Compost Regulations & Markets

Compost Regulations & Markets

Who s on First.? Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) Compost Council of Canada (CCC)

Who s on First.? Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Fertilizer Act and Regulations Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Guidelines for Compost Quality Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) Organic Soil Conditioners - Composts Composting Council of Canada (CCC) Compost Quality Alliance

Distinctions Regulatory Voluntary CFIA if you sell it BNQ incremental values CCME if you produce it ---> provincial waste focus CCC agronomic parameters

The Parameters Based on Health & Safety: Foreign Matter Maturity Pathogens Trace Elements

Categories Category A unrestricted use Category B restricted use as decided by province/territory Differentiation trace elements sharp foreign matter

Trace Elements Category A (mg/kg dry wt) Essential or Beneficial to Plants or Animals Arsenic (As) Cobalt (Co) Chromium (Cr) Copper (Cu) Molybdenum (Mo) Nickel (Ni) Selenium (Se) Zinc (Zn) Other Cadmium (Cd) Mercury (Hg) Lead (Pb) Category B (mg/kg dry wt) 13 34 210 400 5 62 2 700 75 150 ** ** 20 180 14 1850 3 0.8 150 20 5 500

Trace Elements Maximum Cumulative Additions to Soil kg/ha Essential or Beneficial to Plants or Animals Arsenic (As) Cobalt (Co) Chromium (Cr) Copper (Cu) Molybdenum (Mo) Nickel (Ni) Selenium (Se) Zinc (Zn) Other Cadmium (Cd) Mercury (Hg) Lead (Pb) 15 30 ** ** 4 36 2.8 370 4 1 100

Foreign Matter a. Sharp Foreign Matter Cat. A: no greater than 3mm per 500mL Cat. B: < 3 pieces per 500mL; : max. dimension = 12.5mm b. Other Cat. A: no more than 1 piece > 25mm per 500mL Cat. B: no more than 2 pieces > 25mm per 500mL

Maturity To be considered mature, the compost shall be cured for a minimum of 21 days and meet one of the following 3 requirements: i. The respiration rate is less than, or equal to, 400mg of O2 /kg of volatile solids/hour; ii. Carbon dioxide evolution rate is less than, or equal to, 4mg of carbon in the form of CO2/kg of organic matter/day; iii. The temperature rise of the compost above ambient temperature is less than 8ºC

Pathogens When compost contains only yard waste: - Either in-vessel or aerated static pile = 55ºC or greater for 3 days - Windrow = 55ºC or greater for 15 days (plus during high temp. period, turned 5x) OR Fecal Coliforms <1000mg MPN/g of total solids calculated on a dry weight basis No Salmonella sp. with a detection level < 3 MPN/4g of total solids calculated on a dry weight basis

Pathogens When compost contains other feedstock: - Either in-vessel or aerated static pile = 55ºC or greater for 3 days - Windrow = 55ºC or greater for 15 days (plus during high temp. period, turned 5x) AND Fecal Coliforms <1000mg MPN/g of total solids calculated on a dry weight basis No Salmonella sp. with a detection level < 3 MPN/4g of total solids calculated on a dry weight basis

CFIA Need to declare: - Organic Matter - Moisture Content Trace Elements: Equivalent to Category B

CFIA The total organic matter content must not be less than 15% of the total weight of the compost product. The actual organic matter content must not have a deficiency of greater than 15 % of the guaranteed amount upon analysis. The moisture content must not exceed 65% of the net weight for all types of compost and composted manure. The actual moisture content must not be in excess of 15% of the guaranteed amount upon analysis.

Fertilizer Act & Regulations You choose the claim path: - Soil Amendment - Fertilizer Absolute declarations: - Organic Matter - Moisture Content

T-4-120 - Regulation of Compost under the Fertilizers Act and Regulations http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/fereng/tmemo/t-4-120e.shtml

Composted Manure Compost produced using the organic matter fraction of the excreta of animals or birds, with or without litter. The compost may use as little as 60% manure and as much as 40% of a carbon source, if the ratio reflects the need for a carbon source when composting the manure, and if the carbon source includes only materials that may be used as litter, such as straw, hay, bark, sawdust, wood chips, shavings, leaves, grass, wood chunks (such as branches and leaves), tree clippings and plant residues but not including treated wood or materials that have been chemically or biologically contaminated.

