Home / Conference / Details / Speakers
Some of the Featured Speakers at USCC 2009
Charles Peterson
Charles Peterson is a Senior Environmental Specialist with the World Bank in Washington, DC. Mr Peterson focuses on waste management projects at the World Bank, primarily on CDM / carbon finance. These projects are aimed at reducing the climate change impacts of waste management. Prior to joining the World Bank, Mr. Peterson was a senior manager with Chambers Development Company and has been a consultant with RW Beck, GBB and SCS Engineers. Mr Peterson will be presenting "Composting, Climate Change, and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)."
Sally Brown
Dr. Brown is an Associate Professor at the University of Washington. Her research has focused on using residuals to reduce metal availability and restore ecosystem function in drastically contaminated soils. She is also working in partnership with local farmers to set up a biodiesel industry which integrates municipal biosolids into the biodiesel production process. She will co-present, ‘The CCX Process and Protocol for Composting’.
Malcolm Beck
Author of "The Secret Life of Compost" and "The Garden-Ville Method; Lessons in Nature", Malcolm Beck is known throughout the country as a leading authority and practitioner in the field of composting, compost use, and organic growing. In the midst of what we call our "progress" an occasional person has the genius to combine solid ecological knowledge with technical skill and to apply the results with good common sense. In the areas of soil building and maintenance and of the recycling of organic wastes, one of these leaders is Malcolm Beck. He has spent almost a lifetime in the study, experiment and practice which equip an inventive spirit to create new systems solving both old and new problems with our soils and our organic wastes. Malcolm will present "The Use of Compost and Mulch and their Effects on Water Conservation and the Carbon Cycle."
JD Lindeberg, PE
JD Lindeberg, PE, LEED AP is principal and CFO of RRS, a consulting and engineering company that focuses on waste prevention, recycling and biomass. He has been a board member of the USCC and has worked extensively to assist individuals, public units of government, institutions and corporations to recover their organic resources before they become part of the waste stream. JD is an engineer and economist has worked in the organics and recycling field for more than twenty five years. He will be Presenting and facilitating a special session on keeping organics out of landfills "Forum on Organics Bans Under Threat". Policy implications of landfill gas recovery, organics and avoided carbon, and behavior of the public and private sectors regarding this issue will also be explored.
Luis Diaz, Ph.D.
Dr. Diaz is president of CalRecovery, Inc., a solid waste consulting and engineering firm located in Concord, California. He has more than 30 years of experience in the waste management industry, including the conduct of waste management studies, technical and economic assessments of solid waste systems marketing studies for recovered materials and energy and other related areas. He will present, ’Design of Anaerobic Digestion Facilities for Recovering Biogas from Food Wastes’ and ‘Gaseous Emissions from Composting Facilities’ with George Savage.
Eliot Epstein, Ph.D.
Dr. Epstein, principal of Epstein Environmental Consultants, is an internationally known expert in the composting of waste material, specializing in; composting and biosolids management, solid waste, land application and waste disposal. He worked for USDA in agricultural research for 21 years and was the principal developer of the Aerated Static Pile Composting System. For 16 years his research was on soil water, crop production, runoff and erosion, and soil organic matter effect on soil physical properties. In 1980 he became president of E&A Environmental Consultants and also Adjunct Professor of Public Health at Boston University School of Public Health. He has published two books: The Science of Composting and Land Application of Sewage Sludge and Biosolids. In 2007 he received The Pioneer Award in Disinfection by the Water Environment Foundation. He will present, "The Composting Industry: Past and Present. History, Trends, & Issues" and the pre-conference workshop on "Understanding Your Compost Product for Better Utilization and Marketing".
Robert Rynk, Ph.D.
Dr. Rynk is an environmental and agricultural engineer, specializing in composting and waste management. He is the editor of the On-Farm Composting Handbook and formerly technical editor for BioCycle magazine. He cuurently teaches at SUNY, Cobleskill. He will present, ‘Spontaneous Combustion in Organic Materials - Conditions and Causes’ and ‘The Hartford, CT Fire Revisited’
Nora Goldstein
Nora Goldstein is Executive Editor of BioCycle, Journal of Composting, Organics Recycling & Renewable Energy. She is also Executive Editor of In Business, Creating Sustainable Communities & Enterprises. Nora will be presenting "50 Years of Composting Progress" with Jerome Goldstein, Editor and Publisher of BioCycle.
Chris Choate
Chris is Vice President of Sustainability for Norcal Waste Systems, Inc. Chris has 28 years of experience in the solid waste industry. Chris is responsible for the research and development of programs which create unique and sustainable systems. He will present, ‘Food Waste Composting in the California Central Valley: Examining the Interdependencies of Controlling Air Emissions, Evaporative Water Loss, and Compost Quality’ with Tim O’Neill.
