BioCycle World

BioCycle April 2004, Vol. 45, No. 4, p. 6

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL COMPOST AWARENESS WEEK — MAY 2-8, 2004
Throughout the week of May 2 to 8, the designated time for celebrating International Compost Awareness by being resourceful, all forms of organics recycling will be recognized — from backyard composting to large scale projects. In the United Kingdom, the Composting Association is organizing events for the fourth annual campaign with the launch of local authority home composting initiatives, composting equipment sales and community composting workshops. According to chief executive Jane Gilbert, "awareness about the many beneficial properties of making and using composts is rising at all levels across the UK. Composts are becoming an integral part of our drive towards sustainability."
The Composting Council of Canada events include four "National Giveaways" of compost in central parks of London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast to highlight the benefits of organic resources as soil conditioners and what individuals can do at home." Says executive director Susan Antler: "Our specific aims are to show the public how organic resources can be effectively recycled into compost."
A variety of events are scheduled in the U.S., including field days, compost giveaways and home composting promotions. Details are available at www.compostingcouncil.org.

PEAT-FREE COMPOST WINS
ENVIRONMENT AWARD IN UNITED KINGDOM
A British herb supplier called Swedeponic UK that supplies supermarkets with fresh herbs teamed up with Organic Recycling Limited by growing plants in compost. "Recognizing that peat reserves should not be diminished further, we arranged with Organic Recycling to devise a more environmentally-friendly growing medium," Mark Powell of Swedeponic told the UK Composting Association’s Composting News. Managing director Andrew Riddington of Organic Recycling received the Environmental Award in Peterborough based on the company’s two-year project.
Another example of how green waste compost can be used to replace peat, also reported by the UK Composting Association, cites the work of Arnie Rainbow. Reporting on WRAP growing trials, Dr. Rainbow illustrated the success of green waste compost that compared plants on different types of growing media. "It was evident that there was no difference between plants grown on peat or compost," noted the UK Composting Association publication. The trials are part of the Waste & Resources Action Program (WRAP); composted materials in the trials came from three suppliers in England and one in Northern Ireland. Added Dr. Rainbow of the "Peatering Out" consultancy: "I believe the results will persuade growers who have previously dismissed composted green waste as a growing media ingredient to see it in a new light. Media containing up to 40 percent composted material — diluted either with peat or with composted forestry residues — are producing plants that are marketable to the same grades as standard commercial peat-based media."

ANALYZING COSTS OF SYSTEM-WIDE RECYCLING WITH SINGLE STREAM COLLECTION
In a study reported by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), comparing system-wide cost of single stream vs. dual stream recycling and recovered fiber quality, these results are noted: Overall system-wide expenses increased an average of $3/ton for paper collected in single stream programs. This figure includes costs for collection, processing at a MRF, and mill utilization; Curbside collection costs tended to be about $15/ton lower for single stream programs; Sorting costs at the MRF averaged $10/ton more for single stream programs; Mills incurred operating and maintenance costs increases of about $8/ton when using recovered paper from single stream programs. Single stream recycling is defined in the AF&PA news release as the collection of all household recyclables in one container instead of separating paper from other recyclables such as glass, plastic, aluminum and steel. AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest, paper and wood products industry. The study referred to above was conducted by Jaakko Poyry Consulting and Skumatz Economic Research Associates.

WORLD BANK PROPOSES TO RESTRICT OIL AND COAL
PROJECTS TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT
A battle is on at the World Bank. On one side are groups that argue that mineral and oil projects in the developing world pollute and foster corruption. On the other side are mining companies and political leaders of many poor countries who maintain that exploiting natural resources can boost people out of poverty. "There’s a misconception or misinformation campaign inside the bank that this is just about some environmental groups that are trying to push an agenda," said Jon Sohn, an analyst with Friends of the Earth... "With people like Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa speaking out, they’re finding this is a global issue."
In the report drafted by Emil Salim, former environmental minister from Indonesia, the critical study found that mining and oil projects could contribute to development only if certain environmental and social conditions were met. Specifically Dr. Salim argued that, in order to fulfill its commitment to sustainable development, the World Bank had an obligation to promote clean energy by ending its financing of coal and oil projects. Twenty of the world’s major banks have agreed to uphold the environmental and social standards set by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation under an agreement called the Equator Principles.

