Organic Materials Management

Organics Toolbox

As part of the Organics Policy Roadmap, this Organics Toolbox explores how local jurisdictions in California are implementing policies related to compost and mulch use. This toolbox is a clearinghouse and will serve as a collection of model tools from cities throughout the state, the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), and other sources. We will continue to place new information on this site as it becomes available.

What’s Included in this Toolbox?

Examples include benefits of compost use, case studies, compost guidelines and specifications, contract mechanisms, directories, environmentally preferable purchases and practices policies, fees, marketing plans, model ordinances, and resources. To navigate this toolbox, use the links on the menu below.

Benefits of Compost Use

• Compost and Its Benefits. The United States Composting Council website provides a fact sheet summarizing the many physical, chemical, and biological benefits of compost.
• Compost Products used on Fire-Damaged Land. A CalRecycle publication about the use of compost products on fire-damaged land.
• Compost Use for Landscape and Environmental Enhancement Manual. A CalRecycle manual with information on compost use in landscape plantings and environmental applications.
• Demonstration Projects. CalRecycle demonstration projects that promote waste prevention and recycling of organic matter in partnership with local governments, compost producers, and users of compost and mulch.
• Green California. California Department of General Services information about environmental and health issues.
• Third Assessment of California's Compost- and Mulch-Producing Infrastructure--Management Practices and Market Conditions. This CalRecycle study provides definitive information on California's organic materials management practices and market conditions.

Case Studies

• Alameda County (PDF, 123 KB). Alameda County participated and provided data for cost-benefit analysis to reflect the diversity of home composting programs.
• Burbank (a CalRecycle publication). The City of Burbank partnered with its hauling company and a grower to implement a program for green material and food scraps.
• Emeryville (PDF, 3 MB). A project in the City of Emeryville with guidelines for sustainable building construction practices.
• Oakland (PDF, 1.9 MB). The City of Oakland implemented green building and bay-friendly landscaping in a LEED-Platinum certified office remodel.
• Santa Cruz County (PDF, 59 KB). Describes alternatives for biosolids management.
• Ukiah (PDF, 342 KB). Determines the effects of biodynamic preparations on soil, wine grapes, and compost quality on a vineyard.

Compost Guidelines/Specifications

• Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guidelines (PDF, 8.3 MB). Presented as a public service by the Alameda County Waste Management and Recycling Board, these guidelines provide a whole systems approach to the design, construction, and maintenance of landscapes to support the integrity of a San Francisco Bay Area watershed.
• Caltrans Compost Specifications. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) website has resources for project managers including specifications, publications, compost calculators, and event schedules.
• Guidelines for Writing Compost or Mulch Procurement Specification. These CalRecycle guidelines provide assistance to State and local agency representatives in developing specifications for purchasing compost or mulch.
• River-Friendly Landscape Guidelines. The Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership (representing Sacramento area public agencies) offers a whole systems approach to the design, construction, and maintenance of landscapes to support the integrity of a Sacramento River watershed.

Contract Mechanisms

• San Jose--Competitive Contract Services. The City of San Jose uses a competitive process to obtain contract services for collection and processing which meet highest and best use, as well as diversion goals (Note: Scroll down on the left side of the page and select RFPs and Bids).

Directories

• BioCycle--Nationwide Facilities Database. BioCycle provides a searchable database of composting facilities in North America. It includes regulatory-compliant composting operations to aid generators of compostable feedstock.
• Locating Compost and Mulch Facilities. A list of compost and mulch producers.
• Recycled-Content Product (RCP) Directory. A CalRecycle directory containing manufacturers of recycled-content products.
• Solid Waste Information System (SWIS) Database. The CalRecycle SWIS database contains information on solid waste facilities, operations, and disposal sites throughout California.

Economic Incentives

• Economic Incentives. A list of various websites with economic incentive information provided by CalRecycle and other organizations.

