Compost Marketing and Labeling Project

Abstract

The goal of this project is to expand the market for compost in order to help manage manure and make farms more profitable. To achieve this a label/seal-of-quality was investigated. With partial funding support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the project was carried out by the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling (NYSAR3 ) in conjunction with the Cornell Waste Management Institute (CWMI) and the Woods End Research Laboratory (WERL). CWMI conducted and analyzed a compost-user survey, interviewed representatives from several other states and a few countries, interviewed 44 farm composting operations, investigated existing label/seal programs for compost, conducted “brainstorming meetings” with stakeholders, and surveyed laboratories to determine capabilities for testing agricultural composts. WERL examined the composting standards of several European countries and assisted in the project. Development of a seal/label is seen as desirable by New York State agricultural composters. Further investigation is needed to determine the structure of such a program and what organization could provide the necessary administration. Testing of New York State agricultural composts is desirable as a prelude to development of a label/seal program in order to determine the quality of these composts and how the quality relates to consumer needs identified in the survey.