|
Compostable Product Advisory Committee
ESHB 1033, which establishes an advisory committee to evaluate the use of compostable food service products in Washington, was signed into law by Governor Inslee on May 5, 2023. With increased organics diversion expected with passage of the organics diversion bill in 2022, the legislature acknowledged the urgent need to ensure that compost streams contain only compostable materials and are not contaminated by non-compostable items.
The advisory committee is tasked with evaluating the use and acceptance of compostable products in the state, as well as the examination of causes of contamination, surveying existing laws, and identifying alternatives to single-use products. The Department of Ecology will select members for the advisory committee within parameters specified in the bill. The committee will convene no later than September 15, 2023, and submit a report and recommendations to the legislature by September 15, 2024.
WORC members actively supported the bill and anticipate that some of our members will participate in the advisory committee.
|
|
|
Organics Management – HB 1799 – Part 2
Passage of the 2022 Organics Management Law, ESSHB1799 created a flurry of activity throughout the state to align all parties with the ambitious organics diversion goals of this law. Swift passage of the law and lessons learned since its passage have prompted continuing efforts to refine and harmonize parts of the bill that remain challenging.
Zero Waste Washington, which convened a stakeholder group in preparation for introduction of HB 1799, will again convene stakeholders in preparation for further legislative efforts related to organics diversion. The stakeholder group will begin meeting in July 2023.
WORC members are encouraged to have a voice on the next session’s organics management bills. Members are welcome to participate in the Zero Waste WA stakeholder meetings. If you are interested in joining, please email Heather Trim at heather@zerowastewashington.org.
|
|
|
Organics Management – HB 1799 – Resource Sharing
Call to Action! 2022 Organics Management Law
Share compost information resources
As Washington begins to roll out implementation of the 2022 Organics Management Law (HB 1799), the WORC Legislative and Website Committees are putting out a call-to-action. Section 701, added to chapter 43.19A.150 RCW, requires that each city or county that adopts a compost procurement ordinance must develop strategies to inform residents about:
- The value of compost; and
- How the jurisdiction uses compost in its operations in the jurisdiction’s comprehensive solid waste management plan pursuant to RCW 70A.205.045.
We are asking for jurisdictions and other partners to help WORC compile resources that can be shared, or inform new materials, to meet the above requirements of cities and counties. Please submit materials, resources, and links that can be added to the WORC resource library by clicking the link below. All resources will be available to the public.
|
|
|
EPA Anaerobic Digestion Survey
A fifth round of surveys for the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Anaerobic Digestion Data Collection Project is now available. Reports from the prior surveys and additional information about the project can be found on the EPA Anaerobic Digestion Data Collection Project webpage.
Survey participant responses help policymakers, investors and other stakeholders understand key aspects of AD, such as:
- How much food waste is digested.
- Existence of available capacity.
- Feedstock types and sources.
- Volume of produced biogas, and
- Revenue considerations.
All facility types (stand-alone, farms, and water resource recovery facilities) use the same survey link. Questions will apply to data from 2020 and 2021, as well as current operating conditions.
Individual facility survey responses are protected from disclosure in accordance with Freedom of Information Act confidential business exemptions and the Privacy Act of 1974. No individual facility information will be released in the resulting reports.
|
|
|
Microplastics – Resources to Understand the Problem and the Solutions
Microplastics are everywhere. We hear the term frequently, but what are we really talking about and what can we do about it? The resources below provide an excellent starting place to begin to understand the breadth of the issue, the concerns, and efforts we can all make to mitigate the impact of microplastics in compost.
.
The Washington Department of Ecology’s May blog, Keep Plastics Out of Compost, explains the measures that compost manufacturers must take to remove plastic contamination and provides suggestions for what we can each do to help minimize the problem.
|
|
|
FTC Green Guide’s Update
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) publishes “Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims”, more commonly referred to as the “Green Guides”, to help marketers avoid making environmental claims that mislead consumers. The Green Guides are not regulations or statutes, they are simply guidelines. However, actions that do not follow the guidelines may prompt the FTC to investigate trade practices that may be considered unfair or deceptive under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45. Many states also incorporate the Green Guides by reference and use the Guides as an indicator of trade practices that violate state consumer protection laws.
The Green Guides are reviewed and updated every 10 years. Earlier this year, the FTC opened public comment on the Guides through April 24, 2023.
Many consumer groups, government agencies, corporations and individuals provided comments. One such comment came in the form of a 45-page letter from the Attorneys General of 16 states, (the “States”).[1] The States provided comment on the General Principals, Carbon Offsets, § 260.5, Other Climate Change-Related Claims, § 260.5, Compostable Claims, § 260.7, Recyclable Claims, § 260.12, and Renewable Energy Claims, § 260.15.
