Organic Materials Management

Demonstration Projects

With over 30 percent of California's waste stream consisting of compostable organic materials, it's critical to find ways to keep these useful materials from ending up in landfills. To this end, the California Integrated Waste Management Board actively funds programs and projects--in partnership with local governments, compost producers, users of compost and mulch, and others--that promote waste prevention and recycling of organic materials.

Landscape Management Projects: The Board has partnered with local jurisdictions and the commercial landscaping industry to encourage the use of resource-efficient landscaping practices to reduce green waste, conserve water, and minimize non-point source pollution from urban landscapes. The Board has also worked with several jurisdictions to develop grasscycling campaigns to encourage residents to leave grass clippings on their lawns when mowing to reduce green waste and maintain healthier lawns.

Agricultural and Erosion Control Projects: The Board also promotes increased use of compost and mulch in agriculture, for example to increase soil organic content, prevent disease in certain crops, and reduce nitrates in irrigation runoff. In addition, other Board projects focus on the use of mulch to control erosion on highway rights-of-way, orchards, and hillside vineyards. 

Related Information

• Solicitation for grant partners
  The California Integrated Waste Management Board is seeking potential partners for the purpose of working together to secure external (i.e., other State or Federal agency) grant funds for partnership projects that have cross-media implications and promote market development of municipally derived organic materials.

• Organics Market Development Indicators
  The Waste Board collects data on trend indicators in the compost and mulch industry to determine the success of its market development programs.

• Background: How the demonstration projects were developed.

Contact: Jerry Berumen