Although this report was written years ago, it is downloaded frequently. The information remains timely and useful.
The Center for Ecological Technology (CET) conducted the On-Farm Composting Project in Western Massachusetts from Fall 1996 through Spring 2000. The project successfully created a market-based infrastructure for farm composting of commercial food and other organic waste. To date, over 70 business locations diverted approximately 22,000 tons of organic materials to 7 farms using 6 haulers, and activity will continue as a regular “way of doing business” in the area. This waste diversion reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 5700 Metric Tons Carbon Equivalent (MTCE). CET has shared project information with hundreds of colleagues from across the country.
Several factors played a role in the development and implementation of the project as well as its success including:
- progressive State policies relating to farm composting of off-farm wastes and the management of overall disposal capacity
- the area’s semi-rural demographics
- previous composting activity and interest in the area
CET identified several main obstacles to the creation of a longterm, stable market for food and yard waste composting on farms:
- the risks to potential participants, associated with the lack of an established infrastructure
- a lack of a critical mass of participants to make the logistics and economics work
- the need for quality control in separation and processing
CET’s general approach for the project was market-based, with a focus on making the economics work for all parties involved without ongoing subsidies. Through a decentralized approach, CET worked with many farmers, waste generators and haulers simultaneously to minimize the risk of the system failing due to any one participant’s situation. This approach also helped to minimize transportation distances and costs. Assistance was targeted to participants’ needs and provided with significant follow-up until the program became selfsustaining. CET served as a liaison among interested businesses/institutions, haulers and farms willing to accept their organic waste. Assistance included locating appropriate participants, soliciting their participation and designing or improving organic waste separation, collection, storage, transportation and processing systems.
Case Studies outline key aspects of the operations of representative farms, waste generators (supermarkets, institutions, restaurants) and haulers. Sample project documents and tools and other pertinent reference materials are included in the report appendices.
Through the course of the project, CET learned important lessons that could be helpful to others in designing and implementing similar efforts:
- Composting programs can work economically for farms and larger waste generators
- Composting of commercial waste requires a high degree of maintenance but can be done successfully by some farms
- Many other farms can compost farm residuals or easier to manage materials
- For waste generators, separation and collection can be successful if the economics work and there is a strong commitment from management