RE: MARCH 2004 BIOCYCLE REPORTS ON
PORTLAND AIRPORT DIVERSION AND
NEW MEXICO BIOGAS PROJECT
From the authors of the March BioCycle report, "Airport Launches Food Waste
Diversion Program" (page 37-41) concerning the partnership at Portland International Airport come this correction: "Both Kevin Drake and Paul Rosenbloom are students at Portland State University, not Oregon State University. We greatly appreciate the work of BioCycle and the opportunities it presents for collaboration in the field of composting and organics diversion. Having our correct contact information listed is important to the continued development of our programs and possible future collaborations." Their correct address and phone number follow: Community Environmental Services, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Center for Urban Studies, Portland, OR 97207-0751. phone (503) 725-5177.
In reference to the March article (pages 55-56), "Producing Compost and Biogas from Cattle Manure," coauthor Z. Ramani of New Mexico State University, forwards this additional information about the anaerobic digester being used: "Our two-phase system for manure-energy conversion was developed in 2001 and has a capacity for four tons of solid manure; it has a volume of seven cubic yards. The system was built as a demonstration unit at the campus of New Mexico State University and is designed to handle solid manure (more than 18 percent solids). The concept of solid phase was introduced about 20 years ago by Dr. Sam Ghosh. There are some commercial two-phase systems in the U.S. and Europe. We are in the process of building our first commercial unit in New Mexico with a capacity of 2,000 cy solid manure." The e-mail for Dr. Samani is: zsamani@nmsu.edu.

RESIDENTIAL MIXED WASTE RECYCLING AND DIGESTION FACILITY IN THE UK
The facility at Bursom, United Kingdom will process 110,000 metric tons of mixed household refuse annually and is expected to achieve over a 40 percent recycling rate. According to the project manager for Biffa Waste — who describes the operations in the latest issue of the UK Composting Association magazine, the contract is worth 300 million British pounds ($553 million) over 25 years. The plant will combine mechanical separation and MSW recycling with anaerobic digestion to generate biogas and stabilized organics. The Biffa official gives this description: "Waste received at Bursom will first be processed using a cascade ball mill to decrease particle size which will then pass through a rotating sieve. Material is then air sifted and passed on to flip flop screens where it will then move on to be baled. Waste fraction that will be extracted are: nonferrous and ferrous recyclables; high calorific fractions (i.e., RDF); and organics (i.e., food waste, sweepings, wood, garden cuttings)." A second biogas facility is being built at Wanlip and is scheduled to be operational in June 2004.

RECYCLING PROGRESS IN JAPAN INCLUDES CLEAN POWER
FROM WOODY BIOMASS
Koromogawa Village, located in northern Japan’s Iwate Prefecture, will start a project in 2004 to generate electricity by running a motor using wood gasified at high temperatures — including wood from thinning tree plantations. According to the electronic newsletter, Japan for Sustainability, this is the country’s first project involving power generation using woody biomass.
In another example of recycling, Yamagen Co. in Japan — originally a logging and timber firm — now offers a line of furniture with a guarantee that it will be recycled. The company has come to be involved in a wide range of business activities that includes manufacturing building materials and processing both industrial and domestic waste biomass. Meanwhile, Dowa Mining Co. is launching a recycling enterprise in China by establishing a joint venture which will launch a precious metal recycling business together with processing of used electronic products.

