Several challenges still exist despite the progress we have made. Probably the greatest challenges on the production side of the composting business are the lack of uniform regulation from state to state, the lack of federal legislation regarding the disposition of organic waste, and low tipping fees in some areas of the country that encourage the disposal of these valuable organic residuals rather than the recycling of them.

The United States composting industry's growth still has been very impressive despite all of these obstacles.

Interestingly, many of the feedstock-related arguments (e.g., biosolids and MSW issues) of the past have moved from a national focus down to a state and even local one in some instances. The argument over whether mixed solid waste can be composted is largely mute, since economics of disposal versus recycling has made it difficult to develop such facilities. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) addressed most of the health and safety concerns regarding biosolids with its 40 CFR Part 503 regulations. National nutrient management issues recently have overshadowed concerns about the allowable levels of pollutants in compost products.

Probably one of the greatest infrastructure challenges that still exists in the composting industry is a fiscally unstable network of composting and recycling organizations at both state and national levels. Many of these important nonprofit organizations are struggling for their survival, and both need and deserve to be better supported by their respective industries. Without these types of organizations, it would be difficult to organize many of the necessary efforts we take for granted. Certainly the US composting industry could benefit greatly if it better supported their national industry trade and educational organization, the US Composting Council (USCC).    

Areas in which the composting industry has made great strides are in the development of composting marketing and production tools and expanding compost use markets. These efforts have been largely accomplished through the USCC, its market development committee, and professional services contractors working with the USCC and some state composting associations. Another major area of interest to the composting industry has been the development of national compost standards, a very controversial and difficult task. Significant progress has been made in this area of national importance through the development of the Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) program.

Seal of Testing Assurance Program

Since its inception in 1990, members of the USCC have agreed that establishing compost quality standards was one of the leading issues of importance facing the industry. The USCC developed and kicked off the STA program in 2000 with help from an EPA grant. The program is seen by many as the first step toward the establishment of national compost standards. In its current form, however, the STA program is only a compost testing and information disclosure program that uses uniform testing and sampling protocols rather than a set of rigid analytical standards. The program uses test methods and sampling procedures outlined in the USCC's Test Methods for the Evaluation of Composting and Compost (TMECC). TMECC is a technical manual of standardized test method protocols developed for use by analytical labs to uniformly test compost. It was developed through funds partially provided by the US Department of Agriculture.

The STA program currently has 60 composting facilities participating and more than 1.7 million yd.³ of compost under certification (see sidebar). The program allows compost buyers to more easily purchase the products they desire, or require for a particular project. It also allows them to systematically compare compost products, facilitating an educated purchasing decision. Program participants use a uniform product label to allow for easy product comparisons. Educated purchasing decisions will help ensure successful utilization of compost "in the field." A factor that is perhaps even more important to the composting industry itself is that the STA program is encouraging a much needed and long overdue consistency or standardization in the composting industry - it requires consistency in product sampling, lab testing methodologies, and product labeling. Only through this type of industrywide consistency will the green industry (e.g., landscapers, nurserymen, farmers) become dependent upon the composting industry as a necessary and reliable supplier of products.

Why should composters participate in the STA program, and why should consumers demand it? Because it:

• improves the image and value of compost - as a manufactured product, produced under controlled conditions, both uniform and consistent;
• improves field results - provides compost users with the product quality and application information they need to use compost properly and with optimum results;
• promotes customer-oriented composters - assists composters who are rigorously testing their compost products and provides end-use information to customers to differentiate themselves from composters who do not;
• improves customer satisfaction - assists compost customers and specifiers in making more informed purchasing decisions, which yield better results at lower costs;
• reduces the chance of additional regulation - reduces the trend of state/national organizations toward the creation of additional compost regulation, keeping operational and distribution costs down;
• provides a competitive advantage over non-STA compost products - STA compost will become the norm as more and more composters participate in the program. What product do you think a landscape architect, landscaper, or homeowner would specify or purchase given the choice?
• becomes an internal quality-control program for composters - allowing the composters to market their product, and end users to purchase that same product, with confidence;
• standardizes laboratory test methods used to evaluate compost products - allows composters, regulators, researchers, and compost buyers/specifiers to better compare products being produced throughout the country;
• promotes the STA program's logo with end-user groups - this will help add strength to the long-term program and provide participants with a competitive marketing advantage.

Yet even with all of the potential benefits to its participants (the composters), end users, and specifiers, as well as the long-term viability and growth of the composting industry, many composters resist such national efforts. Some composters do not believe the program is necessary, some believe that they don't need it, and others simply don't want to invest in program participation. As someone who has spent his entire professional career in the composting industry (almost 18 years), I see this as a huge mistake. The success of the STA program (the only national program of its type) goes far beyond the marketing success of any individual composter. It works toward the goal of bringing consistency to the composting industry, something end users have been concerned about ever since our industry became commercially viable. Without an understood and consistent basis to evaluate compost products, how can credible standards for compost even be considered? The obvious answer is that they can't! For additional information on becoming an STA program participant, log on to the USCC's Web site (www.compostingcouncil.org) or contact Al Rattie at 215/258-5259.

Efforts on Compost Specifications/Standards

Great interest continues to exist in the development of national compost specifications and standards. Landscape architects have been demanding specifications for years, and various public entities require them in order to utilize and purchase products.

EPA realized that the development of a model department of transportation (DOT) specification for compost was necessary to better promote the use of compost in state highway and other public applications and to develop more continuity among existing state specifications. In 2000, The Composting Council Research and Education Foundation applied for and received a grant from EPA to promote compost use in state DOT applications and, as part of the project, develop a model DOT compost spec.

The model spec includes both boilerplate compost usage instructions (not shown below), as well as suggested numerical standards. The development of this industry-based standard was derived from field success and specifications that are known to be effective in the field. Additional information regarding the DOT project report, as well as the model spec, can be found on the USCC Web site. 

Another national compost standards effort currently is underway, which has been sponsored by the Recycled Materials Resource Center at the University of New Hampshire. The three major objectives of the "Developing and Implementing National Erosion/Sediment Control Specifications for Composted Products" proposed project are to develop product and usage specifications for the use of compost products in erosion and sediment control; gain approval of the specifications, as well as their placement in American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials's (AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing manual; and promote the specifications throughout associated industries.

Development of these specifications is being completed by gathering and evaluating existing DOT and other compost/mulch erosion control specifications, as well as by obtaining past and current research and field demonstration data pertaining to the use of compost/mulch materials as both a soil blanket (mulch) and filter berm material. The specifications are going through intense industry review by the project's National Advisory Board and AASHTO's Subcommittee on Materials members. The project also will develop a formal information package pertaining to the use of compost/mulch in erosion and sediment control, which can be used by composters to better market their compost in this growing market segment. R. Alexander Associates Inc. is completing this project.

So, as you can see, efforts in the area of national compost standards and specifications finally are gaining some momentum. We now have a means by which to consistently characterize compost products (the STA program) and some new proposed national specifications in which to evaluate them against (of course, the specifications will no doubt be modified in each state where they are used). These tools will be invaluable to the composting industry, allowing it to expand compost markets, gain credibility within the green industry, and (we hope) increase product value. Now is the time for the composting industry to work together and embrace and rally around these types of projects and programs in order to raise itself to the next level. This means that individual composters, regulators, state composting organizations, and the USCC must work together wherever possible. The ability of our industry to focus and coordinate these types of important efforts will depend to a large extent on the initiative of individual composters and on the health of our national and state composting organizations. These organizations must be supported to ensure the success of our industry.