Scott Subler
Dr. Subler holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Ecology from the Pennsylvania State University and is co-founder and President of Environmental Credit Corp, a leading supplier of environmental credits from agriculture and organic waste management to global financial markets. He will present, ‘Receiving Carbon Credits for Food Waste Diversion Projects: Case Studies in the U.S’.
Jeff Gage
Jeff Gage is considered one of the Northwest’s top composting experts. Jeff combines years of practical experience in operating compost systems with extensive scientific expertise focused on the improvement, development, and advancement of the practice of composting. Jeff will present, ‘Treating Stormwater Runoff from Compost, Reload and Wood Processing Facilities’
Fatih Buyuksonmez
Dr. Büyüksönmez is an Associate Professor with the San Diego State University. His current research includes; emission from composting facilities, use of compost for surface runoff water treatment and fate and degradation of contaminants during the composting process. He is the recipient of the 2006 Rufus Chaney Award for Research Excellence. He will present, ‘Degradation of Nicotine during Composting of Tobacco Waste’ and ‘Use of Compost Tea for Bioremediation’
Jan Allen
Jan is a Principal Technologist for CH2M HILL in their Seattle Office. He specializes in biofuels, organic waste recycling, environmental engineering, construction management, solid waste management, bulk material handling, microbiological systems and odor control facilities. He holds four U.S Patents related to composting and biofiltration and will present, ‘Commissioning and Startup of New Facilities - How to Anticipate the Unexpected’ and ‘Conversion Options for Biogas - Electricity, Heat, Vehicle Fuel, or Pipeline Gas’
Britt Faucette, Ph.D.
Dr. Faucette is an Ecologist and the Director of Research and Development for Filtrexx International. His PhD is from the University of Georgia where he researched compost systems and industry standard BMPs used in erosion control and storm water management applications while also working as a state Compost/Pollution Prevention Specialist in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. He will present, ’LEED Green Building Credits Using Compost Based Bmps’
Luc A. De Baere
Luc is the general manager of Organic Waste Systems. O.W.S. commercializes the Dranco technology on a worldwide scale, together with laboratory testing and consulting in the field of the determination of the biodegradability of consumer products in solid waste disposal and wastewater treatment. Luc De Baere is the author and co-author of about 40 scientific publications in the field of anaerobic digestion and biodegradability measurements. He will present ‘Energy from Organics: Plug-Flow Digestion by Means of the Bes-Process’ and ‘Anaerobic Digestion: State of the Art 2008’ with Bruno Mattheeuws
David M. Hill
David is the principal in CycleLogic Environmental Marketing and Consultation. He has more than 15 successful years in compost marketing and management experience, with an emphasis on product management, market development and value-added positioning in the solid waste management and resource recovery industries. Mr. Hill is also the Vice President of the US Composting Council. He will present, ‘Safe Operation of Wheel Loaders, Compact (Skid Steer) Loaders and Forklifts in a Compost Facility’
M. P. Ozores-Hampton. Ph.D.
Dr. Ozores Hampton has an extended and notable career in horticulture and soil sciences, most distinguished in the area of compost production and uses. She is currently Research Associate at the University of Florida/IFAS in Immokalee and the president of Ozores-Hampton & Associates, Inc. where she is developing and evaluating various compost management techniques. She will present, ‘Composting a Real Alternative to High Density Pig Operations in Chile’ with Hernan Vidal, A. Breems and Felipe Montes.
Nellie J. Brown
Nellie J. Brown, MS, CIH, is the Director of Workplace Health and Safety Programs for Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She serves on a Cornell University Project Work Team on Composting and Land Application of Sewage Sludge. She will present ‘Hazard Reduction for Workers Collecting and Composting Road-Killed Carcasses’
D. L. Rockwood, Ph.D.
Dr. Rockwood is a Professor in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida.
He has published over 240 scientific articles and his research is currently focused on Development of fast-growing species as short rotation woody crops and Use of these genetic resources and management systems for novel applications such as phytoremediation of wastewater, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons and for windbreaks. He will present, ‘Compost Increases Dendroremediation Capacity of Fast Growing Trees’ with P. A. Proctor and M. Curtis.
G. M. Savage
George Savage is Executive Vice President of CalRecovery, Inc. , and is a registered professional engineer. He has been involved in various aspects of solid waste management for over 30 years, including biological processing of organic waste materials and management of odor from biological processing facilities. He will present, ’Design of Anaerobic Digestion Facilities for Recovering Biogas from Food Wastes’ and ‘Gaseous Emissions from Composting Facilities’ with L. F. Diaz.