Environmentally Preferable Purchases (EPP) and Practices Policy

• Alameda County Waste Management Authority
  • EPP Model Policy and Guidelines. Alameda County’s policy was adopted to conserve natural resources and increase the use and availability of environmentally preferable products that protect the environment.
  • EPP Implementation Guidance. A supplement to the EPP Model Policy with additional guidance on writing specifications.
• CaRecycle Programs
  • Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program. CalRecycle’s recommendations to local governments and State agencies for purchasing EPP products.
  • State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) Program Requirements. State departments, boards, commissions, universities, and the Legislature require suppliers to certify the amount of postconsumer recycled-content of products that fall within 11 reportable categories.
• California Department of General Services (DGS). The department provides the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Best Practices Manual to assist purchasing officials and specification writers with practicing environmentally preferable purchasing.
• King County (Seattle, Washington). King County provides sample contract specifications for compost and landscape mulch, and information on a variety of products.
• Los Angeles County (PDF, 78 KB) Los Angeles County’s EPP Policy establishes the framework for an environmentally based purchasing program.
• San Jose. City of San Jose’s EPP policies that protect the environment through sustainable purchasing choices.
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The U.S. EPA's website assists executive agencies in EPP purchasing and services. This Web site has a glossary, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), and a suite of tools including a database which lists more than 600 environmentally preferred products and services.

Fees

• Alameda County (PDF, 54 KB). Measure D Landfill Surcharge--A county waste reduction and recycling initiative.
• Riverside County (PDF, 400 KB). A county ordinance related to an Alternative Daily Cover surcharge.
• San Jose (PDF, 203 KB). City of San Jose uses fees to create incentives to recycle and compost. The document is part of the city’s Zero Waste Strategic Plan and provides a summary of the current fees, as well as a review of options being considered as diversion increases in order to replace revenues that are currently based on tonnage landfilled.

Marketing

• CalRecycle's Local Assistance and Market Development (LAMD) Regional Rural Cooperative Marketing Project (PDF, 1.6 MB ) This plan is the framework for the rural jurisdictions to develop a cooperative to impact their markets.

Model Ordinances

• Alameda County (PDF, 153 KB). An ordinance prohibiting the disposal of certain recyclable and compostable materials from its landfills.
• San Francisco’s Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance. Requires everyone to separate refuse into recyclables, compostables, and trash. No one may mix recyclables, compostables or trash, or deposit refuse of one type in a collection container designated for another type. All properties are required to maintain and pay for adequate refuse service.
• San Jose (PDF, 136 KB). An ordinance that offers incentives for non-Alternative Daily Cover diversion.
• Santa Cruz County. The county bans greenwaste at its landfill.
• Sonoma County. A county ban on yard debris and wood waste from the landfill.
• The Department of Water Resources (DWR). The DWR’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance mandating that local agencies, not later Jan. 1, 2010, must adopt the revised model ordinance or equivalent or it will be automatically adopted by statute. Compost has been included, if used as a mulch, for water conservation.

Publications

• BeyondRecycling.org (PDF, 3.7 MB) A publication with information for communities seeking to initiate or expand residential organics collection and processing, this report examines data from the 121 existing Residential Organics Programs in the United States and Canada.
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Use of Compost for Erosion Control: A Survey of State Practice report (PDF, 497 KB). A report on compost use for erosion control.

Resources/Websites

• Association of Compost Producers (ACP). The ACP is a nonprofit organization whose members are public agencies and private companies involved in the production and marketing of compost. The association helps members work together to improve the quality of soil in gardens, landscaping, and farming.
• BeyondRecycling.org is a joint project of the Center for a Competitive Waste Industry and Gary Liss & Associates, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9, which is not responsible for the site's content.
• BioCycle. An industry leader working to turn organic residuals--woody materials, yard trimmings, municipal solid waste, food residuals, biosolids, manure, and other feedstock into value-added products.
• California Organic Recycling Council (CORC). The CORC represents a coalition of organics recyclers, including collectors, processors, end users, and local governments. The CORC supports the development of an organics infrastructure for increasing sustainable and diverse end markets, through policy leadership and education.
• Compostable Materials Management. CalRecycle offers information on regulatory requirements to local enforcement agencies, operators, and other stakeholders and interested parties. Information on permitting, enforcement, and operational challenges, such as odor may be found on these Web pages.
• Cornell Waste Management Institute (CWMI). A program in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The CWMI serves the public through research, outreach, training, and technical assistance with a focus on organic residuals.
• Economic Incentives. A list of various websites with economic incentive information provided by CalRecycle and other organizations.
• San Jose. The City of San Jose has one of the most successful yard trimmings collection programs in California. Commercial agriculture and landscaping are natural markets for recycled organic materials such as green soil amendment, wood chips, and finished compost.
• Soils for Salmon Resources (Washington State). Information about the uses and benefits of Best Management Practices to preserve topsoil, reduce compaction, and amend disturbed soils with compost to restore soil health.
• United States Composting Council (USCC). The USCC supports many programs, including the Seal of Testing Assurance, the Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost, the Compost Analysis Proficiency Program, International Compost Awareness Week, and the Biodegradable Logo project.

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