To find out more, click here.

This year’s winning ICAW design by Jennifer Tignani, an 11th grader from Westland, MI, is still available on t-shirts, calendars, and posters – click here to visit the USCC store for more details. Get them while they’re clean!!

Governor Terry Branstad To Sign Proclamation Celebrating International Compost Awareness Week

May 6 through May 12 will mark the 13th Annual International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), an international celebration of the benefits of recycling organic waste. On May 10, 2013 Governor Terry Branstad will sign a proclamation recognizing ICAW in Iowa and commending the work of one of the state’s largest composting companies, Chamness Technology Inc.

ICAW’s celebration will be centered around the theme “Compost: Nature’s Way To Grow” as well as promoting the U.S. Composting Council’s 2013 1 Million Tomato campaign. A variety of activities are planned worldwide to celebrate. It features everything from back yard composting to large scale commercial composting facilities. For the past 13 years ICAW has grown in both strength and numbers of celebrants through its sponsors and compost advocates.

Chamness Technology has helped divert millions of tons of organics from landfills at its Eddyville facility since it opened in 1999. This is the second year that the Governor has recognized them in his ICAW Proclamation as a composting forerunner in the state.

Bethesda, Maryland — The US Composting Council (USCC) and BioCycle Magazine have formed a collaborative partnership designating BioCycle as the official magazine of the USCC. This partnership directly taps the resources, education and outreach capabilities of each organization, and reflects their commitment to grow the composting and organics recycling industry sectors.

“Combined, our organizations have been serving the composting industry in the U.S. for over 75 years. It is exciting for the USCC to now be officially connected through our new partnership with BioCycle,” says Lorrie Loder, President of the USCC Board of Directors. “This partnership with BioCycle provides an additional communications tool for the USCC and its initiatives,” says Michael Virga, the USCC’s Executive Director.

 Nora Goldstein, editor of BioCycle, is the 21^st century’s dedicated voice behind BioCycle’s mission of advancing the science and practice of conserving resources in the municipal, agricultural and industrial waste streams via “biological” conversion technologies. “There are positive signs ahead,” says Ms. Goldstein. “We have crossed the line into a new paradigm, where players beyond the BioCycle and USCC communities recognize that the resources being thrown away as waste are in fact edible food for humans, food for the soil, food to generate renewable energy and more. Behaviors and mindsets are changing, in a positive way. Our new partnership with the USCC will accelerate this change.”

 Published by The JG Press, Inc. in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, BioCycle reaches readers around the globe. “We see this new partnership as an excellent opportunity to build a stronger composting and renewable energy industry,” says Rill Ann Goldstein, Publisher of BioCycle.

 Established in 1990, the U.S. Composting Council (USCC) is the only national organization in the United States dedicated to the development, expansion and promotion of the composting industry.

 BioCycle, subtitled Composting, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, was founded in 1960 as Compost Science by Jerome Goldstein. At the time, Mr. Goldstein was editor of Organic Gardening & Farming magazine, and recognized the connection between organic wastes, composting, healthy soils and sustainable agriculture.

 BioCycle  (and BioCycle.net) is recognized internationally as the leading magazine and website on sustainable solutions for organics management. Monthly articles profile both large and small, public and private facilities and projects involved with composting, organics recycling, anaerobic digestion, food recovery and renewable energy operations.

 Contact:

Leanne Spaulding
(301) 897-2715
leannespaulding@compostingcouncil.org
www.compostingcouncil.org

Rill Ann Goldstein
(610) 967-4135, ext 22
biocycle@jgpress.com
http://www.biocycle.net/

Ms. Scozzafava was Deputy Executive Director of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) from 2004 through 2012 and has extensive experience managing budgets, government affairs, education and annual conference activities. During her tenure she helped the organization increase membership and revenue. Prior to serving as Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Scozzafava was SWANA’s Director of Technical Programs and the Recycling Services Division Manager for the Maryland Department of the Environment.

“This is a great opportunity to bring my association expertise and understanding of the industry to the US Composting Council,” said Ms. Scozzafava. “The timing is perfect to position organics management into national prominence as a major contributor to achieving recycling goals and environmental sustainability.”

Frank Franciosi, USCC Immediate Past President, added, “Lori Scozzafava brings a wealth of experience and knowledge along with the kind of passion we need to ensure our industry is in the best position possible to compete in today’s economic and environmental challenges.”
Ms. Scozzafava will be based in the US Composting Council headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland.

About the USCC

Established in 1990, the USCC is the only national organization in the United States dedicated to the development, expansion and promotion of the composting and organics recycling industry. The USCC achieves this mission by encouraging, supporting and performing compost related research, promoting best management practices, establishing standards, educating professionals and the public about the benefits of composting and compost utilization, enhancing compost product quality, and developing training materials for composters and markets for compost products. USCC members include compost producers, marketers, equipment manufacturers, product suppliers, academic institutions, public agencies, nonprofit groups and consulting/engineering firms. BioCycle, a premier industry periodical, is the official magazine of the Council.

The USCC is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization that also directs the Composting Council Research and Education Foundation (CCREF), a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, which administers public and private research and education activities.

Contact:
Leanne Spaulding
US Composting Council
301-897-2715 (office)
518-860-9793 (mobile)
leannespaulding@compostingcouncil.org

By Marc Garber : Host, WNYC News & Afternoon News Anchor, WQXR

A project aimed at improving soil and bringing fresh food production to underserved communities launches in New York City Monday. USCC representative Al Rattie explains the program.