Todd Williams
Todd is a Principal Technologist with CH2M HILL. He has a 27 year career in environmental engineering with experience and specific emphasis in the biosolids and organics management field, and has been involved with over 50 compost facilities nationwide. He will present, ‘The Next Wave of Aerated Static Pile Biosolids Composting Facilities - With Effective Odor and VOC Controls’
Ron Alexander
Ron is the President of R. Alexander Associates, Inc., a company specializing in market development and research for organic recycled products. Mr. Alexander is a horticulturalist with over 23 years of experience working with compost. He has also authored the ‘Field Guide to Compost Use’, and more recently, ‘The Practical Guide to Compost Marketing and Sales’. He will present, ‘Labeling Strategies for Compost’ and ‘Valuing the Composting Industry to the U.S.’
Jennifer Appel
Jennifer is a registered landscape architect, licensed irrigator, and Sol Food Web Advisor in Houston, Texas. She is the president of Landsculpture & Design, Inc. Jennifer speaks internationally and teaches green roof design, construction and maintenance classes for the Houston AIA. Ms. Appel is a partner in a compost facility; and president of Jennifer’s Landscape Vitamins. She will present, ‘Green Building Starts from the Soil Up.’
**********
P. Alagesan and R. Dheeba, Centre for Advanced Research In Zoology, India
Utilization of Earthworms in Organic Waste Management
Michael Alexander, Kessler Consulting, Inc
State-Of-The-Art in Managing Vegetative Disaster Debris
Harrison Atagana, Institute for Science and Technology Education. Pretoria, South Africa
Co-Composting of Petroleum Refinery Waste Sludge with Manures
Ethan Beeson, Dana Cote, and Walter Hambrick, TxDOT
Sustainable Roadsides in the Houston District
Edwin Blosser, Midwest Bio Systems. Tampico, IL. Grey Williams, Dextera, Inc.
Turning Compost into Cash: One Farmer’s Experience in Saving Big and Gaining Bushels
Joaquín A. Chong, University Of Puerto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station
Aerated Static Pile Construction in Puerto Rico for Coffee Pulp Composting
Kendall Christiansen, Gaia Strategies, Brooklyn, NY; Tim Evans, Tim Evans Environment, Surrey, England
Sink Your Waste: Growing International Interest in Food Waste Disposers to Achieve Food Scrap Diversion Goals
H.C. Clark, Houston, TX
Compost: Regulation, the Public Perspective
Barrie Cogburn, Txdot Design Division. Austin, TX. Scott Mccoy, KSS Consulting
Texas Finds Success in Using Compost to Control Erosion: Update on the Nation’s Largest Compost Market
Sharad Deshpande. Environmental Credit Corp.
Advances with Large and Small Scale Ambient Temperature Manure Digesters (lagoon covers)
Bob Findlen, Mirel Bioplastics. Telles, Lowell, Ma.
Experience with Biodegradable/Compostable Plastics: Mulch Films for Sustainable Agriculture
Risa Fisher, Risa Fisher & Associates
Preventing and Controlling Fires at Compost and Mulch facilities
Frank Franciosi Novozymes North America. Franklinton, NC.
Applying Lean Manufacturing Techniques to Composting Facilities.,
Scott Gamble. CH2M Hill.
Designing and Retrofit of Compost Facilities with Operations In Mind
John Goodwin, Synagro.
Being the Guinea Pig – Lessons Learned in the Startup Operations and First ever Air Emissions Source Testing of the Largest Engineered Negative Aerated Static Pile Co-composting Facility
Harry Hayes, City of Houston, Texas
The Green Waste Program in Houston
Jack Hoeck, Rexius
Are you Locked Out? OSHA Requirements for Composting Facilities
Robert Horowitz, California Integrated Waste Management Board
A Compost Emissions Primer.
Bob Kenney, Nova Scotia Environment
Increasing Organics Diversion: Maximizing Residential and Business Sector Food and Yard Waste Diversion
Mark A. King, Maine Department of Environmental Protection/Maine Compost Team
Utilizing a “Modified Static Pile” Composting Methodology to Manage White Perch, Morone americana, Mortalities.
Peter Klaich, Garick Corp.
Composting and Organics Recycling Program Development
Tom Kurtz, Kurtz Bros. Inc.
Energy from Organics: High Solids Anaerobic Digestion – Sustainable Green Energy
Sara Laimon, Environmental Charter High School, Lawndale, CA; Benjamin Reid, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA.
Environmental Education: Composting is the Foundation
JD Lindeberg, Resource Recycling Systems, Ann Arbor, MI
The status of yard waste and other organic related landfill bans will be reviewed with particular attention to Missouri and Michigan. Policy implications of landfill gas recovery, organics and avoided carbon, and behavior of the public and private sectors around this issue will be explored.
Brenda A. Lotito, Uwf, Inc. East Syracuse, New York
Using Short Term Mobile Onsite Composting Services as a Cost Management Solution for Foodservice and Hospitality Industry
Leah Lowrie, City Of San José – Environmental Services Department
Increasing Organics Diversion: District-Wide Zero Waste School Lunch Program.
