Category: Composting

Circular economy, Composting

Composting infrastructure coalition seeks hundreds of millions for federal grants, loans

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Read the full story at Waste Dive.

Composting, packaging and circular economy-oriented organizations and trade groups have formed the U.S. Composting Infrastructure Coalition to advocate for expanding and increasing access to “robust programs that divert food waste, yard trimmings, and certified compostable packaging.”

The group’s initial push is to advocate for national funding programs that support a range of composting infrastructure projects. A federal bill in the works would provide approximately $200 million across a decade for grants and low-interest loans for such projects, say leaders of the newly formed coalition.

The coalition — which includes the National Waste & Recycling Association and US Composting Council, among others — says the Biden administration’s enthusiasm for climate change mitigation strategies, environmental justice action and investing in infrastructure makes now a particularly apt time for such a push.

Circular economy, Composting, Food waste

Food waste action plan calls for organics diversion infrastructure, compost market expansion

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Read the full story at Waste Dive.

An action plan to curb food loss and waste in the U.S. — pitched to Congress and the Biden administration this week by four organizations and supported by a host of cities, businesses and nonprofits — recommends funding infrastructure that keeps organic waste out of disposal sites by providing state- and city-level investments for measuring, rescuing and recycling it.

Led by the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), ReFED and World Wildlife Fund, the plan also stipulates that federal facilities take steps to prevent organic waste and purchase finished compost products. The organizers urge lawmakers to spur growth of compost markets among private sector buyers as well. 

The plan calls for allocating $650 million annually through at least 2030 to states and cities for organic waste recycling infrastructure and other food waste reduction strategies. It also calls for $50 million for those cities and states to pursue public-private partnerships; $50 million in grants for research and innovation in the space; $3 million annually through 2030 for consumer food waste reduction research and behavior change campaigns; and $2 million to add personnel to the Federal Interagency Food Loss and Waste Collaboration.

Champaign-Urbana, Composting, Green lifestyle

University of Illinois YMCA launches community vermicomposting program

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The University YMCA is launching a community vermicomposting program.

If you’re interested in participating or learning more, fill out the interest form. They’re also looking for volunteers.

For more information, look them up on social media or contact Stuart Seputro (seputro2@illinois.edu) at the University YMCA.

Climate change, Composting

Connections: Is Compost A Player In Carbon Trading Markets?

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Read the full story in Biocycle.

Recognition of the impact of compost on carbon emissions can be gauged by tracking regulatory changes, protocols on carbon markets, and activity by companies or organizations. Part X.1

Composting, Food service and restaurants, Product stewardship

EPR For Compostable Foodservice Packaging

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Read the full story from Biocycle.

Programs in the United Kingdom separately collect compostable packaging from restaurants, businesses, corporate offices, event venues and institutions using the products.

Agriculture, Composting

Innovating To Reduce Phosphorus Impacts

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Read the full story in Biocycle.

Two companies are demonstrating the integration of composting and filtration technologies for the Vermont Phosphorus Innovation Challenge.

Composting, Publications

Applying Compost to Landfills Could Have Environmental Benefits

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Read the full story from North Carolina State University.

Many people think of composting organic matter as a way of keeping solid waste out of landfills, but a new study from North Carolina State University finds there can be significant environmental benefits associated with using compost at landfills.

Composting

Can Composting Reduce THC Levels In Discarded Marijuana Products?

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Read the full story in Biocycle.

Replicated trials evaluated composting as management tool to degrade and/or deactivate Tetrahydrocannabinol levels in marijuana to <0.3% — the level below which the material is not regulated as a controlled substance.

Composting, Publications

Compostable Bags Don’t Impact Compost Quality

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Read the full story at Biocycle.

A new study from the Witzenhausen Institute and the University of Bayreuth in Germany suggests that compostable biowaste bags do not impact negatively on the quality of compost produced by industrial composting processes. The study shows that compostable bags disintegrate completely in the composting process after composts from eight different biowaste treatment plants were examined for film plastics, particularly compostable film plastics. The compostable bags were certified according to the European standard EN 13432.

During the research project, the results of which were published in the May edition (05/2020, in German) of the German trade magazine Müll und Abfall, the scientists analyzed a total of 30 samples. In seven of the 10 composts or in 25 of 30 samples no compostable plastic film particles could be detected. The number of plastic film per compost sample (one litre of test substrate each) varied between one and 111 film particles; altogether 446 plastic film particles were found in the 30 compost samples (10 compost samples with three repetitions each). However, 98% of the plastic particles that were found derived from polyethylene or other conventional plastics.

Composting, Food waste

Composting Closes The Loop At Foodbank

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Read the full story at Biocycle.

The Foodbank, Inc. in Dayton, Ohio swapped out food waste disposal and purchasing compost for its 3-acre urban garden for on-site in-vessel composting capacity.

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