Open Standard file - Soil and Mulch Producer News

Vol. VI No. 2
March / April 2012
Serving Soil, Mulch, Compost, & Biofuel Professionals
NEWS
Grande plée Bleue peatland (bog) in Pintendre Québec.
Photo courtesy of Gilles Ayotte.
Attention
Readers !
Are you looking for Products, Equipment
or Services for your business?
If so, please check out these leading
companies advertised in this issue:
Bagging Systems
Amadas Industries – pg 14
PremierTech Chronos – pg 8
Rethceif Packaging – pg 6
Buildings & Structures
ClearSpan – pg 12
PEATLAND MANAGEMENT:
Compost Turners
HCL Machine Works – pg 14
Scarab Manufacturing – pg 6
Wildcat Mfg Co – pg 23
Dust Suppression
& Odor Control
Buffalo Turbine – pg 11
Mulch Blower Trucks
Sustainability Strategies for Brown Gold
in a Green World
Express Blower – pg 16
Mulch Coloring Equipment/
Colorants
Colorbiotics – pg 10
T.H. Glennon – pg 18
Mushroom Compost
Hy-Tech Mushroom Compost – pg 14
Shredders, Grinders, Chippers
& Screening Systems
Allu Group Inc – pg 17
Continental Biomass Industries – pg 7
CW Mill Equipment Co. – pg 13
Doppstadt – pg 15
McCloskey International – pg 9
Morbark Inc. – pg 2
Peterson – pg 5
Premier Tech Chronos – pg 8
REMU – pg 24 (back cover)
Rotochopper Inc. – pg 19
Screen Machine Industries – pg 11
Screen USA – pg 12
West Salem Machinery – pg 20
Wildcat Mfg Co – pg 23
Used Equipment
EarthSaver Equipment – pg 12
IronMart – pg 17
Y
BY SANDY WOODTHORPE
ou may recall from biology class that water
covers just over 70% of the Earth’s surface,
while land of one geologic type or another
takes up the remaining area.
Peatlands, from which valuable sphagnum
peat moss is harvested, cover more than three
percent of the earth’s surface. If, at first glance,
three percent doesn’t seem like much, consider
this. That figure equals 400 million hectares or
more than 988 million acres in 180 countries.
Peatlands are a significant ecological feature,
playing an important role in supporting
biodiversity, hydrology and keeping our planet
cool.
According to the Canadian Sphagnum Peat
Moss Association (CSPMA), more than 25% of
the world’s peatlands exist within its borders,
although less than 0.02 percent (less than 17,000
hectares) of the 119 million-hectares (294 million
acres) is currently being used for horticultural
peat harvesting and related applications.
Representing more than eighteen producers
engaged in a $170 million (CDN) industry that
accounts for 95% of Canada’s total production,
CSPMA is committed to responsible harvest and
management of this natural resource.
“We are witnessing rapid transformation
in the way society regards peatlands,” says Paul
Short, Director of CSPMA. “The Canadian
industry has fully engaged with academia,
government, environmental and individual
stakeholders to better understand the values of
responsible management.”
CSPMA has been a strong supporter of
research on ecosystem functions for natural
and restored peatlands for some time now.
Study findings from Quebec’s Laval University
Continued on page 3
Feedand
Continuous
Production
externally adjustable
breaKaWay
torque limiter
We’ve designed the new Morbark® 3800XL Wood Hog to be the best horizontal grinder on the market.
It will dramatically increase your production capacity and operating efficiency, so you can fill your pockets
as fast as it fills your trucks.
• MoreProductive– A larger, more aggressive hammermill and independent drive motors on
the feed-wheel and belt-chain result in a continuous feed with higher production, greater fuel efficiency,
and a more consistent end product.
• MoreConvenient – The Morbark Integrated Control System allows you to maximize production and keep the belt full with
just an occasional tweak of your thumb. And you can conveniently service the grates and hammers while standing up, with plenty
of headroom and space to work.
• MoreReliable – The 3800XL is protected from foreign objects by the best solution available: an externally adjustable breakaway
torque limiter that releases instantly when overloaded without stalling the engine; this significantly reduces potential damage and
decreases downtime.
The Morbark® 3800XL Wood Hog is part of a full line of heavy-duty industrial grinders from the leader in the industry.
Learn more about our machines and our extensive product support network at www.morbark.com.
SEE THE Full linE AT
WWW.MORBARK.COM
www.morbark.com
AvAilABlE
6MOdElS
Building EquipmEnt that CrEatEs OppOrtunitiEs
Info Request #100
2
Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
PUBLICATION STAFF
Publisher / Editor
Rick Downing
Contributing
Editors / Writers
P.J. Heller
Sandy Woodthorp
Production & Layout
Barb Fontanelle
Christine Pavelka
Advertising Sales
Rick Downing
Subscription / Circulation
Donna Downing
Editorial, Circulation
& Advertising Office
6075 Hopkins Road
Mentor, OH 44060
Ph: 440-257-6453
Fax: 440-257-6459
Email: [email protected]
For subscription information,
please call 440-257-6453.
Soil & Mulch Producer News is
published quarterly by Downing
& A s s o c i a t e s. Re p r o d u c t i o n s
or transmission of Soil & Mulch
Producer News, in whole or in part,
without written permission of the
publisher is prohibited.
Annual subscription rate U.S. is $19.95.
Outside of the U.S. add $10.00 ($29.95).
ontact our main office, or mail-in the
subscription form with payment.
Copyright 2012 by Downing & Associates
©
Printed on 10% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper
La Grande river region, sector LG1, James Bay; 53° 47’ 20’’ N – 78 ° 56’ 10’’ W. Photo courtesy of
Michelle Garneau, Université du Québec à Montréal.
PEATLAND MANAGEMENT:
Sustainability Strategies for Brown Gold
in a Green World
Continued from page 1
have been incorporated into best management
practices, Short says, to ensure that the industry
and peatlands are responsibly managed.
“Many of our members already have
achieved the VeriFlora Certification for
Responsibly Managed Peatland,” Short says.
[See sidebar.]
The trade group’s commitment also has
been instrumental in supporting the development
of the Strategy for Responsible Peatland
Management (SRPM), the global document
that was developed and adopted in 2011 by the
International Peat Society (IPS) and many of
its stakeholders. The SRPM prioritizes global
peatland management issues and is based on the
most up-to-date scientific conclusions.
Envisioned as a model for working out
specific local, national and regional issues related
to peatland management, the SRPM is directed
to everyone responsible for, or involved in the
management of peatlands, or in the peat supply
chain. It is applicable to all types of peatland
under every use. (Use also may be defined as
non-use, or conservation).The strategy is being
promoted in every country in which peat is found
and products are processed or used. Concepts
and practices for certification, conservation,
restoration and after-use are discussed. Finally,
the SRPM recognizes that different uses
of peatlands and peat each require specific
guidelines for practical implementation.
The SRPM is preceded by forty years of
international resolutions and recommendations,
from establishing the importance of wetlands,
starting with The Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands (1971) to recognizing the significance
of habitat and biodiversity management
at The Convention on Biodiversity (1992).
During the past two decades, The United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (1994) and The Kyoto Protocol (1997)
environmental activism grew steadily as the
peat industry gathered and collaborated on
exchanging information and sorting out of
social and economic issues affected by peatland
management.