Composted Manure Need to provide Nutrient Guarantees (N-P-K) Size of Font

Fertilizer Claims Anything referencing growth Need to acknowledge N-P-K and state minimum values Need to have proof of claims Be aware of type size

Soil Amendment Stay away from growth claims ---> otherwise your product becomes a fertilizer

Whether Packaged or Sold in Bulk Product Name Net weight Name and address of the registrant or the responsible packager Lot number Guaranteed analysis Directions for Use Cautionary statements (if applicable)

Labelling If any ingredient is indicated on the product label then all must be listed on the label. Example, ingredients: compost (made of crab, algae and wood chips), potassium nitrate, and ammonium phosphate).

Labelling If other ingredients are added to the compost they must be stated in the product name. For example, a product cannot be called "compost" if it contains compost mixed with other materials, such as a chemical fertilizer.

Net Weight All compost product are sold by weight, and must be described in grams (g) or kilograms (kg). If desired, volume in litres (L) or millilitres (ml) may be included in addition to the weight of the product. E.g. Net weight: 10 kg, Net volume: 25 L

Lot Number All supplement (and as of July 12, 2007, all fertilizer, except for customer-formula fertilizer) products must bear a lot number on their product label or shipping bill.

Products Represented as Organic International or Interprovincial Organic Products Regulations As of December 14, 2008, the term organic ( biologique in French) and the specified Canada Organic logo for international or interprovincial trade will not be permitted on fertilizer and supplement product labels unless the products have been certified by a certification body accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's, Organic Office.

The Big 4 Topsoil Growing Mixes Mulches Fertilizers Rod Fry Envirem Technologies

Market Opportunities Landscaping Specialty Soil Mixes Residential Gardening Agriculture Erosion Control Wetland Construction Bioremediation

Market Dynamics Bag versus Bulk Volume versus Dollar

Volume Agriculture Silviculture Transportation and Natural Resources Agencies Sod Markets Mine Reclamation Landfill Cover

Dollar Nurseries Landscapers Topsoil Blenders Retail-Garden Centres Sports Turf Specialty Markets

Topsoil and Triple Mix Manufacturers Compost is purchased to create blended or manufactured soils which compete against traditional topsoil. Generally, triple mix involves a selection of three inputs from the following: manure, peat moss, compost, sand, vermiculite, worm castings, topsoil and bark. Compost s organic matter and micro-/macro-nutrient content are considered of value.

Landscaping Compost is used in a variety of applications, primarily as a soil amendment and as a manufactured soil. It is also used as a mulch and topdressing. Uses: 1. Flower/garden bed establishment 2. Planter mix component (e.g., raised flower beds, rooftop mixes) 3. Tree/shrub backfill mix component 4. Manufactured topsoil component 5. Decorative plant mulch 6. Turf establishment/renovation and maintenance 7. Turf topdressing 8. Organic fertilizer

Sports Turf These sites are used intensively and are subject to severe soil compaction. Compost s value = contributes to the soil s texture, lessening compaction, enabling root development and moisture retention. It also helps provide nutrients and aids in disease suppression.

Nurseries Blended as part of a growing media for containers and incorporated as a soil amendment in field applications. Compost s benefits include: the supplying of micronutrients, disease suppression properties and stronger plant growth in a shorter time period. Not all compost can be used in all nursery applications, rather, compost quality needs to be matched carefully with plant production requirements

Agriculture Compost helps improve organic matter content, soil quality and provides disease suppression properties. While compost cannot compete directly with fertilizers, more and more compost marketing programs are identifying a financial value for compost s nutrient content and linking this feature with the benefit of reduced fertilizer purchases.

Slope Stabilization, Erosion and Sediment Control Value of compost as a replacement to traditional erosion control management tools such as silt fences, woven blankets, straw mats and hydroseeding. Compost helps to establish vegetative cover quickly, improves water retention and soil texture and reduces runoff. Compost can also help remove sediment. Uses: 1. Soil blanket 2. Filter berms 3. Media for vegetation

Revegetation & Reclamation Compost can help improve soil quality, reduce erosion and support plant establishment. It has been used to revive dead /contaminated soil, reduce the bioavailability of heavy metals as well as degrade/alter many types of contaminants including hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pesticides and explosives.

Wetlands Construction Compost is being utilized to manufacture and re-establish wetland soils to improve water quality. Its value reflects its organic matter content, biological properties and water retention abilities. Key attributes that will impact the success of the compost application are the compost s nutrient and soluble salt content.

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