Comments related to compostable claims acknowledge the significant change in the composting landscape since 2012 and the gap between ASTM standards and current composting operation process times. The States also expressed concern about consumer perception of compostable products, providing some environmental benefit even when these products are not composted. Considering these factors, the states made several recommendations, including:
- A full revision of § 260.7.
- A study of consumer perceptions of the environmental benefits of compostable products
- Addition of definitions of “composting”, “finished compost”, “industrial composting facility”, and “home composting”.
- Addition of a requirement that the product breaks down into compost within the industrial composting facility timeframes where the product is marketed or sold.
- Specific exclusion of human or pet waste bags as compostable.
The States make additional recommendations on the General Principals, Carbon Offsets, § 260.5, Other Climate Change-Related Claims, § 260.5, Recyclable Claims, § 260.12, and Renewable Energy Claims, § 260.15. You can view the complete letter here.
[1] California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin; Commonwealths of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania; and District of Columbia
|
|
Gavin Schmidt, Dirt Hugger:
Gavin has spent 8 years in the composting industry, learning and growing with the team at Dirt Hugger in Dallesport, Washington. Gavin started with Dirt Hugger, helping to remove contamination from feedstocks while completing an internship for a Horticulture degree with Oregon State University. The opportunity to complete his degree path at a composting facility felt very serendipitous, as soil health and the power of compost to improve all aspects of horticultural crop production were a frequent topic of discussion throughout his time in the horticulture program at OSU. The words of his most beloved professor echo clearly today in his efforts at home gardening, and as motivation for his work producing quality compost at Dirt Hugger - “Just add organic matter! Everything else will follow.”
Dirt Hugger sits on a 19-acre parcel in Dallesport where they have been producing compost from yard debris and various local feedstocks like fruit and beer waste since 2015. Before moving to Dallesport, the site was in The Dalles, Oregon, where Dirt Hugger has since opened a separate retail yard that opened in 2022. Dirt Hugger was started in 2010 by two locals who saw the need for composting in the area and made it happen through incremental progress, community support and the knowledge shared by the industry and organizations like WORC. During his time at Dirt Hugger, Gavin was able to work his way through the company, gaining experience in all aspects of compost production, site building and maintenance, and equipment operation.
In the past year, Dirt Hugger was acquired by Generate Upcycle in the pursuit of helping continue to grow the site in Washington, as well taking the lessons learned through 13 years of compost production to assist larger scale, high-quality compost production for more communities around the world. While a step forward for Dirt Hugger, this transition was also a huge opportunity for Gavin, as he was able to take his knowledge gained from growing Dirt Hugger to help manage operations at the production yard. This move has allowed Gavin to continue his focus on producing a high-quality end-product that he would be happy to take home and use himself, while also focusing on safe and efficient day-to-day operations for the crew at Dirt Hugger.
Gavin lives in Mosier, Oregon where he and his partner, Gia, like to spend their free time tending to their garden and enjoying their large flock of ducks, chickens, and quail. When not trying to keep up with the hobby-farm, you can find them taking their two dogs on hikes throughout the PNW.
|
|
|
WORC has a diverse line-up of webinars for 2023. Mark your schedule to join us! |
|
|
July 12 | 12:00PM
EPR in Washington and Oregon - Summaries of the WRAP Act and the Recycling Modernization Act
McKenna Morrigan, Seattle Public Utilities
Justin Gast, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
About this Webinar:
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), also known as Product Stewardship, is a strategy to place a shared responsibility for end-of-life product management on producers, and other entities involved in the product chain, instead of the general public; while encouraging product design changes that minimize negative impacts on human health and the environment at every stage of the product’s lifecycle. McKenna Morrigan will summarize the 2023 Washington Recycling and Packaging (WRAP) Act which was proposed to establish a producer responsibility program that required consumer product producers to fund statewide residential recycling services for packaging and paper products. Justin Gast will discuss progress in implementing Oregon’s 2021 Recycling Modernization Act which authorized an EPR system to update recycling in Oregon; funded by producers and manufacturers of packaged items, paper products, and food service ware.
August 23 | 12:00PM
Implementation of HB 1799/Washington's Organic Management Law
Washington Department of Ecology
September 13 | 12:00PM
Lifecycle Implications of the Food System and Food Waste Management
Peter Canepa, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
|
|
|
Individual Webinars:
- $20 WORC Members
- $35 Non-Members
Bundle of Webinars: (Includes all webinars and registration for up to 3 members of a single organization)
- $60 WORC Members
- $160 Non-Members
Support WORC’s Educational Mission Through Sponsorship.
Help keep these webinars going by helping to sponsor this series, there are several options available, all of which include registration access to the webinar series. Please visit www.compostwashington.org/2023-webinars for additional information.
|
|
|
CFOT: Compost Facility Operator Training, October 16 – 20, 2023
We are taking applications for CFOT scholarships through June 30, 2023. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please email us at worc@aminc.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