The “wise use” premise set forth in 2002
with the publication of the book, “Wise Use
of Mires and Peatlands” by Joosten & Clarke,
has been employed as a basis for deriving
policies and practices included in the SRPM,
as described below.
Eight Priority Issues of the
Strategy for Responsible
Peatland Management
1. Biodiversity. Peatlands are unique natural
resources forming distinct ecosystems for
maintenance of genetic, species and habitat
levels. Biodiversity conservation guidelines
come from the “Wise Use” principles
and recommendations of Convention on
Biodiversity directives. After-use plans
Continued on page 7
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News
3
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Growers Face Challenges in
Being Certified Organic
BY P.J. HELLER
C
ommercial growers and home gardeners
d e d i c a t e d t o o rg a n i c p r o d u c t i o n c a n
likely commiserate with Kermit the Frog
when he croaks that “it’s not easy being green.”
That’s particularly true when it comes to “input
products,” such as soil amendments, fertilizers and
pest control products for organic farms and gardens.
“Unfortunately, input products are where organic
food products were 15 years ago, which is, they’re not
highly regulated and do not have real tight criteria as far
as how they’re evaluated,” says Peggy Miars, executive
director and chief executive officer of the Organic Materials
Review Institute (OMRI).
For growers, that means, becoming officially approved as an organic
producer can be subject to a certifier’s interpretation of the rules.
“One of the big issues right now with individual certifiers around the
country and around the world is that it leaves it open to their own interpretation,”
notes Chris Bradway of Down to Earth Distributors in Eugene, Ore. “You can
have a farmer in California using a [input] product whose certifier says it’s
OK, and you can have a farmer in New York using the exact same product and
their certifier says ‘no way.’
“That’s obviously a source of frustration for a lot of people and makes it
difficult to market your product to that target audience if certifiers are going to
have different points of view in different parts of the world,” he says.
That situation may be changing. “We’re working to tighten that up,” says
Miars, whose Eugene, Ore., nonprofit provides organic certifiers, growers,
manufacturers and suppliers with an independent review of products intended
for use in certified organic production nationwide.
“We’re where certifiers were 15 years ago,” she says. “They were using
their own standards and certifying differently. You had ‘certifier shopping’ where
if one certifier didn’t let you do something, you would find another certifier who
would let you do it. That’s where we are right now with input products, and
we’re looking to tighten that up so we’re all working in a consistent manner.
I would expect in the next year we will have that in place.”
There are approximately 100 certifying agents throughout the world, with
about half of them in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. In the past, each certifier had to review input materials that their
clients wanted to use, often resulting in a huge duplication of effort. That
led a group of certifiers to push for the development of a single resource to
specialize in input review and materials evaluation. That resource, OMRI,
was founded in 1997.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) operates a
similar input materials review program, which also was formed in the late
1990s. “We do exactly the same thing that OMRI does as far as our process,”
says Brenda Book, organic program manager with the WSDA. “We review
brand name materials for compliance with the organic standards.”
Both OMRI and WSDA are currently the only two organizations recognized
by the USDA for input material review. WSDA is also a USDA-approved
certifier. “We’ve worked closely with OMRI over the years,” Book says. “We
don’t necessarily see ourselves as competitors. We’re more collaborators. Our
system is very much the same as what OMRI does.”
Bradway, whose company manufactures and distributes a wide range of
natural and organic products used in organic crop production, says having
one organization such as OMRI to review input material is a convenience not
only for his firm, but for its end-users and for the certifiers and inspectors who
check their clients’ farms.
“It’s great to eliminate some of the paperwork and documentation when
you have multiple certifiers calling you to get the exact same information for
the same product,” he says.
4
Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
Growers looking for compliant products will
find the OMRI Listed® Seal in most garden stores.
“That’s one of the services a material review
organization such as OMRI or WSDA can offer to the
industry to help make it easier,” Book agrees. “They [growers]
can go to one source. They cut one step from their process,
so they can focus on farming instead of focusing in chasing
documents to determine if an input material complies or not.”
Even with an OMRI seal or WSDA listing, certifiers still have the
final say on whether a farm can use an input material.
“We’re doing the review to determine if the material is compliant to
national organic standards,” Miars explains. “The certifier then needs to decide
whether they want to allow that allowed material for that particular farm for
that particular reason during that particular season.”
Both the OMRI and the Washington state programs are voluntary.
In California, however, a law that took effect in January 2010 requires
mandatory participation by manufacturers of organic input materials.
The law created an input materials review program within the Department
of Food and Agriculture for all materials used in California, regardless of where
they are manufactured. The law also requires all manufacturers of organic input
products to be registered and licensed with the state, all facilities be inspected
once a year, and all organic input materials to carry a CDFA label.
California’s plan for input review has not yet been approved by the USDA’s
National Organic Program. Because of that fact, the California Certified
Organic Farmers, a trade group and certifier, says it is not recognizing the
CDFA program and would not enforce its provisions.
“That is, if a farmer is using an input not registered with CDFA, CCOF will
not report that to CDFA,” it said on its website. “CCOF does not recognize the
CDFA program for our material review, and currently NOP does not recognize
the CDFA program . . . The CDFA label does not replace an OMRI, WSDA,
or any other third party review under the NOP, at this time.”
California Certified Organic Farmers is one of the oldest and largest
organic certification and trade associations in North America. It was founded
in 1973 and was one the first organizations to perform organic certification
in North America.
Passage of the California law came in the wake of a federal court
case in which the former owner of a California fertilizer company pleaded
guilty in February in connection with a scheme to defraud organic farmers
by selling them a fertilizer that contained chemical ingredients banned
for use in organic farming. In a separate case, the head of another
California fertilizer company was indicted last year by a federal grand jury
on similar allegations.
Consumers, meantime, face a conundrum in choosing input materials for
use in their organic gardens. Products on store shelves may be labeled organic,
natural, all-natural or some other similar sounding designation.
To address that issue, OMRI earlier this year launched a retail information
campaign. OMRI essentially wants to have manufacturers use its logo much
like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval.
“Consumers should definitely be looking for the OMRI seal,” Miars says.
“That’s something that we’re starting to get into more at the request of OMRIlisted manufacturers. A lot of the products on our list are not only available
for organic farmers but they’re available in home and garden retail centers.
So we started a campaign within the last several months to reach out more
Continued on page 6
Make Mountains of Mulch
High volume mulch producers know that when they have taken
care of the logistics of a mulching operation, they need the
power, reliability, and quality that only a Peterson horizontal
grinder can provide.
• Caterpillar power from 475 to 1200hp
• Over 500 yards per hour output capacity
• Lowest cost per ton output
No matter what your grinding application, Peterson’s horizontal
grinders can get you the volume and productivity that you
demand. For more information about Peterson products, call
Peterson at 800.269.6520 or visit us at www.petersoncorp.com
today!
2710C
4700B
4800E
5000H
5710C
6750B
BTR
www.petersoncorp.com • PO BOX 40490 • Eugene, OR 97404
800-269-6520 • www.petersoncorp.com
Info Request #127
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News
5
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Growers Face Challenges in
Being Certified Organic
Continued from page 4
[email protected]
www.scarabmfg.com
Info Request #176
to consumers to tell them about OMRI, about what we do and to look for the
OMRI seal on products in their retail stores. “Surprisingly, most consumers
don’t understand the organic certification process,” she adds.
