Tuesday, March 21

The 22nd Annual
BioCycle West Coast Conference 2006
Composting, Organics Recycling & Renewable Energy
Building Sustainable Cities & Communities
March 20, 21, 22, 2006
Portland, Oregon
Portland Marriott Downtown

REGISTER NOW!
Click here for a pdf file of the conference brochure.

Reserve your hotel room at the Portland Marriott Downtown today.
Request the Special BioCycle Conference Rate of $115 single/double per night.
Call 503-226-7600 This rate expires February 27, 2006.

Updated 2/24

Morning 8:30 AM — 12:15 PM

Concurrent Session A

STRATEGIES TO OPTIMIZE COMPOST FACILITY SUCCESS

Increasing Feedstock Throughput On Smaller Footprint
Hybrid aerated static pile—windrow system tests processing greater amount of material on a smaller footprint; Optimizing moisture and heat control.   
Jan Allen, CH2M Hill

Design Realities In Urban Settings
Challenges — and solutions — to constructing megasized composting facility in an urban environment; Conversion of warehouse to house aerated static piles; Overview of odor and emissions control designs.
Charles Alix, MWH Americas, Inc.

Managing Storm Water, Runoff At Composting Facilities
Operating experience translates into strategies to control and treat storm water at composting sites; Solids separation to reduce BOD loads, aeration of leachate ponds among cost-effective methods.
Jerry Bartlett, Cedar Grove Composting

TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS AND TRENDS

Small-Scale Biosolids Composting
Shift to composting accelerated by limitations to land application program; In-vessel facility processes dewatered biosolids into Class A compost.

Anaerobic Digestion Of Dairy Manure
Digester components and systems to reduce fluid retention time, reactor volume and capital costs; Modeling biological, chemical and physical systems to improve reactor design and performance; Construction and evaluation of digester on commercial dairy farm.
Craig Frear, Washington State University
Bryan Van Loo, Andgar Engineering

Quantifying Financial, Environmental Value of Digester Systems
Development of coproducts to increase revenues, including phosphorus precipitation and peat moss quality fiber; Assessing AD as means for improved air and water quality as well as ‘source to sink’ for greenhouse gases.
Chad Kruger, Washington State University
Darryl Vander Haak, Vander Haak Dairy

Morning 8:30 AM — 12:15 PM

Concurrent Session B

STORM WATER MANAGEMENT/COMPOST USE

Green Roof Storm Water Modeling
Modeling system to simulate and evaluate impact of green roofs in managing urban storm water flows; Assessments for individual buildings and a designated drainage basin area; Application in New York City.
Greg Loosvelt, Earth Pledge

Natural Drainage Projects Test Compost, Soils BMPs
Urban retrofits to detain and clean up storm flows and protect property while enhancing neighborhood landscapes; Use of deep compost-amended soils in swales to reduce storm runoff; Analyzing cost savings.
David McDonald, Seattle Public Utilities

Integrated Storm Water Management
Restoring site hydrology using rain gardens, rainwater catchment, porous pavement, green roofs and best soil management; Integration of compost into post-construction BMPs.
Michael Broili, Living Systems Design

Runoff Reduction, Water Quality Benefits With Compost-Amended Soil
Washington State Department of Transportation research projects measure runoff volume and water quality from compost-amended vegetated filter strips (CAVFS) on highway shoulders during storm events; Data on average pollutant loads and phosphorus concentrations compared to control sites with no compost.
Mark Maurer, Wash. State Dept. of Transportation

STORM WATER, WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Integrated Strategy To Reduce Sewer Overflows
Water capture, recycling and conservation systems complement city’s centralized collection pipes and treatment to address combined sewer overflows; Integrating tools into green building designs and sustainable landscapes.
Tom Liptan, Portland (OR) Bureau of Envir. Services, Sustainable Stormwater Management Program

Best Practices To Reduce Sewer Loads
Creating incentives to reduce impact of new sewer surcharges on high BOD generators; Best practices include disconnecting garbage disposals and diverting dewatered high strength loads to food composting program; Case studies.
Kelly Hendryx, Portland (OR) Bureau of Environmental Services

Reclaimed Water Recycling Initiatives
Evaluating treatment technologies for future reclaimed water production facilities; Overview of end uses, such as drought mitigation, irrigation of athletic fields and wetlands nursery.

