Increasing Compost Use by Caltrans Project

California Integrated Waste Management Board

Increasing Compost Use by Caltrans Project

Board MeetingAugust 15, 2006

Agenda Item 15

2


WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?Organic Materials in the Waste Stream

Other

Lumber

Paper

Plastic

Food

Leaves/Grass

Textiles/Carpet

Remainder

Organics

Prunings

& Branches

Compostable Organics

Other Carbon-based Organics

Compostable Organics = 30% of Disposal

3


DIVERSION POTENTIALProcessing of disposed organics could

increase State diversion rate to 63%

Increased production of compost and mulch could contribute a significant amount to diversion

4


FUTURE ORGANICS FLOWS TO LANDFILLS?

Rice straw and other agricultural residuals from burning phase-outs

Waste from logging, wood processing (e.g. sudden oak death and So. Cal. Bark Beetle issue)

Biosolids and dairy manure

Increased green waste due to population increase

5


Green Procurement Action Plan

Organics Construction and Demolition (C&D) Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC) Environmentally Preferable

Purchasing (EPP) Green Procurement Toolbox

(including Ogilvy)

6


OrganicsComplete project with Caltrans

to write compost/mulch specifications

Specifications go into toolboxDouble the amount of compost

and mulch purchased by Caltrans

7


Caltrans has the Potential to Greatly Increase

Compost/Mulch Purchases Caltrans uses compost statewide, primarily

in hydroseeding for erosion control

US Composting Council (USCC) estimates that Caltrans has a potential market for compost of between 3.35-6.72 M cu. yds.

Approximately 90% used in construction, the remainder in maintenance

8


How Much Compost is Caltrans Using?

2003 20042005

Jun-06

0

4,000

8,000

12,000

16,000

20,000

Cubic Yards

Caltrans Construction Database

9


Construction Site Sediment

#1 Discharged Pollutant

80,000,000 Tons/Year

20-1,000 Times More Sediment than Other Land Uses

10

California Integrated Waste Management BoardCompost and Mulch

Benefits the Environment in a Number of Ways

Decreases runoff and erosion Improves roadside revegetation establishment Reduces irrigation requirements Supplies significant quantities of organic matter Improves drainage of clay-based soils and

water-holding capacity of sand-based soils Improves and stabilizes soil pH Improves cation exchange capacity (CEC) of

soils, improving their ability to hold nutrients for plant use

11

California Integrated Waste Management BoardCompost and Mulch

Benefits the Environment in a Number of Ways

Supplies macro- and micronutrients Supplies beneficial microorganism Suppresses certain soil-borne diseases Binds and degrades specific pollutants Reduces the need for fertilizers and

pesticides Encourages slow release of nitrogen Improves drought tolerance Improves plant health and vigor

12


A Partnership Between CIWMB, Caltrans, UCR Extension, and the

Compost Industry

CIWMB

Funding and Oversight

UC Extension Riverside

Contractor

(Project Management)

Caltrans

Client

ACP

Association of Compost Producers

(Technical Support)

USCC

United States Composting Council

(Technical Support)

13


Project Goals Determine barriers to increasing compost use by

Caltrans Address identified barriers Revise Existing Compost Specifications Develop a Compost Applications “Best Management

Practices” Manual Utilize the U.S. Composting Council’s Seal of Testing

Assurance Certification (STA) Develop collaborative relationships with stakeholders Develop a Compost Classification System

14


Barriers to Increased Compost Use

Cost Product quality Lack of compost specifications Compost and mulch producing

infrastructure– An increase in annual procurement of

3,000,000 cubic yards of compost would require doubling of compost production

Education

15


Cost Barrier Current weighted average (applied)

>$300/CY High price due to:

– Bagged materials– Application method (primarily

hydroseeding) Caltrans goals:

– Reduce cost to $40/CY (applied)– More bulk purchases, less bagged

16


Product Quality Barrier

Caltrans did not require STA-certified compost

Answer: USCC Seal of Testing Assurance Program (STA)– TMECC (standard testing methodologies)– STA certified labs– Testing of compost product