That process is overseen by the USDA, which estimates there are some
30,000 organic farms and processing facilities worldwide. All organic crops,
livestock and agricultural products certified to USDA organic standards are
regulated by the agency’s National Organic Program (NOP).
As part of that program, the NOP maintains a national list of allowed and
prohibited substances that identifies substances that may and may not be used
in organic crop and livestock production. That list, however, only contains
substances, not branded materials.
“Those substances can be produced in a variety of ways, so they would still
need to be reviewed to make sure that the way they are produced, or extracted,
is done as allowed by the organic program,” Miars says.
The national list is similar to the generic list found on the OMRI website.
Both OMRI and WSDA also maintain a list of name-brand products. The OMRI
Products List contains some 2,300 name-brand products. Its Generic Materials
List contains more than 900 products and is split into categories for crop
production; livestock production, and processing and handling materials. The
WSDA list contains about 750 products. Many of those materials are from tree
fruit industry input manufacturers serving the Pacific Northwest.
“That’s where our focus has always tended to be,” Book explains. “We have
a lot of tree fruit materials used just in our region, so our growers had a need
for us to produce a list that was specific to them. It’s kind of stayed that way.
We’re focused on the Pacific Northwest. We’ll take an application from anybody
for any product, but typically our list is used by WSDA certified operations.
“A farmer can look at our list just like they can look at an OMRI list and see
these products have already been reviewed and in compliance with the standards
and can use them without jeopardizing their certification,” she says.
“A Rethceif design is complete when it accomplishes the finest final package with the least amount of waste, movement and wear items possible.”
1 year payback on your machine. Rethceif equipment is so reliable you
can achieve a 1 year payback on your investment.
15 minutes to change bag sizes. And no tools required.
6 - 8 cents saved on every bag by switching to single flat roll film.
Every Rethceif bagger utilizes Form, Fill, and Seal technology. This
means every bag is made at the machine from a single roll of film.
100 percent of commercially available components
available from suppliers nationwide. Rethceif strives
to make its equipment easy to own and maintain.
Talk to various film suppliers.
Contact us via our web page or phone.
Experience the Rethceif Difference.
420 Industrial Parkway, Ossian, IN 46777 I Phone: 260-622-7200 I Toll Free: 866-298-1876 I Fax: 260-622-7220 I www.rethceif.com I [email protected]
Info Request #154
6
Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Peatland Management: Sustainability Strategies
Continued from page 3
should follow best practice measures
for restoration of an optimal range of
biodiversity and ecosystem services.
2. Hydrology and water regulation. Peatlands
are water catchments. They modify water
quality and quantity, act as sinks for some
substances, produce others, and influence
the temporal pattern of water supply to
rivers and lakes.
3. Climate and climate change processes.
Peatlands are dependent on climate,
especially rainfall and temperature. Under
certain conditions, peatlands may contribute
to climate change processes by the release
of CO2 or methane to the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gas exchange between the
atmosphere and peatlands exhibits much
spatial and temporal variation related
to differences in ecology, hydrology &
management.
4. Economic activities. Peatlands provide
income for local communities and are
an important source of food, timber and
domestic energy in some countries. Peat
is the main ingredient in growing media.
Intact peatlands provide economic benefits
through environmental services such as
carbon capture, water regulation and
biodiversity maintenance.
stakeholders in industry, government and
communities.
Re s e a rc h i s o n g o i n g . Wh i l e e a rly
investigations established the critical role
of peatlands in ecology, later research has
looked closely at undrained peatland functions
(biodiversity, hydrology, habitats) and drained
peatland economic values (agriculture,
forestry, culture, berry-picking, peat for energy,
horticulture and certain chemical processes).
Mining, recreation, reservoir construction,
mineral extraction, wind farms all are included
in planning perspectives.
If this sounds comprehensive and
extraordinarily complicated, it is; however, the
years of conventions, papers, academic study
and policy development have resulted in an acute
7. Engagement of local people. Rights, heritage
and traditions, as well as gender issues
are to be considered in decision-making
and implementation processes in peatland
management.
8. Good governance. Responsible management
of peatlands is conducted in a manner that
is open, transparent, accountable, equitable
and responsive to people’s needs. Regulations
need to be in place (certification, funds, and
payments for ecosystem services). Peatland
planning and management should be based
on sound scientific knowledge.
Continued on page 8
The Smartest Way to Process Mulch
Economic use of peatlands should:
• avoid damaging peatlands of high
conservation value and prioritize
peatlands that have been degraded by
human intervention
• prevent development of even parts of
pristine mires and intact peatlands
• promote, where possible, the use of peat
substitutes in growing media and for
other uses of peat
5. After-use, rehabilitation and restoration.
The wise use of peatland for economic
purposes requires planned after-use, such
as agriculture, forestry, recreation, wildlife
habitat and biodiversity activities and
measures. The exact use is to be determined
by the landowner in consultation with the
relevant planning authority and specified
in the planning consent and license to
operate.
The aim is to return peatlands to
conditions in which the ecosystem functions
are as close as possible to natural conditions.
Plans should assess the feasibility of,
and include options for, carbon emission
reduction and sequestration projects as part
of after-use plans.
6. Human and institutional capacity and
information dissemination. Continual effort
should be made to increase knowledge, as
well as public awareness of peatland issues
and function, based on continued research
and to disseminate the information to all
There are many ways to process wood for mulch.
CBI’s Magnum Force Grinders just happen to be the smartest! Engineered
and built for highest throughput, lowest operating cost, maximum durability,
and minimal downtime — CBI provides a better return on investment than
any competitive system in the global market today. Now that’s smart!
Features include:
• PT Tech hydraulic clutch
• CBI Intelligrind control system
• Flexxaire Auto-reversing Fan
• Portable, stationary, or track versions
• Heavy-duty rotors and screens
• Clamshell opening for access to hog box
• Full radio remote control
• Caterpillar diesel or electric motor
Learn more about CBI grinders, chippers, and shredders by calling 603-382-0556 or visit us online at: www.cbi-inc.com.
Continental Biomass Industries, Inc.
Newton, NH
USA
Info Request #170
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News
7
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Peatland Management
Continued from page 7
www.chachkagroup.com
[email protected]
awareness of the importance of a timely transition to a truly sustainable
industry.
“We have explicitly set out our commitments in the recently published
“Sustainability Canadian Horticultural Peat Industry Position Paper,” says
Short, who also serves on the Executive Board and Science Advisory Board
of the International Peat Society. “We will continue our support for science
based management of peatland and demonstrate social accountability to
employees and society.”
Globally, it is estimated that today, peatlands are accumulating on 55%
of the original global mire area; however, use in some countries has been
intensive enough to completely alter ecosystems of the mires and peatlands,
as well as impact the landscape. In Indonesia, 45% of peat swamp forests
have been drained and deforested since 1980. Findings show that the great
majority of Arctic and Sub-Arctic peatlands are still intact. In Europe,
peat has ceased to accumulate in over 50% of former mire area. Nearly
20% of what once was peatland no longer exists.
This final fact jolts environmentalists. CSPMA’s response to criticism is
fairly open minded. Says Short, “As an industry we encourage stakeholder
debate in order to improve not only our practices, but also the practices
and resource management of our competitors.”
