Agenda: Tuesday June 22

34th Annual BioCycle National Conference
June 21, 22, 23, 2004
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Adam's Mark Philadelphia

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MORNING 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Concurrent Session A

Breakthroughs In Odor Research And Control

Evolution Of Odor Management Knowledge ... And Practices
What have we learned after 30 years of managing odors from biosolids recycling and composting projects?; Highlights range from identifying odor compounds and how to treat them to latest findings on what causes odors in the first place.
John Walker, U.S. EPA (retired)

Insights On Biosolids And Odor Formation, Emissions
Role of protein degradation in formation of volatile organic sulfur compounds, odorous volatile aromatic compounds (OVACs) and nitrogenous OVACs; Deodorization of anaerobically digested cake solids by methanogens; Finding the balance between odor production and degradation.
Matthew Higgins, Bucknell University

Bugs, Mechanics And Managing Odors At Wastewater Treatment Plant
Analyzing the underlying biological and physical processes of wastewater treatment and biosolids production to identify new solutions to odor control; How a wastewater treatment plant with anaerobic digesters and centrifuges implements odor minimization steps identified by research studies.
William Toffey, Philadelphia Water Department

Human Responses To Odors — Exploring New Frontiers
How perception of an odor alters people's judgment of health risk from an environmental chemical exposure; Attentional and hormonal factors that enhance odor sensitivity; Identifying causes of stress response to a benign odor.
Pamela Dalton, Monell Chemical Senses Center

Compost Facility Management — Lessons From The Veterans

Maximizing Feedstock Flow, Managing The Variety
Securing needed flow of feedstocks at county-owned cocomposting facility; Managing a range of biosolids types and qualities; Viability of expanding into other organic feedstocks.
Mary Pat Robbie, Burlington County (NJ) Solid Waste Authority

A Municipal Solid Waste Composting Journey
Manager of mixed waste/biosolids cocomposting operation highlights the necessary "ingredients" for facility longevity; Overview of plant upgrades, sourcing source separated organics, recycling integration, odor management, compost markets.
Bob Spencer, WeCare Environmental LLC

Succeeding With Outdoor Systems
Managing putrescible and potentially odorous feedstocks using low tech but "high knowledge" composting methods; Importance of a dedicated operator, attention to detail and developing a marketing program based on high quality products.
Geoff Kuter, Agresource, Inc. (Invited)

Concurrent Session B

Compost Utilization — Insights And Research

Soil Quality Fundamentals — And Compost
Understanding mechanisms that improve capacity of natural soils or soil substitutes to support plant growth; Clarifying cause/effect of compost amendments on soil organic matter, humus; Implications for moisture retention, nutrient availability.
Richard Stehouwer, Pennsylvania State University

Replacing Peat In Horticulture With Compost
Peat harvesting impacts plant/animal species by degrading habitat; Making compost a desirable component for potting soils; Research results in predicting physical/chemical characteristics of compost.
Mark Highland, Longwood Gardens

Calculating Water Retention
Impact of compost incorporation on water-holding capabilities of soils; Growth trials with popcorn and soybeans on compost amended sandy loam soil; Estimating savings from less irrigation, decreased use of limestone fertilizer application.
Duane Friend, University of Illinois Cooperative Extension

Using Compost For Nutrients And Disease Suppression
Optimum methods to replace pesticides in agriculture; On-farm experiences in reducing crop disease with compost; Impact of soil organic matter changes.
Heather Darby, University of Vermont Cooperative Extension

Managing Butcher Waste, Road Kill, Mortalities

Composting As A Rendering Alternative
Decline in rendering plants leads to composting approach at farms; Recommendations for use of finished compost; Keeping butchers in business.
Jean Bonhotal, Cornell Waste Mgmt. Institute
Brian Jerose, WASTE NOT Resource Solutions

Road Kill Composting
Results of pilot project for deer carcass composting; Documenting cost-savings; Pathogen concerns and precautions.
Theresa Laibach, New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Composting Of Broiler Mortalities Due To Catastrophic Disease
How to start and manage the process in-house; Environmental impacts; Dealing with one-half million birds; Lessons learned.
Lewis Carr, University of Maryland

AFTERNOON 1:45 PM – 5:30 PM

Concurrent Session A

Watershed Protection Strategies With Compost

Compost’s Role In Phase II Compliance
Compost-based BMPs for construction sites, municipal storm water flows; Outreach to contractors, regulators, landscape architects and designers.

Green Roofs As First Line Of Defense In Urban Watersheds
Role of green roofs in storm water management; Use of compost-amended soil blends that meet weight, growth medium specifications; Case studies in Atlanta region.
Wayne King, Sr., ERTH Products LLC

GreenScapes Initiative Connects Compost, Clean Water, Healthy Soils
Federal initiative promotes use of compost and other organics in large-scale landscaping; Government/
industry partnerships; Brownfield restoration.
Jean Schwab, U.S. EPA

Plugging Into Water Source Protection
Addressing impacts of soil disturbing activities, contaminated soils in rural and suburban communities to city water supply; Urban-suburban-rural partnerships.
Christopher Crockett, Office of Watersheds, Philadelphia Water Department (Invited)

Concurrent Session B

Institutional, Commercial Organics Diversion

Composting At Correctional Facilities
Fourteen years since correctional facility composting and recycling began in New York, thousands of tons of food residuals have been diverted and millions of dollars saved; Comparing composting technologies.
James Marion, New York State Department of Corrections

Food Residuals Collection, Composting At State University
Pre and postconsumer diversion from dining halls; Designing effective collection program; Winter management strategies; Research projects.
Nadine Davitt, Pennsylvania State University

Overcoming Barriers To Sustainable Food Residuals Diversion
Veteran of many pilot projects and a few full-scale programs discusses key factors that need to be in place to build permanence into commercial organics composting; Regulatory, economic and logistical challenges — and solutions.
Sumner Martinson, Massachusetts DEP

Lining Up, Signing Up The Generators
Positive economics, convenience, frequent collection and employee training are among elements needed to sign grocery stores to organics diversion program; Employing carts, degradable bags; Hauler logistics.
Mike Manna, Eastern Organic Resources

Plenary Session

New Directions In Public Policies

Little-Known Policies Support Renewable Energy And Bioproducts
How Renewable Standard Portfolios/"advanced energy" initiatives impact biomass utilization; Federal proposal to buy biobased products.
Carol Werner, Energy and Envir. Study Institute

Policies That Favor Food Residuals Recycling
How "nonwaste" policy factors such as greenhouse gas reduction and environmental solutions with compost and anaerobic digestion products favor diversion of food residuals from landfills; Creating incentives at the state level.
Priscilla Hayes, Solid Waste Policy Group, Rutgers University

The Project To Policy Continuum
What steps need to happen to change public policies based on successful, cost-effective composting, organics recycling and renewable energy projects; Overcoming regulatory and infrastructure hurdles; Use of public/private partnerships.
Panel Discussion