John Madole, John Christopher Madole Associates, Inc.
Community Development Process to Establish Source Separated Organics Program to Reduce Costs & Carbon Emissions
Kevin P. Matthews, Canada Composting Inc.(Cci); Randy J. Cluff, Canada Composting Inc.(Cci), On., Canada
Using MSW Organics to Produce Community Based Bioenergy
Scott McCoy, KSS Consulting
The Helotis Fire, San Antonio, TX
Rod Muir. Sierra Club of Canada, Ottawa, ON
Ontario Foodscrap Collection 2006 – 08
Patson Cleopus Nalivata, University Of Malawi, Bunda College Of Agriculture, Crop Science Department, Lilongwe, Malawi; Iain T. James And Karl Ritz, Cranfield University, School Of Applied Sciences, Cranfield
Characterization of the Changu and Chimato Composting Systems Practiced by Smallholder Farmers in Malawi.
Richard Nicoletti Siemens Water Technologies. IPS Composting Systems, Shrewsbury, MA. Lewis Naylor, Apple Environmental Services, Goshen, IN, Matthew Calderiso, Bristol, RI
Mechanical Drying of Biosolids Using Agitated Bay Type Composting System.
Tim O’Neill, ECS, Seattle, WA and Charles Krauter, California State University Fresno, CA
Helping Dairymen Sustainably Manage Nutrients through Low Cost Enclosed Composting of Dairy Solids and Composting Dairy Waste in the CA Central Valley while Controlling Air Emissions, and Porducing High Quality Animal Bedding and Quality Compost
Thierry Pagé, Odotech, Montreal, Qc; B. Mesbah, Airfobep, France.
Autonomous Odour Alert System.
Alice K. Palmer, Microbial Activity Pty Ltd, Cambridge, TAS, Australia
A Closed-Loop System for Managing Organic Waste, Carbon Emissions and Plant Disease in Horticulture
Pat Parker, Hamilton, ON
On the Road to a Greener City: Strategies for Increasing Organics Diversion.
Shukra Raj Paudel Lalitpus, Nepal
High Performance Composting of Sludge from Food Industry Using Paper Mixing to Sawdust Methods.
Charles Peterson and DC Zarina Azizova, The World Bank, Washington, DC
Composting, Climate Change, and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
Brenda Platt, Institute For Local Self-Reliance, Washington, DC
Stop Trashing the Climate: Compost and Arctic Ice
The History of Biobased Plastics
Johannes Pohl, Komptech USA, Inc.
An Experience Report from Europe - How the Compost Industry Can Benefit from the Expected Growth in Renewable Heating
Emil Prpic Hamilton, ON
City of Hamilton Central Composting Facility - Unique Operating Features.
Joshua Rapport, R. Zhang, B.Jenkins, B. Hartsough, and T Tomich, University of California at Davis, CA.
Modeling the Design and Financial Feasibility of a Novel Anaerobic Digester Producing Energy from Organic Solid Waste.
Diane S. Roote and Paul J. Brezovec, Concurrent Technologies Corporation Allan W. Butler, Bremerton, WA.
Demonstration and Validation of Compost Monitoring Technologies.
Rhonda Sherman, Mark Rice, A Atkinson, M Renkow, M. Williams, NC State University; Catherine Campbell and Brian Murray, Duke University; Joe Rudek, Environmental Defense Fund
Technical and Financial Viability of Compost and Vermicompost from Swine Manure
Brad Shipp, Vice President, Cox Communications
Composting is Good Business: Comprehensive Composting Program Using Biodegradable Plastics
Garrett Smith, Stewardsmith, LLC, Portland, Oregon, Russ Davis, Organix, Inc., Walla Walla, Washington, Morris Jett, Poly-Flex, Inc.
Key Commercial Breakthrough: Producing Renewable Peat Moss Replacement from Anaerobically Digested Fiber
Nicholas J. Smith-Sebasto, Montclair State University
A Case Study of Invessel Aerobic Composting of Food Scraps on a Large, Urban University Campus
Beverly J. Storey and Aditya Raut Desai, Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University; Ming-Han Li, Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University
The Effects of Seeding Compost Filter Berms: A Water Quality and Structural Performance Study
Shouhai Yu, Daryl M. Mccartney, Lixian Zhou, Environmental Engineering, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Weixing Chen, Chemical And Materials Engineering, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Salim Abboud, Alberta Research Council, Canada
Trace Metal Mass Transfer During Thermophilic Composting
Jack Walsdorf, Converted Organics Inc., Woodbridge, NJ. Terri Smith, Princeton, NJ.
A Report on Initial Operations at New Jersey's First in Vessel Food Waste Recycling Facility and Implications for the Future of Food Waste Recycling.
Jo Zientek, Integrated Waste Management Division
Finding the Right Mix of Source Separated Collection and Back-End Processing to Maximize Organics Diversion