Although the impacts are not fully understood, it has become clear
that in many parts of the world the degradation of peatlands is contributing
significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Approximately 80% of the original area of both tropical and nontropical mires is still in largely pristine condition, but due to natural
conditions and climate change, about 25% of the peat accumulation has
ceased. In Canada, the melting of perma frost, due to climate change
appears to be having the effect of increasing peatland productivity and
Continued on page 11
www.ptchronos.com
Info Request #119
8
Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
Introducing the 2012 McCloskey 621:
The world’s most productive trommel in its class
Ground Adjustable
Brushes
6’ x 21’ High Lift
Drum
McCloskey International Ltd.
1-888-693-6548
mccloskey@
[email protected]
mccloskeyinternational.com
www.mccloskeyinternational.com
TROMMELS
CRUSHERS
SCREENERS
STACKERS
Over 20 North American Distributors. Call for your closest.
Info Request #173
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News
9
Shed the water weight. Save $$$ on freight.
The Sahara® X Series: Less water. Faster drying. More mulch.
It takes water to make color enhanced mulch. But using too much weighs down your
bag — and your profits. The patented Sahara colorant and mixing process works
efficiently, consistently and fast. It uses less colorant and half the water — cutting
unwanted water weight and hefty freight costs. That means reduced wash-off, more
bags per pallet and increased profits.
The Complete Package — Colorbiotics is the mulch product development leader —
helping you grow your business, increase your profits, and enhance your yield with
unmatched customer support. Get The Complete Package with quality, innovation,
durability, performance, consistency and service.
888.663.6980 | www.colorbiotics.com
Colorbiotics.com
Colorbiotics and the Colorbiotics logo are trademarks of Becker Underwood in the U.S. and / or other countries.
© 2012 Colorbiotics. All Rights Reserved.
Info Request #116
10 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Peatland Management
Continued from page 8
increased the accumulation of carbon (Studies by Dr. Dale Vitt, Dr. Kal
Wieder, and Dr. Merrit Turetsky)
Ways of protecting the carbon store in peatlands through peatland
management and responsible harvesting are major areas of inquiry, as are
restoration methods using re-vegetation with sphagnum moss. Research
has led to the after-use methods of re-wetting and re-vegetating to decrease
greenhouse gas emissions and create conditions for carbon sequestration
and peat formation.
Management of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by individual
companies, as well as the early restoration of peatlands following
completion of harvest operations is being incorporated into operations as
sustainable best practices by the industry, according to CSPMA.
“We are committed to restoring peatlands biodiversity, carbon
hydrology functions,” Short emphasizes. “The practices in place have been
developed based on the science outcomes from 20 years of academic and
applied research. Recent outcomes from in-depth environmental Life Cycle
Analysis have helped to identify areas for improvement to achieve better
emissions management.”
“Stewardship is the right thing to do, as well as an accepted cost of
doing business,” Short continues. “Restoration costs average about $3500/
Canadian per hectare.
Using science-based data and a well-coordinated strategy, stakeholders
have been working diligently to ensure this precious resource is around for
generations to come. Only time (and continued research and monitoring)
will tell which decisions and investments made today are the right ones.
Having a committed industry that continues to learn and adjust is a positive
starting point.
For more information see Veriflora Certification sidebar and helpful
links on pages 12-13.
www.buffaloturbine.com
Info Request #175
www.ScreenMachine.com
[email protected]
Info Request #164
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News 11
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
fabric structures
Sustainable
Design-Build
Solutions
Compost
buildings
Compost covers
Waste storage
liners & covers
Non-woven
geo-textile
underliners
Call one of our ClearSpan specialists
at 1.866.643.1010 or visit us at
www.ClearSpan.com/ADSMPN.
Veriflora Certification Now Available
for Peatland Managers
S
cientific Certification Systems (SCS), the Emeryville,
California company that provides third-party,
neutral sustainability and environmental
certification, auditing, testing and standards for a
wide range of industries, is now offering peatland
certification under its Veriflora banner.
Certification was discussed originally by
industry groups in 2008, but was postponed until
a global strategy could be created several years later
with the adoption of the Strategy for Responsible
Peatland Management (SRPM).
To capture the essence of SRPM and relate to ISO
standards, SCS gathered input by contacting all peatland
stakeholders and holding public consultations. Next, the company
developed a comprehensive set of criteria, based in part on the ISO 9001 (Quality Management
Systems) and ISO 14001 standards (Environmental Management Systems), as well as address key
environmental protection, social responsibility, and product quality issues.
Veriflora is an eco-labeling program, originally developed for the certification of plants and cut
flowers. It applies to peatland management along similar lines, but with certain additional standards
that are applicable to peatland’s unique ecological functions and values. In order to attain Veriflora
certification, peat moss producers and handlers must show that they manage all of their operations in
an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner, filing the appropriate permits and reports
at the required intervals and engaging public input.
For peatland, certification criteria include ecosystem protection (land use permitting, harvest
and rehabilitation planning and monitoring); energy efficiency (use of new or emerging technologies
to improve operational performance to reduce environmental footprint); implemented waste
Continued on next page
Info Request #166
Buy w Sell w Consign
Used - Wood & Greenwaste
Recycling Equipment
(866) 227-2244
www.earthsaverequipment.com
Sales Office in Kalispell, MT—Machines Nationwide
2001 CBI 4000 Mag. Force, 900HP (1500R hr) .....$179,000
Tub Grinders
1999 Morbark 1300NCL, 800 HP (7800 hr).......$50,000
1997 Toro 5000, 650 HP (4000 hr) .....................$85,000
2003 Vermeer TG525L, 525 HP (4000 hr) .........$95,000
1998 Morbark 1300, 800 HP (1600R hr) ..........$123,000
HorizonTal Grinders
2004 Rotochopper MC266, 460 HP (3300 hr) .$169,900
2004 Bandit 3680, 645 HP (2650 hr) ................$170,000
2004 Peterson 4710, 630 HP (5100 hr).............$185,000
2007 Morbark 3800, 600 HP (1500 hr) ............$260,000
2004 Morbark 6600T, 1000 HP (4600 hr) ........$295,000
2008 Morbark 3800, 630 HP (920 hr) ..............$313,000
2005 Doppstadt DW3060K, 430 HP (1050 hr) $415,000
TroMMel sCreens
1998 Retech Eliminator III, 6’x27’ (2600 hr) ..$87,500
1994 Earthsaver 622ABH, 6’x22’ .....................$45,000
www.screenusa.net
Info Request #105
12 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
Call or visit us online for our complete listings of
Grinders, Wood/Soil Screening Machines,
Mulch Coloring Machines, Bark Blower Trucks,
Chippers, Compost Turners & More!
Info Request #163
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Continued from previous page
management (demonstrating continuous improvement in recycling efforts);
sustainable crop production (submitting plans and monitoring peatland
harvests); fair labor practices (establishing workplace safety committees,
policies and job procedures); community benefits (public notification of
work plans and issues of possible concern, annual fire and emergency
preparedness); product quality (product guarantee, material content,
packaging, labeling, blend ingredients); and product safety (procedures
for handling, packaging and transport.)
