BIOCYCLE WORLD

BioCycle January 2004, Vol. 45, No. 1, p. 6

FEDERAL PROCUREMENT OF BIOBASED PRODUCTS
In mid-December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced publication of a proposed rule to implement the Federal Procurement of Biobased Products program. The provision requires Federal agencies to purchase biobased products that meet price, availability and performance standards; provides for a voluntary labeling of certified "Biobased Products;" and provides financial assistance for testing of those products by manufacturers. The proposed rule will also define what biobased products are. As explained by the USDA, "Once an item is designated, every manufacturer and vendor producing and marketing products contained within that item are eligible for preferred procurement status by federal agencies. Further details are available from Marvin Duncan, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses at (202) 401-0532 or email: mduncan@oce.usda.gov.

NEW METHODS, SIGNIFICANT DATA

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THE 2003 "State of Garbage In America" report is the result of a close collaboration between BioCycle and the Earth Engineering Center (EEC) of Columbia University in New York City. Data from state solid waste and recycling staffs throughout the nation became the focus of intense analysis over the past few months. A significant outcome of the collaboration is the development of new methodology for analyzing solid waste management in the United States. In the 2003 survey (based on 2002 data), we requested all data related to solid waste generation, recycling, combustion and landfilling in actual tonnages. Previously, BioCycle asked states to provide the annual tons of MSW generated, and a percent breakdown, based on that number, of MSW recycled, composted, combusted and landfilled. States were asked to identify the waste streams included in those numbers, but actual quantities of each were not provided. The net effect was that it was difficult to discern what actually was municipal solid waste versus all solid wastes. In 2003, that situation was addressed by asking states to provide quantities of all waste streams included in the total tonnages provided. The same information was requested for recycled materials. This essentially enabled us to "tease out" the municipal solid waste data (i.e., residential, commercial/institutional streams).

THE STATE OF GARBAGE IN AMERICA

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Scott M. Kaufman, Nora Goldstein, Karsten Millrath, and Nickolas J. Themelis

It is generally agreed that there are two main sources of national data on how solid waste is managed in the United States. The first is BioCycle’s "State of Garbage in America" survey, started in 1989 and done annually since then, with the exception of 2002. The other is an annual survey that Franklin Associates conducts for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, known as "Municipal Solid Waste In The U.S.: Facts and Figures." State of Garbage In America has always collected tonnage data on municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, and asked states to estimate — by percent — the amounts recycled and composted, combusted, and landfilled. Conversely, Franklin Associates has always used economic and population data to estimate MSW generation on a per capita basis, and then extrapolated data to estimate tonnages recycled and composted, combusted and landfilled.

PRACTICALITIES OF COMPOST MARKETING AND SALES

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Ron Alexander

After many years of compost marketing and market development, we have come to recognize a number of "truisms." A leading one is that although compost is a great product and created from a "recycled" feedstock — and therefore is considered an environmentally "correct" product — most people who purchase compost do so because of what it can do. They want to know how "will it save or make me money, or give me better results in the field."

CALIFORNIA FIRES FUEL WOOD RECYCLING

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Robert Rynk

Deadly wildfires last October in Southern California heightened awareness of the fire threat that exists in the forests of western North America. Bark beetles have received much of the blame for the fire-prone state of the forests. However, the cause is actually the combined effects of drought, insects, fire suppression and land management policies. This condition has generated warnings for several years (a state of emergency was declared in March 2003), and efforts to address the problem have been in motion for some time. Still, because of their devastation, the recent fires have given the situation new urgency. Activities are being stepped up to clear the dead wood from areas susceptible to catastrophic fires, including mountain communities, utility right-of ways and national forests.

OVERVIEW OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION TECHNOLOGIES IN EUROPE

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Charles Egigian Nichols

ANAEROBIC digestion technology development has been underway in Europe for food residuals for over 30 years, driven by the issue of dwindling landfill space. Three distinct phases of technology development have occurred during these three decades. First, European governments funded university and academic research to initiate anaerobic digestion technology advancements, which resulted in a wide range of laboratory testing over about ten years. Second, pilot and demonstration-scale facilities were developed in the 1980s and into the 1990s. Third, this work led to the commercialization phase that was launched in the 1990s and continuing to today.