Afternoon 1:45 PM — 5:30 PM

Concurrent Session A

EXPANDING MARKETS FOR RECYCLED ORGANICS

High Value Markets For AD Products
Market research and product development for digestate, liquid and compost generated at centralized anaerobic digestion facility; Targeting high value products for horticulture.
Ron Alexander, R. Alexander Associates, Inc.

Compost Use Effects On Soil Properties
Ten year study, begun in 2001, comparing compost incorporation and surface application on soil properties; Analyzing water infiltration, field soil moisture, bulk density and aggregate stability in plots with native and imported woody landscape plants.
Craig Cogger, Washington State University

City Expands Markets For Class A Biosolids
Developing multiple products for multiple markets builds sustainability into biosolids program; Optimizing dual digestion system; Cost-benefit analysis.
Dan Thompson, Tacoma (WA) Sewer Utility

Market Opportunities for Compost in Storm Water Management and Erosion Control
Storm water codes specifying compost soil amendment; New erosion control specs for compost blankets, berms, and socks adopted by EPA; Examples of successful Low Impact Development projects; Reaching these markets.
David McDonald, Seattle Public Utilities

Concurrent Session B

FOOD RESIDUALS RECYCLING STRATEGIES

Matching Generator Realities To Processor Realities
Identifying variables that can make or break commercial organics diversion programs; Cost-benefit parameters with regard to tonnage, hauling, containers/equipment, supplies (bags), labor costs; Case studies of several supermarket chains.
John Connolly, JFConnolly & Associates

Protocol To Evaluate Biodegradable Bag Compostability
Establishing parameters to demonstrate biological degradation in composting process used; Working with generators, haulers and regulatory agency on options to divert large quantities of commercial and institutional organics that minimize bag use.
Denise Foland, Cedar Grove Composting

Commercial Compost Recruitment And Festival Recycling
Methods to recruit businesses of all sizes and festival vendors to participate in food residuals composting services; Working out logistics of gathering food for composting during a large festival and arranging collection services.
Sam Wilder, Wilder Environmental Consulting and Sound Resource Management

Practical Model For School Organics Recovery
How a partnership between a school district, county and waste hauler resulted in a successful school organics recovery program serving 10,000 students.
Sally Fisher and Erin Rowland, Clark County Environmental Services, Washington
Penny Ramey, Waste Connections, Inc.

Plenary Session

SUSTAINABLE MODELS THAT INSPIRE

Oregon Utilities Buy Renewable Power
Projects use biomass residues including forestry waste, pulp and paper feedstocks; Impact of new state policies; Long-term commitments.
Mark Kendall, Oregon Department of Energy

Local Foods, Compost Connects, Thriving Supermarkets
Concept brings back locally grown produce, seafood and meats; Participation in composting initiative, use of energy-conserving technologies, contributing to community sustainability.

Remanufacturing InitiativeYields Jobs, Recycled Products
Manufacturing ecofriendly products from leftover burlap coffee bean bags; Producing totes, biodegradable erosion and storm water controls; Employing people with developmental disabilities.
James Brannaman, Arc of Multnomah Clackamas

Closing The Loops On Food Recovery
Connecting the dots: food residuals, food banks, hunger and food security; Public policy initiatives that can close the loop.
Rachel Bristol, Oregon Food Bank

Evening 6:30 PM — 9:30 PM

CHAT AND BREW
Opportunity to socialize and network after two days of exciting conference sessions! Hosted by The Composting Council of Oregon and the Washington Organic Recycling Council. Click here for a pdf file with details.