Veriflora certification typically takes three to six months to complete,
involving detailed on-site inspections, documentary audits, in-depth
interviews, and annual follow-up. Certificates are issued for a three-year
period. The process starts with a pre-audit questionnaire spreadsheet,
which normally takes a half to a full day to complete. This form serves as a
pre-assessment tool to help companies prepare for the on-site audit. From
the date of the on-site audit, it takes 30-45 days for grant of certification,
assuming any non-conformities found are corrected in a timely manner. The
cost varies widely, depending on the size of an operation and the number of
bog holdings. The audit fee structure is inclusive of all preparation, auditor
time and travel, the annual audit report, and certificate maintenance and
technical support related to certification throughout the year.
Thus far, more than half the North American peat operations have
become Veriflora certified, according to Chip Wood, SCS Marketing
Specialist. Among the first companies that have received certification are the
Quebec, Canada-based Fafard et Frères Litée., for responsible horticultural
peat moss production and peatlands management, and Premier Tech
Horticulture Ltd. and Berger Peat Moss Ltd./Les Tourbières Berger Litée.,
for their peat moss products.
Dr. Michael Keyes, who headed up the peat moss standard development
process for SCS, and Paul Short, President of the Canadian Sphagnum
Peat Moss Association, both are optimistic about the industry acceptance
and positive impacts.
Says Keyes, “Veriflora certification for responsible management of
peatlands will help ensure peat moss customers that this valuable resource
is being preserved for future generations.”
[email protected]
www.hogzilla.com
Helpful links:
Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association
See website for white papers and the Peatland Restoration Guide
www.peatmoss.com
Peatland Ecology Research Group
Universite´ Laval
See website for latest news and white papers
http://www.gret-perg.ulaval.ca/
Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota
Peat Resources & Applied Wetland Rehabilitation Research Group
http://www.nrri.umn.edu/cartd/peat/default.htm
University of East London
Peat Research Group
http://www.uel.ac.uk/erg/pru.htm
U.S. Wetlands and Peatlands Technical Working Groups
http://www.v-c-s.org/node/287
International Peat Society
http://www.peatsociety.org
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)
Veriflora Certification
http://www.veriflora.com/
[email protected]
www.armorhog.com
Info Request #119
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News 13
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Recycling Firm Fined for Deaths of Two Workers
S
acramento, CA—Community Recycling & Resource Recovery, based in the San Fernando
Valley, has been fined more than $166,000 by California workplace safety regulators for the
deaths of two brothers, Armando Ramirez, a 16-year-old employee, and Eladio Ramirez, a
22-year-old contractor, who died from exposure to hydrogen sulfide.
“These young workers’ deaths were completely preventable,” said Ellen Widess, chief of the
state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, who added that the company did not provide
workers with proper training, did not test for dangerous levels of gas, and did not have effective
rescue procedures. She also said the brothers were not given adequate protection during the cleaning
of the underground storm drain system at the company’s Kern County facility.
Community Recycling officials said they could not comment on the citations because they had not
yet seen them, but said the deaths were the first in 17 years of operation. They added that the firm had
investigated the accidents and reviewed its safety and training program to prevent recurrence.
The Amadas
Soils & Bark Bagger...
...when you’re serious
about bagging!!
Soil Products • Bark Mulch • Wood Chips • Compost
The Amadas Soils & Bark Bagger is the
bagger of choice for serious bark, soil and
compost bagging operations.
Amadas Industries established
the standard in the bark and soils
industry and now with over
30 years and millions of bags
of experience, we are setting
a new benchmark with
innovative, modern design
technology coupled with
improved reliability and
increased production
capacity.
Call Today...
757-539-0231
So, whether you’re just
starting out and want a
bagging system to
establish the foundation
of your growing business,
or if you already operate a
number of high production
plants and are thinking of
upgrading or automating
with Form Fill and Seal
equipment, let us put
our experience to work
for you!
Greenco Withdraws
Plans for Georgia
Composting Plant
L
ithonia, GA—Greenco Environmental
informed DeKalb County officials of its
decision to withdraw its application to
build a plant to turn organic food waste into
compost on 22 acres at the LaFarge Quarry in
Lithonia. The action occurred after the DeKalb
County Planning Commission had deferred the
project, citing controversy caused by its close
proximity to a residential area. It would be about
a mile from an area with housing, and hundreds
of residents had spoken out, opposing the plant
because they felt it would be too close to their
homes.
Greenco Environmental was asked to leave
a Barnesville location in Lamar County after
numerous complaints about odors coming
from the site. Lithonia was felt to be better site
because it is 1,000-feet away from homes, while
the Barnesville site is only 500 feet away from
homes.
Another group circulated a petition saying
that its wanted the commercial food waste
composting operation to move to DeKalb
County as it would use 22 acres, divert waste/
yard trimmings from Seminole Landfill to be
converted into organic compost, support job
creation of green jobs, and welcoming green
companies to the community.
By voluntarily removing its permit
application, Greenco positions itself to resubmit
the proposal later, said associate planning
director Andrew Baker.
compost turner
- for windrow -
Pull-Type, PTO Driven, Heavy Duty
Manufactured and sold by
Dos Palos, CA 93620 • 209-392-6103
www.hclmachineworks.com
email: [email protected]
Info Request #106
Amadas Industries
1100 Holland Rd.
Suffolk, VA 23434
http://www.amadas.com
Info Request #142
14 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
[email protected]
www. Hy-TechMushroomCompost.com
Shred.
Shred It.
Shred.
It.
n It.
Screen It.
Shred
It.It.
Grind
Screen.
ShredIt.It.
Grind
Screen It.
Screen It.
Shred
It.It.
Grind
Screen.
Screen It.
Grind It.
ShredIt.It.
Grind
Screen It.
Grind.
Screen.
Slow speed for low wear and low fuel
consumption increases your profit per yard.
ShredIt.It.
Grind
Screen It.
Screen It.
Grind It.
Grind.
Unparalleled separation performance
packed into a small footprint.
Grind It.
Grind
SOrT.
SOrT.
Upswing hammermill effectively grinds even
the wettest material with less horsepower.
Compost and Mulch Conquered.
www.DoppstadtMulch.com
440-937-3225
Info Request #129
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News 15
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Colorado Opens $1.2 Million Compost Facility
D
enver, CO—Alpine Waste & Recycling is opening a new $1.2 million compost facility on six
acres east of Denver near Bennett that will eventually produce 250 tons of material monthly,
with the compost sold to landscapers, farmers and municipalities. Alpine has two compost
route trucks to collect food and yard waste, wood chips, feedstocks and green woody material and
take it to the East Regional Landfill for processing.
The facility has just begun operation in February, and its first harvest of fresh compost will
be ready for testing and analysis near the end of April. Alpine is said to be the biggest commercial
hauler of compost material in the area and has just expanded its compost hauling operations by
buying routes from Waste Farmers in order to service the new facility. The company says that its
activities will save the amount of material that goes into a landfill.
attention: readers!
Would you like more information about products and equipment advertised
in this issue? If so, please complete the Equipment Locator Service form
located between pages 12 & 13 and fax to 440-257-6459.
Global Power
Around the world, contractors choose our large pneumatic blowers to swiftly
spread large quantities of soil mixes, composts, mulches, and aggregates for green
roofs, erosion control, landscapes, and Terraseeding.™
Purchase only the most reliable, versatile, and powerful blower equipment.
