Managing Wastes: Composting and Land Application

Co-Chairs: Ellen Harrison, Director, Cornell Waste Management Institute, 100 Rice Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, 607 255-8576, <EZH1@cornell.edu>

Kevin Mathers, CCE Broome County, 840 Front St, Binghamton, NY13905. 607 772-8953 x130, <kjm8@cornell.edu>

PWT Members work team members. (asterisks are external stakeholders)

Allee, David, Dept. of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, 38 Warren Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; dja1@cornell.edu; 607-255-6550

Benjamin, Michelle, CCE Schuyler Co., Rural-Urban Ctr, 208 Broadway, Montour Falls, NY 14865; mlb47@cornell.edu; 607-535-7161

Berkal, Mike, CCE Seneca Co, 308 Main St Ctr, Waterloo, NY 13165; meb47@cornell.edu; 315-539-9251

Bonhotal, Jean, CWMI, CfE, 101b Rice Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853; jb29@cornell.edu; 607-255-8444

Bouldin, Dave, Prof. Emeritus, Crop and Soil Science, Cornell University, 920 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; drb6@cornell.edu; 607-255-1731

Brown, Nellie, ILR Extension, 237 Main St, Ste 1200, Buffalo, NY; njb7@cornell.edu; 716-852-4191

Drinkwater, Laurie, Horticulture, Cornell University, 124 Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 14853; led24@cornell.edu; 607-255-9408

*Fiesinger, Tom, NYS ERDA, Corporate Plaza W, 286 Washington Ave Ext, Albany, NY twf@nyserda.org; 12203-6399

Gabriel, Aaron, CCE Washington Co. County Office Building Annex, Lower Main St, Hudson Falls, NY 12839, adg12@cornell.edu; 518-746-2560

Gillett, Jim, Dept. of Natural Resources, Cornell University, 216 Rice Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; jwg3@cornell.edu; 607-255-2163

Grant, Jennifer, IPM Turf, NYS AES, 15 Kennedy Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; jag7@cornell.edu; 315-787-2209

Gruttadaurio, Joann, Horticulture, Cornell University, 20 Plant Science, Ithaca NY 14853, jg17@cornell.edu, 607-255-1792, fax: 607-255-9998

Haith, Doug, Dept. of Ag and Bio Engineering, Cornell University, 308 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; dah13@cornell.edu; 607-255-2802

Hargraves, Monica, CCE of Tompkins Co., mjh51@cornell.edu, 272-2292 ext. 124, 615 Willow Avenue Ithaca NY 14850

* Hosking, Linda, Empire State Development, EMIG, 30 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12245; lhosking@empire.state.ny.us; 518-292-5340

Ketterings, Quirine, Dept. of Crop and Soil Sci, Cornell University, Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; qmk2@cornell.edu; 607-255-3061

Johnson, Sarah, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, 661 A Lansing Rd., Fultonville, NY 12072, sjds@wizvax.net, (518)922-7937, Fax (518) 922-7646

Lamboy, Jana, IPM Ornamentals, NYS AES, 15 Kennedy Hall, NY 14853; jsl7@cornell.edu; 315-787-2207

Lehmann, Johannes, Crop and Soil Science, Cornell University, Dept of Crop and Soil Sciences, 909 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; 607-254-1236; CL273@cornell.edu

*Marion, Jim, NYS Assn. For Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, Organics Recycling and Composting Council, NYS DOCS, ENYCF, Division of Industries, 601 Berme Rd, Napanoch, NY 12458; jimdocs@catskill.net; 914 647-1054, 1653

Petrovic, Martin, Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell University, 20 Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 14853; amp4@cornell.edu; 607-255-1796

Rangarajan, Anu, Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell University, 121 Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 14853; ar47@cornell.edu; 607-255-1780

Regenstein, Joe, Dept. of Food Science, Cornell University, 8 Stocking Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; jmr9@cornell.edu; 607-255-2109

Richards, Brian, Dept. of Ag and Bio Engineering, Cornell University, 76b Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; bkr2@cornell.edu. 607-255-2463

Severson, Keith, CCE Oswego Co, 3288 Main St, Mexico, NY 13114; kvs5@cornell.edu; 315-963-7286

Steenhuis, Tammo, Dept. of Ag and Bio Engineering, Cornell University, 226 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; tss1@cornell.edu; 607-255-2489

*Suarez, Julie, NYS Farm Bureau, PO Box 992, Rt 9W, Glenmont, NY 12077; nyjsuarez@fb.org; 518-436-8495

