CRRA2021

President

Ron Alexander is a horticulturist by training and possesses 35 years of experience working with organic recycled product and market development. He has developed both national and California (e.g., Caltrans) specifications pertaining to the use of compost (and mulch) in landscaping and soil management, and managed the national compost quality program (US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Program) for 10 years. He has trained landscapers, landscape architect and engineers about compost use and MWELO, and has been working on project in California for over 20 years.

SB1383 Implementation concepts/realities for jurisdictions........using compost and mulch

California SB 1383 not only requires communities to increase the volume of organic wastes being recycled, but also requires them to utilize the resulting finished products (compost, mulch, green energy). Required usage volumes are based on a community’s population, and significant logistical and economic issues will need to be addressed to allow for successful usage. That stated, the reality is that several jurisdictions will not be able to ‘self-use’ the full volume of compost and mulch required, and therefore, other acceptable means will need to be developed to meet SB1383’s requirements.

Compost and recycled mulches are incredibly efficacious products, and extremely helpful in dealing with land management, especially while dealing with changing environmental conditions and poor soil quality. However, many jurisdictions have not seen how compost can be used in the:

• Establishment and maintenance of turf,
• Manufacturing and improvement of landscape grade soils,
• Reduction in water usage and plant loss,
• Management of erosion and storm water, and
• Establishment of native plants.    

Further, jurisdictions have not educated their department staffs about these recycled products or modified their internal specifications and BMP’s to allow (or require) their usage. Possible applications for compost and mulch will be discussed during the presentation, as will means to evaluate usage volumes by a jurisdiction and creative implementation options.

Environmental Specialist

David is a Recycling Specialist for the City of Chula Vista, Office of Sustainability. In addition to providing the “3 R” education to businesses and residents, Dave works on the City’s SB 1383 implementation including Food Recovery, Food Waste Collection, and procurement.

Aiming for a greater use of compost and Mulch in Chula Vista

Dave will discuss the SB 1383 purchasing requirements of their Southern California City. He will describe their outreach efforts with city staff, related staff training already completed, upcoming efforts, and determining factors that prompted them to obtain outside assistance.

Program Manager

Kelly's interest in organics started as a child with a back yard compost pile that was frequented by a pair of ducks. After several different paths that included biology, farming, and landscape architecture, she found her way back to compost as a Program Manager at StopWaste. In addition to compost and mulch market development and education, she currently works on management of the agency's rangeland property and carbon farming, and SB 1383 implementation, specifically procurement. She is a licensed landscape architect, has a degree in ecology, and is a graduate of the USCC's Compost Operations Training Course.  

Using Compost and Mulch in Alameda County?

Kelly will give an update on how StopWaste and its member agencies are working together to develop strategies to address compost and mulch procurement requirements. Model tools, including specifications, calculators, language for direct service provider agreements, will be presented.