Call us today.
Washington State Study
Sees Future for Biomass
from Dry Wood Slash
O
lympia, WA—A Washington state
Department of Natural Resources
study, the 183-page Washington Forest
Biomass Supply Assessment, has determined
that three million tons of dry wood slash and
other wood waste, double the current amount
taken, can be removed from state forests to
produce biomass fuel without harming the
forest environment. The study was prepared by
the University of Washington, College of the
Environment, School of Environmental and
Forest Sciences and TSS Consultants of Rancho
Cordova, CA, with the financial backing of
the U.S. Forest Service. The report lets DNR
pursue more aggressive harvesting of slash for
use as biomass and develop long-term contracts
to remove it.
Biomass project opponents felt the study did
not address how much must be left to maintain
a healthy forest, and a DNR working group is
examining forest practices rules that will explore
how much wood waste needs to stay in a forest
and make suggestions by the end of summer that
could be adopted by the state Forest Practices
Board. See more on the study at http://tinyurl.
com/pdnbiomass.
FINN Corporation
Hires VP of Operations
F
INN Corporation, a manufacturer of
landscape and erosion control equipment
and products, recently hired Matt Day as
Vice President of Operations. Day leads the Finn
engineering, production, purchasing, and service
departments and is responsible for their everyday
operations. His hiring is effective immediately.
Day has held both technical and managerial
positions at Delta Airlines, Honeywell, and
United Technologies.
Sell Your Used Equipment
with a Classified Ad in
Soil & Mulch Producer News.
For More Information,
Call 440-257-6453.
800–285–7227
www.expressblower.com
expressblower.com
Express Blower™ is a trademark, and the Express Blower design logo is a registered trademark of Express Blower, Inc.
Info Request #113
16 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Composting Council Research
& Education Foundation Hires
Development Officer
T
he Composting Council Research and Education Foundation
(CCREF) is happy to announce the hiring of Leanne Spaulding,
who will serve as its first Development Officer. Ms. Spaulding’s hiring
is part of the CCREF’s commitment to reinvigorating the Foundation in
2012, establishing it as an important source for composting research and
education. The CCREF is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated
to responding to critical issues in the compost manufacturing industry and
developing the tools necessary to assist the development of the country’s
composting infrastructure.
High priority and time sensitive research and education projects that
are national in scope will be given preference for funding by the CCREF. Projects under consideration for 2012 and 2013 include a national compost
promotion and communications campaign, conducting a compost industry
economic study, revising the testing methods for evaluating compost, and
research on critical issues such as stormwater and air emissions associated
with compost manufacturing.
Spaulding, cofounder of the Western Queens Compost Initiative,
will play a key role in helping to raise the funds that the Foundation will
distribute for projects focusing on raising the profile of the industry. Her
recent professional accomplishments include raising over $200,000 in the
past year to support grassroots composting efforts in New York City and
serving as a Community-Based Organizational Development Volunteer
with the Peace Corps in Thailand. As a volunteer in Thailand, Leanne
worked with a compost business start-up group and supported several
organic agriculture development projects
www.ironmart.com
Subscribe to Soil & Mulch Producer News Today! Call 440-257-6453.
Info Request #174
Screen/Mix
Soils & Compost
World’s Largest
Windrow Turner
.neett
u.n
w..aallllu
w
w
w
w
scan for video
ALLU Composting Tools
Windrow Turners & Screener Crushers
• Track driven straddle type
windrow turner
• Create 10’x26’ windrows with
no flails or paddles
• 6000 cu. yards/hour turning
capacity
• Available to fit EVERY machine
• High production even with wet
muddy materials
• 5/8” & 1” Screening size with
replaceable hammers
ALLU Group, Inc. | Info Call: 1-800-939-2558 | Email: [email protected]
Info Request #128
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News 17
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Drug-Resistant Microbes are Found
in Soils Due to Use of Antibiotics in
Animal Care
W
arsaw, Poland—According to a study by researchers at the University
of Warsaw, antibiotics used in animals are being seen as the culprit
in the rising incidence of drug-resistant bacterial diseases among
humans, as these antibiotic-proof pathogens are found in the soils of the natural
environment. The researchers tested soil samples from farms, gardens, composted
soil and forest soil and found that the biggest diversity of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria was found in vegetable garden and fruit orchard soils which had been
treated with manure from antibiotic-fed animals. The soils not treated with
manure, such as forest soil and plant compost, carried the lowest levels of drugresistant microbes, and bacteria resistant to multiple drugs was found only in
the vegetable garden soil. Although antibiotic residues are created naturally in
soils, the rate of resistance to human drugs was higher in the soil treated with
manure than the rate that occurred naturally in soils. Of the bacterial cultures
examined in the study, 43% were resistant to streptomycin, 35% to erythromycin
and 10% to tetracycline. Domestically, some 80% of all antibiotics are used for food animals. First author Magdelena Popowska said that the findings “should assist in the
development of regulations regarding the use of antibiotics in the broader
environment e.g. in plant protection products, fish farming and industry,”
and that the use of antibiotics “should be restricted to dangerous bacterial
infections, and to strict medical supervision. This cannot be emphasized strongly
enough.”
The FDA recommends that drugs important to human medicine not be used
for animal growth promotion and be supervised by a veterinarian when used to
prevent or treat animal disease, but these guidelines have not been finalized. The
FDA withdrew its plan to ban tetracycline from use in animal feed last year.
New Study Estimates Costs of
Invasive Insects to U.S. Economy
S
anta Barbara, CA—A team of biologists and economists from
U.S. and Canadian universities and the U.S. Forest Service
have reported in the journal PLoS ONE that invasive woodboring insects that ride in on packing materials, plants, and other
imported goods cost citizens around $1.7 billion in local government
expenditures and homeowners an estimated $830 million in lost
residential property values each year. But wood-boring insects such
as the emerald ash borer are not the only problem, as foliage and
sap feeders create about $410 million and $260 million, respectively,
in residential property damage annually.
“Once they become established, invasive species are very difficult
to eradicate, and they result in billions of dollars in damages each
year,” said Juliann E. Aukema, first author and a scientist with at
UC Santa Barbara’s National Center for Ecological Analysis and
Synthesism. The problem is not unique to the United States, however.
The study also predicts the amount of future costs, estimating a 32%
risk that a new and more dangerous borer would invade in the next
10 years.
The study estimated economic damages for five categories:
federal governmental expenditures, local governmental expenditures,
household expenditures, residential property value losses, and timber
value losses to forest landowners, using assessments of the emerald
ash borer, gypsy moth, and hemlock woolly adelgid. The authors also
created a tool that that will allow any country where data are available
to estimate costs in other natural resource sectors at several scales.
The journal article was supported by the Nature Conservancy. For
more, go to www.ia.ucsb.edu/pa/display.aspx?pkey=2556.
www.mulchcolorjet.com
For more info, go to the WHEN Advertisers' Directory at www.wastehandling.com
Info Request #150
18 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
www.rotochopper.com
Info Request #170
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News 19
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Michigan Law to Let Yard Waste be Used at
Landfills Could Also Include Incineration
G
rand Rapids, MI—The Michigan House of Representatives has passed two bills that
would lift a 1995 ban on sending grass clippings to landfills in order to allow clippings
to be used by facilities that capture methane gas to generate renewable energy. Reversing
the ban would be economically advantageous to landfill operators. But allowing yard clippings
to be sent to landfills is worrisome because of the impact it might have on the state’s growing
composting industry. The state estimates that about 1.4 million cubic yards of yard clippings
were composted last year at registered composting facilities in Michigan. Another worry is
concern about filling up existing landfills.
