Resources
WORC strives to connect members, the organics recycling industry, government, researchers and the public with current best practices, cutting edge research, regulatory changes, and useful tools for closing the loop with organics. Let us know if there’s a link we should add!
Partnering Organizations
Association of Oregon Recyclers
Other Organizations
US Composting Council (USCC) – the nation leader, maintains compost standard specifications and testing through their Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) program.
Compost Council of Canada
Policy in Washington
Journals
BioCycle – the organics recycling authority
Natural Yard Care (Seattle Public Utilities) – soil, composting, plants, and more
Landscaping Professionals:
For Professionals:
Learn how to protect and restore soil quality, to manage stormwater and meet Washington’s regulations, at WORC’s two sites: Soils for Salmon (science and design) and Building Soil (for builders and contractors).
Compost Erosion Control and Amended Soils for Construction Sites (video, 14 min.)
Stormwater Pollution and Solutions that Protect Salmon Dr. Jenifer McIntyre (video 28 min.)
Composting Food Scraps in Your Community: A Social Marketing Toolkit (US EPA)
For Residents
Natural Landscaping: Design, Build, Maintain and Landscape Professionals website
Washington composted material (WA Dept. of Ecology)Composting at Home (WA Dept. of Ecology)
WSU Gardening for soil sampling, composting and other tools, and Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources for farming research and best practices.
Facilities Best Practices
Siting and Operating Composting Facilities in Washington State: Good Management Practices (pdf - WA Dept. of Ecology), and see more Ecology resources below.
Managing Stormwater Onsite by David McDonald.
Complex and their inspiring video The Power of Sustainability: Worm Farming.
NOP 2606 describes the policies and procedures used to evaluate requests for temporary variances from the production and handling requirements of the USDA organic regulations submitted by certifying agents or State organic programs.
NOP Fact Sheet Making the Transition to Organic Production & Handling: This document provides an organized set of resources that help producers and handlers transition their operations to organic.NOP Fact Sheet Technical & Financial Assistance for Organic Producers: This document outlines a variety of technical, educational, and financial resources available to organic producers through several USDA agencies and external non-profit organizations.
Other fact sheets regarding organic regulations, certification, practices and more: NOP Fact Sheets.
Regulatory Structure
The regulatory framework for composting in Washington is covered in WAC 173-350-220.
Contact your local jurisdictional health authority to find out if your composting activity will require a solid waste permit or not.
In short, local health departments issue solid waste permits that WA Department of Ecology’s regional offices review. This framework is unique among states — most state environmental agencies directly regulate and enforce solid waste handling.
See Ecology’s Organic Materials Management Law and Rule page for more information.
WA Dept. of Ecology’s Waste 2 Resources Program links to regulations, science, and best practices.
On their Organic Materials Management site
Compost & Healthy Soil has a map of permitted and some exempt composting facilities, composting facility annual report data, and other valuable resources for the public and the organics industry.
US EPA Composting has national regulatory and best practice resources. See also the NOP Handbook.
On Farm Composting
Farms the compost and use their residuals on-site generally do not need permits, but farms that distribute or sell material off-site must comply with WAC 173-350-220. NRCS Organic Farming Handbook
Farming research and best practices WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources
Research and Science Education
WSU Soil Management – The best resource for current science and best practices in composting, biosolids, urban and agricultural soils and practices
WSU Clopyralid in Compost for current information on this persistent pesticide
Soil Biology Primer and more resources from the USDA NRCS Soils program
ATTRA sustainable agriculture
Research Needs Report lists research priorities identified by WORC members.
Other Resources and Videos
Bringing Our Soils Back to Life and Saving Civilization Dr. David Montgomery (video 56 min.)
Sustainability in Prisons Project – Using Worms to Reduce Food Waste at Monroe Correctional Complex (TEDx Video: The Power of Sustainability, 16 min.)
Preventing Wasted Food in Your Community: A Social Marketing Toolkit (US EPA)