SOURCE SEPARATED ORGANICS PILOTS

Dan Emerson

BioCycle November 2003, Vol. 44, No. 11, p. 22

IN ANY city or county in North America, organic material comprises a significant share of the municipal solid waste stream. Estimates range from 10 to 50 percent, with consensus around the 20 to 25 percent level. Recently, in the Minnesota Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, five pilot projects demonstrated the potential for source separation and composting of the organic fraction.

COMPOST-BASED BIOFILTERS CONTROL AIR POLLUTION

BioCycle January 2004, Vol. 45, No. 1, p. 31

Jim Boswell

Use of biofilter technology to control volatile organic compounds (VOC) and odors in municipal, commercial and industrial applications has continued to increase in North America. Applications can range from odor control in sewage collection systems to VOC removal at a print shop.

PRODUCING RENEWABLE HYDROGEN FROM BIOMASS

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Kenneth Brown

Biomass has the potential to become a significant source of renewable hydrogen. Technologies that convert fiber, starches and sugars from trees, woody plants and crops, and food processing residues into useful products and hydrogen are seeing important advances in R&D. Communities and facilities that are rich in these renewable biomass resources have the potential to become energy independent and economically robust. In addition, many of the processes which produce hydrogen from biomass are complementary to those that produce biomaterials. States and communities with large agricultural economies have potential for significant economic development through incorporation of bioenergy into bioindustry.

MEASURING COMPOST IMPACT ON TURF GROWTH

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Michael Rainey

In February 2003, the New Hampshire Compost Association (NHCA) requested permission from the state’s Department of Administrative Services, General Services Bureau to conduct a compost use demonstration on state grounds outside the Health & Human Services Building in Concord. The goal of the project was to show that use of good quality compost would improve turf growth around state buildings when compared to the typical turf management currently employed.

STREAM BANK STABILIZATION UTILIZING COMPOST

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Britt Faucette and Melanie Ruhlman

As compost continues its emergence in environmental and storm water management applications, perhaps one of the most promising is its use in stream bank stabilization projects. While the application is fairly similar to controlling erosion and sediment runoff on construction sites, the challenges can be much greater. Vegetative requirements, storm surges that can effectively put the project site under water, and maintaining or creating a site that enhances fish and wildlife habitat are among the important considerations that arise during stream bank stabilization projects — ones that are not an issue with many land disturbing activities.

ON-FARM DIGESTERS IN THE MIDWEST

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Richard Mattocks

When neighboring farmers tell Jerry Stencil, a dairyman near Green Bay, Wisconsin, that they are building a new dairy, his response is: "Put a digester as number one on the list of things to install. The value of the treated fiber as bedding will nearly pay for the system (even if you don’t count the energy value of the biogas.)" Stencil then continues: "Don’t forget neighbor relations are also improved — plus there is the added value of bonuses from improved milk quality."

THE FUTURE OF WASTE

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Helen Spiegelman and Bill Sheehan

Municipal recyclers and solid waste managers often see composting as the feeble step child of resource management. In fact, recycling biodegradable organics was the big recycling success story in the United States during the 1990s.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

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Portland, Oregon
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OPERATES
FOOD WASTE COMPOSTING PROGRAM
The Portland Airport has 10,000 employees, 17 passenger airlines, 14 cargo carriers and over one million passengers "zipping through it each year," writes Tanya Baker in the Association of Oregon Recyclers (AOR) newsletter. Following a decision to emphasize waste reduction as part of its environmental management system, in 2002 the Airport conducted waste audits. Data showed that 35 percent of the food waste stream that was landfilled could be composted, and half of that amount was preconsumer waste from food vendors. The Port received a $35,000 grant from Portland Metro to help pay for equipment and partnered with Community Environmental Services at Portland State University to conduct the pilot.