The bill is now in the Michigan Senate’s energy and technology committee, with both
economic and environmental arguments being considered. The review could take until the fall
leaf disposal season. Rep. Roy Schmidt of Grand Rapids favored the bill when he learned the
Senate version of the bill would allow the use of waste-to-energy incinerators, specifically for
Grand Rapids and Detroit.
The Kent County, MI, public works director hopes the bill includes a provision that would
allow yard clippings to be taken to Michigan waste incinerators as well. Douglas Wood opposes
the bill but believes that if passed it should include the use of waste-to-energy incinerators. The
county also operates a landfill where methane is turned into electricity. He says that if yard waste
is combined with solid waste, but his incinerator can’t take yard waste, it would pose a problem.
The board is against the idea of yard waste solely for methane production for landfills, but if
the bill does pass, it hopes to also be able to use yard waste at the waste-to-energy facility.
Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell says the city, which is working to reduce solid
waste, opposes the state’s measure because it sends material to landfills that could be more
productively used. He notes that his city collects and uses contractors to compost yard waste
less expensively than it costs for disposal at Kent County’s Waste-to-Energy incinerator.
The West Michigan Environmental Action Council has commented that burning yard waste
to create energy is at the bottom of the hierarchy of ways to deal with it. Instead, it says, yard
waste should be composted to be used to make more nutrient-rich soil. WMEAC touts the
advantages of composting facilities as small job creators. Using a waste-to-fuel energy plant,
it says, “would certainly be a regression.”
www.westsalem.com
[email protected]
Info Request #151
20 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
Russian Scientists
Come Up With New
Construction Material
Out of Industrial Waste
I
rkutsk, Russia—A new ecologically advantageous
material, vinizol, is being developed by Professor
Elena Zelinskaya and her colleagues from the
Irkutsk Technical University. It uses the waste from
industrial enterprises to create a new building material
using a combination of polymers and minerals. The
ITU team collaborated with structural scientists who
have created some samples of a product that could
one day replace wood and plastic in the construction
industry.
It has qualities similar to those of wood, but
outperforms wood in fire, cold and heat resistance. It
is also more durable and about half the price of wood.
The Technopark at ITU will manufacture up to 55
thousand square meters annually, and it is expected
to become profitable in about one and a half years.
Vinizol could replace traditional materials such as
wood and polymer, and it could also be a good use
for the large amount of high quality raw waste produced by the industrial process, as well as leading to
the saving of natural resources. If vinizol is a success,
it could lead to the production of ecologically clean
and safe materials at lower costs. It is already drawing
interest from both domestic and foreign suppliers to
the construction business.
Soil
Ohio University
Expands In-Vessel
Composting System
A
thens, OH—The State of Ohio has
approved $181,082 in grants to fund
the Ohio University Energy Efficiency
Project, including the over-$120,000 expansion
of the university’s composting system, the largest
in-vessel composting system of any college or
university in the country, and the installation of
a rainwater collection system at the composting
facility.
The rest of the funds are being used to
install a 61.1KW photovoltaic array on the roof
of OU’s coal storage facility, for the purpose of
offsetting the power used in the facility during
peak hours and store energy at times of low
usage. The facilities will also be updated, as waste
oil collected at the university’s garage can be used
to fire heaters for both buildings.
“This funding will contribute to OU’s green
goals and will continue the university’s tradition
of state-of-the-art pioneering in innovative
energy efficiency solutions,” said Rep. Debbie
Phillips, D-Albany, “The compost facility at
Ohio University is currently primarily processing
food waste from the dining halls. They are
diverting waste from the landfills so it’s exciting
to see it expand.”
OU’s composting facility also provides
valuable resources for the community, as
compost is shredded and made available to the
local community.
Waste Management
Teams with Garick in
Arizona on Biofuels
for Frito Lay
M
aricopa, AZ—Waste Management
of Arizona is opening an organicrecycling facility, the Maricopa
Organics Recycling Facility, in a partnership
with Garick, LLC, a manufacturer of biomass
fuel supply, in a deal to process the wood fuel.
It will collect green waste to make into biomass
fuel and sell it to the nearby Frito-Lay factory
in Casa Grande, as well as selling compost and
mulch commercially in the region.
John Gundlach, senior vice president of
Garick’s environmental and energy group, said
that Garick is happy to “recycle material that
would otherwise be disposed in a landfill” and
looks forward to “building and growing our
business in Maricopa.”
Waste Management of Arizona has more
than 1,000 employees statewide who provide
waste and recycling services to approximately a
half a million customers throughout the state.
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Bio Jet Fuels Can be Derived From Pine Tree Wood
M
adison, WI—Virent, of Madison, WI, and Virdia, based in California, Virginia and Israel,
are partnering to combine the benefits of Virdia’s CASE process, which stands for cold acid
solvent extraction and which turns pine tree wood chips into sugars, with those of Virent’s
BioForming process, which turns those sugars into jet fuel. The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
praised the biofuel, but it is said that commercial use of the biofuel could take years. Virent and
Virdia are just beginning tests on the jet fuel and plan to keep working together.
Virent has been working on fuels and chemicals for use in plastics that are derived from plants
rather than of petroleum.
“This fuel passed the most stringent specification tests we could throw at it,” said Tim Edwards
of the USAF laboratory’s fuels branch. “This fuel is definitely worth further evaluation.” The project
was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructure and the
BIRD Foundation, an Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development organization.
The American Society for Testing of Materials last year approved rules that allow for a 50/50
mix of biofuel and kerosene in jet fuel. The aviation industry is aware of the technology but believes
that commercial use will lag military use after it establishes a safety record. The fuel can easily be
integrated into current jet fuel equipment.
we:flourish
Co-locating Events:
www.wastetraininginstitute.com
wastetraininginstitute.com
You’ve worked hard to grow your business and improve your
services. Now learn how to take them to the next level at
WasteExpo 2012.
Whether you are a county manager or an owner of a private refuse firm, you
understand how difficult it is to maintain your service mix and business —especially
in this economy. It’s why we’ve assembled an impressive roster of thought leaders
who are experts in teaching new technologies and best practices.
You’ll also benefit from networking opportunities with over 11,000 public- and
private-sector waste professionals who are all looking to expand their capabilities,
grow market share and reinforce relationships.
www.healthcarewasteconf.com
healthcarewasteconf.com
In Association with:
September 30 – October 3, 2012
Arizona Grand Resort • Phoenix, AZ
www.wastesymposium.com
wastesymposium.com
At WasteExpo 2012, we’ve created an environment where you’ll not only grow
professionally, but flourish. For more information about WasteExpo please
visit us at www.wasteexpo.com
wasteexpo.com andwww.waste360.com
waste360.com
Sponsors:
Free Exhibit Hall!
Use code VP34
when registering online.