17


18


Compost Specifications Barrier

No requirement for STA-certified compost (product quality issues)

No specifications for compost blankets, filter socks, or filter berms

All specifications in need of updating

19


New/Revised Compost Specifications

STA– Compost technical

data sheet– Detailed certificate

of compliance– Lab test results

pH Moisture content Organic matter

content

Soluble salts Maturity Stability Particle size Phytotoxicity Pathogens (pass

CIWMB standard) Heavy metals (pass

CIWMB standard)

20


ACP Compost IndexThe Compost Product Index (CPI)

is designed to:

– Help compost users quickly identify products that will meet their particular needs

– Eliminate inappropriate use

21


Compost Product Index (CPI)

Reflects the most important physical, chemical, and biological properties of the compost needed to determine its appropriate use

– 12 test parameters of compost measured by STA-certified laboratories using TMECC

– Broken into six categories from low to high values and indexed

– CPI can be used to reference a specific product for a specific application

22


CPI Test Methods and Result Ranges

No. Parameter Test Method* Title Units 1 2 3 4 5 61 Total N TMECC 04.02-D Nitrogen % TN (dw basis)1 0% (ND)2 >0,<0.5% 0.5-1.0% >1.0-<2.0% 2.0-5.0% >5.0%2 Total P TMECC 04.03-A Phosphorous % P (dw basis) 0% (ND) >0,<0.25% 0.25-0.5% >0.5-<1.0% 1.0-2.0% >2.0%3 Na TMECC 04.05-Na Sodium % Na (dw basis) 0% (ND) >0,<0.05% 0.05-0.1% >0.1-<0.2% 0.2-0.5% >0.5%4 Cl TMECC 04.05-Cl Chlorine (water soluable chloride) % Cl (dw basis) 0% (ND) >0,<0.05% 0.05-0.1% >0.1-<0.2% 0.2-0.5% >0.5%5 Boron TMECC 04.05-B Boron mg kg-1 dw 0 (ND) >0-20 >20-40 >40-100 >100-200 >2006 EC TMECC 04.10 Electrical Conductivity dS m-1 (mMhos cm-1) 0 (ND) >0-<3.0 3.0-<5.0 5.0-<10.0 10.0-20.0 >20.07 pH TMECC 04.11-A pH 0-14 0-4 >4-6 >6-7 >7-8 >8-<10 >108 Stability TMECC 05.08 F Biologically Active Carbon mg CO2-C g-1 OC d-1 0 (ND) >0-2 >2-4 <4-6 >6-10 >109 Particle Size No TMECC method (?)Particle Size Distribution passing 4mm % by dry wt. <50% 50-70 70-80 80-90 90-98 >98%

10 Phytotoxicity TMECC 05.05-B Phytotoxicity: Germination Rate Growth % 0% >0-<70% 70%-80% >80%-90% >90-95% >95%11 Organic Matter TMECC 05.07-A Organic Matter % g g-1 dw 0 (ND) >0-20% >20-40% >40-60% >60-80% >80%12 Safety TMECC 07.00/503 Safety Parameters Pass/Fail - - - - - -

Footnotes:* Test method is referenced to the TMECC methods (http://tmecc.org/tmecc/index.html) 1 dw = dry weight2 ND = non detectable using that test method

Ranges

23


Determining CPI of a Compost Sample

Samples must be tested at a USCC certified laboratory

Test results determine Compost Index or class

Expressed automatically by the lab performing the test

24


Best UsesIn future versions of the CUI, the

Product Index of a given material will be used to generate a list of “best uses”

The “Best Use List” identifies a set of suitable compost uses based on the experience of industry experts

25


Compost-Based BMPsReduce Runoff VolumeReduce Runoff RateImprove InfiltrationImprove Soil FertilityImprove Vegetation

Establishment

26


Hydroseed (Type C & Type D)

Used to control erosion on disturbed slopes

Type C - straw required Type D – straw not

required Seed Compost – fine material

Bagged material only Stabilizing emulsion

Compost and hydroseeding application, Lake Tahoe, courtesy of Caltrans

27


Backfill Also referred to as

amendment or “soil prep” Compost used as a

component of backfill Use as a soil

amendment/backfill for container sized plant material

Planting backfill benefits trees and shrubs that would otherwise be planted in poor soils

