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Increasing Compost Use by Caltrans Project

Increasing Compost Use by Caltrans Project. Board Meeting August 15, 2006. Agenda Item 15. Remainder. Organic Materials in the Waste Stream. Organics. Textiles/Carpet. Prunings. & Branches. Other. Leaves/Grass. Compostable Organics. Food.

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Increasing Compost Use by Caltrans Project

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  1. Increasing Compost Use by Caltrans Project Board Meeting August 15, 2006 Agenda Item 15

  2. Remainder Organic Materials in the Waste Stream Organics Textiles/Carpet Prunings & Branches Other Leaves/Grass Compostable Organics Food Other Carbon-based Organics Lumber Plastic Paper WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? Compostable Organics = 30% of Disposal

  3. DIVERSION POTENTIAL • Processing 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. Organics • Complete project with Caltrans to write compost/mulch specifications • Specifications go into toolbox • Double 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? 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. Compost 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. Compost 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

  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. 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

  18. 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) New/Revised Compost Specifications

  19. ACP Compost Index • The Compost Product Index (CPI) is designed to: • Help compost users quickly identify products that will meet their particular needs • Eliminate inappropriate use

  20. 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

  21. CPI Test Methods and Result Ranges

  22. 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

  23. Best Uses • In 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

  24. Compost-Based BMPs • Reduce Runoff Volume • Reduce Runoff Rate • Improve Infiltration • Improve Soil Fertility • Improve Vegetation Establishment

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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

  30. 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

  31. 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

  32. 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

  33. 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

  34. 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

  35. 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

  36. 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

  37. Compost Applications Best Practices Manual • Designed primarily for use by Caltrans and its contractors • Ties into compost classification system and Caltrans specifications

  38. 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

  39. 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

  40. For Further Information www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/

  41. Any Questions?

  42. Improving Revegetation and Stormwater Quality with Compost-Based BMPs THANK YOU

  43. Board Meeting Increasing Compost Use by Caltrans August 15, 2006 Agenda Item 15

  44. www.ciwmb.ca.gov

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