Conference: April 30 – May 2, 2012 Exhibits: May 1- 3, 2012
Las Vegas Convention Center • Las Vegas, NV
www.wasteexpo.com
wasteexpo.com • www.waste360.com
waste360.com
Produced by:
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News 21
Soil
&
Mulch Producer NEWS
Study Shows Best Ways to Improve
Biochar Production
Controlling Big Muddy with
Flooding Can Harm Farmland Soil
H
U
ouston, TX—A new study by Rice University scientists, published in
the Journal of Biomass and Bioenergy, suggests that biochar should
be heated to at least 450 degrees Celsius, or 842 degrees Fahrenheit, to
make it more effective. Biochar, which removes carbon from the atmosphere
and locks it into the soil, has been added to topsoil to boost crop yields for
centuries. Soils of the Amazon rainforest had charcoal added to make a
fertile soil called “terra preta,” which contains as much as 35% of its organic
carbon as charcoal.
Today, industrial biochar production is on the rise, due to the interest in
reducing free carbon in the atmosphere that contributes to global warming,
so science is looking at how improve methods for making the best biochar,
which can help clay soils drain better and sandy soils hold water better.
Rice biogeochemist Caroline Masiello, the lead researcher in the study,
found that some forms of biochar work better than others, and that charcoal
produced at temperatures of 450 Celsius or higher was optimal for improving
soil drainage and storing carbon, while charcoal produced at lower temperatures can even repel water.
The study, the first extensive look at the hydrologic aspects of biochar,
looked at three kinds of feedstock, tree leaves, corn stalks and wood chips,
heated in an oxygen-starved environment. It found biochar produced at temperatures lower than 450 degrees Celsius retained some organic compounds
that can repel water rather than attract it and offer a less stable storage environment for the carbon.
“We plan to study ways to optimize other beneficial properties of biochar,
including its ability to remove heavy metals and other pollutants from soil,”
Masiello said. “Ultimately, we’d like to publish a how-to guide that would
show exactly what conditions are needed to produce the optimal biochar for
a given situation.”
rbana-Champaign, IL—University of Illinois researchers have
found that deliberate flooding in the Mississippi River basin to
relieve pressure from high river levels can create long-lasting
damage to agricultural land. Floodwater makes gullies, deposits sand
and creates new crater lakes, as well as damaging irrigation equipment,
farms, and buildings. Although the damage from the levee breaches can
be repaired, it is hard to accomplish, often including filling in gullies up
to five miles from the breaches, and the soil from the reclaimed lands
often has lower productivity.
“The resulting land surface will have less soil aggregation, less
organic carbon, and be more sloping, making it difficult to farm the
land,” said researcher Kenneth Olson. “Some of this lost cropland could
be restored as wetlands and wildlife habitat adjacent to the patched
levees.”
Olson has also written about the large amount of ponding and
soil erosion after the heavy spring rains of 2008. He points out that
many soil and water conservation practices and structures are no longer
used, and that many waterways were eroded by fast-moving water or
had large deposits of sediment. Fewer soil conservation structures and
retention ponds are being built and maintained than in the past, Olson
said, suggesting that potential solutions would be to create temporary
water storage structures, change crop rotation to include more forages
rather than row crops, converting more agricultural land to timber- or
grassland to encourage water storage, and build better levees farther
from riverbanks.
See the July-August 2011 issue of the Journal of Soil and Water
Conservation for more on this. For more, go to http://www.sciencedaily.
com­/releases/2012/01/120119133924.htm.
Product/Equipment Profiles
Waste Management with ClearSpan™
Fabric Structures
C
l e a r S p a n Fa b r i c
Structures provides
energy- efficient,
economical structures ideal
for composting facilities,
recycling centers and more.
State-of-the-art, USA-made
ClearSpan Hercules Truss
Arch Buildings feature
abundant natural light
and provide the perfect controlled environment for composting
processes. The exceptional height and wide open space of Hercules
Truss Arch Buildings allow easy access for equipment such as skid
steers, conveyors, turning machines and pay loaders. Their USA-made,
triple-galvanized steel frames are extremely durable, and hold up
well in corrosive environments, while their all-weather fabric covers
protect compost from the rain, reducing run-off.
Every Hercules Truss Arch Building is custom engineered to fit the
requirements of the specific location, such as snow load or foundation
type. With minimal foundation requirements, the structures can be
permanent or temporary, and are easy to relocate.
For more information, visit www.ClearSpan.com/ADRR or call
866-643-1010 to speak with a ClearSpan specialist.
22 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2012
Premier Tech PTS-1300 Series
Open-Mouth Bagger
T
he PTS-1300 Series OpenMouth Bagging Machine
from Premier Tech Chronos
is designed for bagging freeflowing materials such as soils into
polyethylene ready-made bags. This
bagging machine can handle bags
with special features and options
such as reclosable/zipper features,
pillow-type or side-gusseted bags
of various sizes (bag width between
10 and 20 inches and bag length
between 19 ¾ and 40 inches) at
speeds up to 22 BPM. The compact
design of the PTS-1300 bagger allows for an easy fit in tight spaces,
and facilitates, among others, maintenance operations and bag
reloading. The bag size changeover is fast and simple (5 minutes).
Bag top is controlled at all times. The PTS-1300 bagging machine is
equipped with an integrated closing system. There is no need for bag
kicker or in-line turning, the bag exits bottom first. The bags are then
ready to be palletized right after the bagger.
For more information, contact Premier Tech Chronos
at www.ptchronos.com, [email protected]
or 418-868-8324
WE’RE WILDLY CONSISTENT.
Wildcat trommel screens and compost turners can help you
produce a consistent end product.
For nearly 40 years, Wildcat Manufacturing has been helping operators exceed their wildest expectations.
Our products are powerful, productive, and backed by an industry-leading dealer network committed to
your satisfaction.
From trommel screens to compost turners, we design and build equipment you can count on day after day.
It’s easy to operate, easy to service, and the easy choice when you need high performance and consistent
end product.
Call your nearest dealer or visit www.vermeer.com today!
The WILDCAT LOGO is a trademark of Wildcat Mfg. Co, Inc. VERMEER is a trademark of Vermeer Manufacturing Company
in the United States and/or other countries.
© 2012 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Info Request #141
March /April 2012 Soil & Mulch Producer News 23
6075 Hopkins Road • Mentor, OH 44060
Ph: 440-257-6453 • Fax: 440-257-6459
Email: [email protected]
VOL. VI NO. 2
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Mentor, OH
Permit No. 2
MAR / APR 2012
Inside This Issue
Peatland Management: Sustainability Strategies
for Brown Gold in a Green World
PAGE 1
Growers Face Challenges in Being
Certified Organic
PAGE 4
Recycling Firm Fined for Deaths of Two Workers
PAGE 14
Colorado Opens $1.2 Million Compost Facility
PAGE 16
New Study Estimates Costs of Invasive Insects
to U.S. Economy
PAGE 18
Michigan Law to Let Yard Waste be Used
at Landfills Could Also Include Incineration
PAGE 20
Now available
Contact the REMU
Screening specialist
with all questions!
Evolution Pro
Screening Buckets
• bolt on mounting
for all machines
• effective construction
with cleaning scrapers
• higher capacity
with moist material
REMU USA Inc.
Toll-free 1-888-600-0018
Info Request #130
[email protected]
www.remu.fi