Organic Materials Management

Resources

This page provides links to external and Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) organics resources. Identification of individuals, companies, or organizations on this list does not constitute endorsement by CalRecycle. This list should not be considered comprehensive.

• Composting
• Farming/Erosion Control
• Food Scrap Management
• Turf/Landscape Management
• Vermicomposting
• "Water-Wise" Resources
• Videos

Composting

Associations

• California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting waste reduction, reuse, recycling, pollution prevention, and composting. CRRA works to expand markets for recycled materials, promote sustainable materials policies, and provide a clearinghouse for information, innovation, industry and government initiatives.

• Northern California Recycling Association is a nonprofit organization that promotes waste reduction, reuse, salvaging, recycling, and composting as vital tools for resources and energy conservation and as cost-effective, environmentally sound methods of disposing of discarded materials.

• U.S. Composting Council is a national, nonprofit trade and professional organization promoting recycling of organic materials through composting.

Compost Tea

BioCycle Magazine Reprints: Compost Teas and Compost Microbiology

• "Understanding Compost Tea"
  Vicki Bess, BioCycle, October 2000

• "Time for (Compost) Tea in the Northwest"
  Adrienne Touart, BioCycle, October 2000

• "Brewing Compost Tea"
  Elaine Ingham; A Kitchen Gardener reprint

• "Brewing Up Solutions To Pest Problems"
  Lisa Wickland, Todd Murray and Joyce Jimerson, BioCycle, March 2001

• "Evaluating Microbiology of Compost"
  Vicki Bess, BioCycle, May 1999

• "Using Compost To Control Plant Diseases"
  Tom De Ceuster and Harry Hoitink, BioCycle, June 1999

Compost Microbiology

• Compost Microbiology and the Soil Food Web
  California Integrated Waste Management Board (now known as the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery)

• Information Bulletin No. 9, Winter 2001 (PDF, 1.9 MB)
  Organic Farming Research Foundation

• Organic Teas from Composts and Manures (PDF, 3.5 MB)
  Richard Merrill, OFRF Grant Report 97–40

• Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC)

Research Reports

• Peach Brown Rot Study at Woodleaf Farm, Oroville, CA (PDF, 2.9 MB)
  Carl Rosato; OFRF on-farm research report

• North Coast Apple Scab Trials 1993/1994, Organic and Conventional Materials Comparison
  Paul Vossen and Doug Gubler; reprint from UC Plant Protection Quarterly

• Compost Tea Trials Final Report (PDF, 712 KB)
  Submitted to Office of Environmental Management, City of Seattle.
  Cascadia Consulting Group, March 8, 2001

• Alternatives for Use & Management of "Compost Tea"
  Clean Washington Center

• Evaluation and Prioritization of Compost Facility Runoff Management Methods (PDF, 2 MB)
  Clean Washington Center

• Evaluation of Compost "Tea" for Reuse Opportunities (1997 & 1998)
  Clean Washington Center

• Evaluation of Compost Facility Runoff for Beneficial Reuse, Phase 2 (PDF, 114 KB)
  Clean Washington Center

Educational Sites

• Cornell University--Composting
• University of California--Guide to Healthy Lawns
• Wagle-Composters
• Compost! Master Composter Home Composting
• Soil Food Web
• The Earth Project

Equipment/Suppliers

• Bins--suppliers
  • Compost Bin Suppliers--CalRecycle webpage.
• Ready-made bins
  • Wagle-Composters

Pests/Threats

• Pests/Threats Which Affect Green Material Movement in California--CalRecycle webpage.

Farming/Erosion Control

• Ecological Farming Association

• Community Alliance with Family Farmers

• California Farm Bureau Federation

• University of California Cooperative Extension--Santa Clara County Programs

• Natural Resources Conservation Services

• International Erosion Control Association

• Erosion Control Magazine

• Central Coast Vineyard Team

Food Scrap Management

Associations

• Green Restaurant Association
  89 South Street, Suite 802
  Boston, MA 02111
  Phone: (617) 737-3344
  E-mail: outreach@dinegreen.com
• California Association of Food Banks
  909 12th St., Suite 203
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  Phone: (916) 321-4435
  Fax:(916) 444-8095
  E-mail: info@cafoodbanks.org
• California Grain and Feed Association
  1521 I Street
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  Phone: (916) 441-2272
  Fax: (916) 446-1063
  E-mail: dboggs@cgfa.org or  matteis@cgfa.org
• Pacific Coast Renderers Association
  Michael Koewler, President
  Pacific Coast Rendering Company
  11350 Kiefer Blvd.
  Sacramento, CA 95830
  (916) 363-4821

Case Studies

• Food Scrap Reduction Case Studies--CalRecycle webpage.
• Venues and Events Reducing Waste Case Studies--CalRecycle webpage.

Other Resources

• Business Waste Reduction--CalRecycle webpage. Information for businesses, including restaurants, grocery stores, and other food service operations.
• Food Losses in the United States. (PDF, 101 KB)
• Local Government Central Waste Diversion Program Implementation--CalRecycle webpage. Information on California jurisdictions' efforts to divert waste from landfills as required by the Integrated Waste Management Act.
• The Safely Disposing of Waste Meat, Poultry, and Fish Material Guidance and FAQs (PDF, 123 KB) document from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture provides guidance to generators, haulers, and solid waste facilities in safely managing waste meat, poultry, and fish materials in California.
• Waste Management for State Agencies--CalRecycle webpage. Information on waste reduction for State agencies and facilities, including institutions such as prisons and hospitals that generate substantial food discards.

Publications

• Don’t Throw Away That Food: Strategies for Record-Setting Waste Reduction. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fact Sheet (EPA-530-F-98-023). (PDF, 230 KB)
• Render Magazine. Published in association with the National Renderers Association.

Turf/Landscape Management

• California Landscape Contractors' Association
• California Native Plant Society
• Compost Use for Landscape and Environmental Enhancement Manual--CalRecycle publication
• Landscape Architects Technical Committee
• PLANET Professional Landcare Network
• Yard Doctor--Briggs and Stratton
• University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources County Offices
• Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment (PDF, 5.4 MB)--U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Vermicomposting

• Recycling Council of Ontario, Canada
• EarthWormDigest.org
• WormWoman.com

Suppliers in California

• Worm and Worm Bin Suppliers--CalRecycle webpage

Water-Wise Resources

• Xeriscape Colorado
• Irrigation and Training Research Center--California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources County Offices

Videos

Excerpts: Best Practices in Waste Reduction Video (Chapters 9, 10, and 11). (October 2009) (Windows Media Video: 1.12.Mbps). Below are three chapters from CalRecycle’s 12-chapter Best Practices in Waste Reduction video. All 12 chapters are available to watch on YouTube or our Video Central training page.

• Chapter 9: Wood and Organic Waste (3:58 minutes) | YouTube | Transcript (Adobe PDF, 10 KB)
• Chapter 10: Sustainable Landscape (2:23 minutes) | YouTube | Transcript (Adobe PDF, 9 KB)
• Chapter 11: Food Waste (5:14 minutes) | YouTube | Transcript (Adobe PDF, 9 KB)

Reducing waste can save you money, conserve energy and resources, and reduce air, soil, and water pollution. The Best Practices in Waste Reduction video shows you real options for recycling, reducing, or reusing solid waste products. Helping promote California’s development of markets for recyclable materials is part of our mission. We can help you with technical, financial, and permitting assistance. Please feel free to contact CalRecycle’s Office of Public Affairs for more information. (2009)

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