2003 Annual Report for ONE03-004
Regional compost network
Summary
One of the challenges of composting is logistical—connecting composters with waste generators, moving organic waste, and developing the community infrastructure needed to make composting viable. The project leader will develop case studies of compost facilities on area farms as well as profiles of waste generators. The leader will also recruit participants for a regional composting network and seek out economical ways for municipalities to transport yard waste and leaves to farms for composting. A directory of composting resources will be developed for the Cornell Cooperative Extension web site and will also be distributed in printed form.
Objectives/Performance Targets
Objective One - Case studies for three compost facilities and three waste generators
Work has begun with one waste generator, of recycled pallets. The other case studies will be initiated next month in January 2004.
Objective Two - Contacting potential compost network participants
Erika Marczak was hired in September 2003 to contact most of the potential network participants. Visits and listings have begun. Aaron Gabriel, project leader, is also contacting potential network participants, mostly dairy farmers. For non-ag businesses that are new to us, we first send out a letter with an educational piece on the Compost Network and composting. A follow up phone call is made and then a visit for those expressing interest.
A special logo has been develop for business cards and the educational literature.
Objective Three - Transporting municipal yardwaste to farms for composting
Initial discussions with municipalities will begin this winter.
Objective Four - Publishing the Compost Network directory
A team of students from Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute, have taken on as a class project, the development of the database software for the Compost Network. The software will be complete in 2003.