Keeping Compost, Mulch In The Community

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 34

Full-service green and food waste processor strives to put 100 percent of the raw materials it receives back into the community as mulch and compost products.

Nora Goldstein

Feed-In Tariffs Strengthen Markets For Biogas Power

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 53

Ontario and Vermont adopt policies that provide long-term contracts with guaranteed fixed-prices to renewable energy producers.

Diane Greer

Equipment & Systems For Composting, Organics Recycling & Renewable Energy (by company)

Equipment & Systems For Composting, Organics Recycling & Renewable Energy (by category)

Municipal Yard Trimmings Composting Benefit Cost Analysis

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 21

Since opening in 1991, the Town of Amherst’s composting facility has provided cumulative net public benefits equivalent to $22.8 million, more than double the financial resources invested.

Ian Miller and Jeffrey Angiel

Evolution of The Compost Windrow Turner

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 44

One of the earliest Compost Science references to windrow turners describes a mechanical stirrer constructed from old automobile parts and scrap, including a 1938 Ford V-8 engine.

Nora Goldstein

Landfill Gas Treatment Innovations

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 57

Reasonably steady gas flows are an important component of a gas treatment operation.

Diane Greer

Raindrops Are Pounding On My Head

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 59

Climate Change Connections

Sally Brown

Recycling Carbon Emissions Into The Economy

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 60

Biomass Energy Outlook

Mark Jenner

Letters

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 20

Green Roof Media Standards
Laurel Valley Soils and Skyland USA was included in your recent article about green roofs and use of compost in producing specialized growing media for them (“Green Roofs Take Compost To New Heights,” May 2009). After reading the article, I would like to address the comments from Mr. Buist on green roof media standards.

Regional Roundup

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 16

Kalamazoo, Michigan
PURSUIT OF VERMICOMPOSTING
Western Michigan University (WMU) assessed four major composting methods for its food waste stream — windrow, in-vessel, vermicomposting and aerated static pile — utilizing a broad range of criteria established by campus operations and staff. Criteria included initial capital cost, operating cost, capacity of proposed site, energy requirements and greenhouse gas reduction potential, process speed, quality of finished product, and potential for research insights, along with teaching and learning opportunities. A 2008 audit estimated that food waste comprises about 30 to 40 percent of the solids in the wastewater that WMU sends to the Kalamazoo Wastewater Reclamation Plant through garbage disposals. The dining halls produce about 262 tons/year of food waste with an average of 4,500 students on the Dining Services meal plan. Vermicomposting came out the most favorably in the evaluation, garnering the most interest from possible community partners. “It promises new challenges for scaling up the technology and offers the greatest opportunities for developing a leading, carbon neutral approach to food waste management and integration with small-scale food production,” says the report.

BioCycle World

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 6

New Search Tools On www.findacomposter.com
BioCycle is pleased to announce new search capabilities for its free on-line, searchable database, www.findacomposter.com. Facilities can be located by zip/postal code proximity search, feedstock type, and any other information category on the facility data form. Categorization of facility types, as well as feedstocks — especially as they relate to food waste — have been refined. There are over 350 composting facility entries in www.findacomposter.com from across the United States and Canada. Facilities in the database are being contacted to update the information in their listings so that they match the revisions. We strongly encourage composting facilities in the U.S. and Canada that are not in the database to go to www.findacomposter.com and click, “Add Composting Facility.” Interest in diverting organic waste streams to composting is growing exponentially, and there is a perceived lack of infrastructure. Stand up and be counted! There is no fee to have a listing, nor a fee to do a search. Contact BioCycle with any questions: biocycle@jgpress.com.

Editorial

BioCycle July 2009, Vol. 50, No. 7, p. 4

Time To Act

Nora Goldstein