•Energy (biofuel,

electricity)

Market:•Compost•Fertilizer•Energy

Gov. Agencies• EPA: air, water, solids• LEA, Planning, CDFA• CEC/PUC, etc., etc.Stakeholders• Env. Eng. & Tech.• Env. Activists

Communicate (Sell!)& Report

Communicate& Report

Communicate& Report

Communicate& Report

Communicate& Report


Questions?Comments?Discussion…

Association of Compost ProducersDan Noble, Executive Director

Cell: (619) [email protected]

www.healthysoil.org

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