Backfill, photo courtesy of Caltrans

28


Blanket (Incorporated) Placed in disturbed areas Incorporated to a depth

of 18 inches Alternative to netting,

stabilizing emulsions or polymers

Typically vegetated by broadcasting seed onto the surface after incorporation

Compost incorporation, Placer County, Route 267, photo courtesy of Caltrans

29


Benefits of Compost Blankets

Provides soil protection from rain “splash impact”

Adds organic material to soil

Promotes percolation/infiltration

Reduces need for irrigation

Removes pollutants, improving downstream water quality

Slope after incorporation of compost, photo courtesy of Caltrans

30


Blanket (Not Incorporated) Layer of loosely applied

compost placed over disturbed areas to control erosion

Seed can be incorporated into compost before placement or broadcast onto surface after placement

Compost blanket (not incorporated), courtesy of Caltrans

31


Filter Berm Compost placed

perpendicular to sheet flow runoff to control erosion

Alternative to silt fencing Generally placed along

perimeter of site or at intervals along slope

Can be used as a check dam in small drainage ditches

Can be vegetated or unvegetated

Retains sediment and other pollutants while allowing cleaned water to flow through Installation of filter berm, photo courtesy of Caltrans

32


Biofiltration Strips (Biostrips)

Vegetated land areas over which storm water flows as sheet flow

Removes pollutants Traps litter, total

suspended solids, and particulate metals

Compost may be used to improve filtration and vegetation establishment

Vegetated Preferred plant material

has a dense continuous top growth

Biofiltration strip, photo courtesy of Caltrans

33


Biofiltration Swales (Bioswales)

Vegetated channels or drainage swales, typically trapezoidal or v-shaped channels that receive and convey storm water while

Other characteristics are similar to biostrips

Biofiltration swale, courtesy of Caltrans

34


Mulch Applied to highway roadside to prevent erosion, suppress weed growth,

and biodegrade slowly Coarse to very coarse particle size Ideally would not have to be reapplied for 2-3 years Not seeded or hydroseeded after application Used to cover ground between existing container-sized plants Minimal trash may be okay

35


Drill Seed Seed applied with

agricultural drill seeding equipment after compost is applied and incorporated into topsoil

Used on flat areas, such as highway medians

Purpose is to amend the soil to enhance seed germination and vegetation establishment

Drill seeding equipment, courtesy of Caltrans

36


Filter Sock Stabilization of disturbed

slopes, storm water pollutant reduction/removal

Can be used in place of silt fence or straw bale barrier

Can be vegetated or non-vegetated

Pollutants removed by filtration and adsorption to compost particles

Traps total suspended solids, particulate metals, oil Filter sock – courtesy of Dr. Britt Faucette, Filtrexx

37


Education Barrier Correct misinformation such as:

– “Compost mulch not suitable for 2:1 slopes”– “Compost isn’t suited for native plants”

Roll out new/revised specifications Educate Caltrans staff and its contractors

on compost-based BMPs Compost applications best practices manual Follow-up

38


Compost Applications Best Practices Manual

Designed primarily for use by Caltrans and its contractors

Ties into compost classification system and Caltrans specifications

39


Caltrans Workshops Improving Revegetation and

Stormwater Quality Through Compost-Based BMPs

– Los Angeles - August 22, 2006– San Diego - August 24, 2006– Oakland - September 26, 2006– Fresno - September 28, 2006– Sacramento – October 11, 2006

40


Track Results and Follow-up

Caltrans use of compost and mulch will be measured in 2007 and succeeding years

Will develop recommendations on further increasing compost use by Caltrans


For Further Information

www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/


Any Questions?

43


Improving Revegetation and Stormwater Quality with

Compost-Based BMPs

THANK YOU


Board Meeting

Increasing Compost Use by CaltransAugust 15, 2006

Agenda Item 15

www.ciwmb.ca.gov

Increasing Compost Use by Caltrans Project

Documents

Transcript of Increasing Compost Use by Caltrans Project