CHINA PLANS STRICTER CONTROLS FOR ITS SCRAP METAL INDUSTRY
Based on new regulations, businesses shipping metal scrap to China will be required to register with officials in Beijing by July 1 for government approval. Chinese imports of steel scrap have nearly doubled in the last three years and are expected to double again in the next two years. Besides steel scrap, published reports show that copper and other scrap have rapidly increased as foreign markets have become a major outlet for these materials. But pollution problems accompany the processing. Explains one Chinese analyst: "Processors are using very old ways to do the scrapping, which is very harmful to the environment." Notes a report in The New York Times: "In the past, the scrap industry has been a mess. The government is now making rules for them to follow." But many doubt that government rules will have much effect, pointing out the economics of replacing hand labor with modern machines and the fact that "China needs scrap because of its lack of raw materials."

MAKING A BLANKET OUT OF CORN FIBER
Executives of Faribault Mills (based in Faribault, Minnesota) first saw the product, Ingeo, at an international textile show in Germany. The patented fiber made from polylactic acid by Cargill Dow was being promoted as a filling for blankets. The word ingeo means from the earth. According to Dan Lemke of the AURI Ag Innovation News, Ingeo is produced by converting corn into sugars, which are fermented and converted to a polylactic acid (called NatureWorks PLA by Cargill Dow.) Faribault Mills now makes 100 percent Ingeo and wool-Ingeo blankets as well as its traditional 100 percent wool products. "We began with something that was earth sensitive as a way to replace chemical-based acrylics that were used in some blankets," explains Dennis Melchert of Faribault Mills. The silken textured Ingeo is described as a very good product — exceptionally strong, easy to clean and holds dye well. For additional information on this bioproduct, visit: www.faribaultmills.com.

GREATER EMPHASIS TO LIMIT MERCURY
IN PRODUCTS ENTERING THE WASTE STREAM
The March 2004 newsletter of the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin (AROW) focuses on mercury in products that wind up in the waste stream. In the past few years, writes John Reindl of Wisconsin’s Dane County, "mercury product legislation has mushroomed in the U.S." More than 130 national and state bills have been introduced so far in the 2003-2004 session. He notes that a recent Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources study showed that landfills are one of the major depositories for mercury from products. "Current landfill designs are thought to largely sequester the mercury, but the fate of mercury in future designs — such as bioreactors — is not clear," Reindl points out. Mercury is found in thermostats, thermometers, manometers in dairy barns, fluorescent lamps and many other products.
The AROW publication discusses steps to stop using mercury in automobile switches, as well as programs to remove and recycle them from older car models. For information about the mercury issue, visit the web site: www.arow-online.org.

COMPOST STUDIES CITED IN NEW REPORT ON LAND GRANT INSTITUTIONS
Compiled by Jane Sooby, technical program coordinator for the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), the new edition of State of the States: 2001-2003 reports on organic farming systems research at land grant institutions. Total number of organic research acres has more than doubled between 2001 and 2003, while the number of certified organic research acres has tripled. "Still, organic research acreage lags far behind the proportion of U.S. farmland that is certified organic," Sooby points out. Compost studies listed in State of the States II include the following:
California – Effect on phylloxera in grapes; Effect on bell peppers; Best management in wine grapes; Use in potting mix; Iowa – Application rates; Effect on weed control; Hawaii – Long-term effects on vegetables; Idaho – Mineralization of compost; Illinois – Comparing organic matter in soils that do and don’t receive compost; Maine – Effect on apple replant disease; Michigan – Timing of compost application on alfalfa; Greenhouse nutrient management; Minnesota – Effects on soybean yields and weed levels; North Carolina – Effect of rate on collards and sweet corn; Effect of compost and crimson clover on sweet corn production; Method of managing animal waste; Ohio – Effect on corn protein levels; Vermicompost work; Impact on microbial communities; Pennsylvania – Disease suppression in grapes; South Carolina – Tea to control fungus in tomatoes; Vermont – Potato production under three fertility regimes; Virginia – Effect on pumpkin production; Washington – Biodynamic compost effects on California wine grapes; West Virginia – Application rates; Effects on disease and production.
The State of the States report may be accessed at www.ofrf.org. Printed copies may be ordered for a donation of $10 each to defray printing and postage costs from OFRF, PO Box 440, Santa Cruz, California 95061. (831) 426-6606.

Copyright 2004, The JG Press, Inc.