Telega, Lee, ProDairy, 90 State St, Ste 600, Albany, NY 12207; swt2@cornell.edu; 518-462-2553

Tyler, Lucia, Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell University, 135-A Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 14853, LDT1@cornell.edu; 607-255-7884

Whitlow, Tom, Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell University, 14 Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 14853; thw2@cornell.edu; 607-255-9998

*Wolfe, Gale, Chemung County Sewer District, 600 Milton St, Elmira, NY 14904; gwofe@servtech.com; 607 733-2887

In addition to membership of any external stakeholders indicated in item #3, outline other ways your PWT plans to fully engage stakeholders in work team activities. (See stakeholder links in the webpage http://www.cce.cornell.edu/admin/program/pwts/ for background on stakeholder engagement and some ideas on ways to involve external stakeholders).

Through interaction of PWT members with stakeholders (both individuals and organizations) and in various associations. (Many PWT members are very involved in organizations that are comprised of stakeholders, participating in meetings, etc.) Through these contacts, the PWT will solicit additional input about needs and opportunities.

Through collaborative research and outreach projects involving additional stakeholders. (Many PWT members are involved in projects in collaboration with stakeholders. New PWT projects will identify and recruit stakeholders to participate.)

Through posting of questions and information on the WWW.

Through email posting of questions and information. For example, NYS DEC, Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials has expressed significant interest in this PWT and hopes to provide input through email (as well as phone and meetings).

Briefly list below up to 6 major statewide program needs that concern and will be addressed by your proposed PWT.

Use of residuals generated on farms, in homes and by businesses as soil amendments is increasing. Integrated research and extension projects will:

1) Improve knowledge and understanding of how the use of residuals fits into a systems view of agriculture and healthy soils, including better understanding the benefits and risks to users, to neighbors and to the environment

2) Develop and promote implementation of best practices for use of residuals as soil amendments.

3) Develop and promote implementation of best practices for composting residuals from farms, homes and businesses to create beneficial products and minimize risks and to help address existing and potential regulations such as CAFO.

Describe the process used with prospective PWT members to determine these statewide program needs (e.g. brainstorming meeting, mail or e-mail survey, large group discussion, small/focus-group sessions, telephone conference, agreed-upon adoption of a needs-analysis generated by another group or entity, etc.).

Based on conversations with prospective PWT members, the co-chairs developed draft list and circulated via email for comments. Since this PWT grows out of pre-existing Waste Management work group, these needs have been discussed and identified over recent years.

In general, what major PWT programs or activities are planned (or will be explored) to address the statewide program needs identified above?

Current projects related to these needs include: research and outreach on fate and transport of land applied materials; testing of composts for pathogens, growth properties and contaminants; with stakeholders throughout NY and the northeast exploration of compost labeling; documentation of on-farm composting practices; development of a computer tool to assist farms in composting; compost quality (pathogens, metals, maturity) are just beginning; suppression of turf diseases with compost.

Presentations and interactions with existing groups and organizations beyond those participating in this PWT (like NYS Certified Crop Advisors, NYS DAM, NYS DEC, NRCS, NYS Soil and Water Committee, NYS Solid Waste Federation, Local government associations, professional associations such as the Water Environment Federation and the turf and landscaper groups).

Publications, fact sheets, videos, and WWW materials will be developed and made available.

Beyond these efforts, one of the goals of the PWT will be to identify specific areas for additional work and potential sources of funding.

What intended outcomes would your PWT hope to realize from these potential programs/activities?

Farmers, landscapers, turf managers, and homeowners (and their advisors) will have available and make use of research-based information to make decisions regarding when and how to use residuals thereby increasing yields and reducing risks.

Farmers, landscapers, homeowners and others producing composts will improve their products and marketing of those products.

State, national, and local agencies will have available and make use of research-based information to make decisions regarding policies and permits pertaining to the land application of residuals.

State, national, and local agencies will have available and make use of research-based information to make decisions regarding policies and permits pertaining to production of soil amendments from waste residuals.

Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and others will have enhanced capacity to develop and deliver educational programs related to the use and of residuals and production of soil amendments.

In what ways will your PWTs programs and activities be evaluated? Outline in brief your early thinking as to how PWT efforts will be evaluated for outcomes, effectiveness, and impact.

PWT activities and program accomplishments will be assessed by its full membership annually. Through existing venues such as conferences and meetings, stakeholders will be asked to evaluate PWT programs. The co-chairs are prepared to give a presentation on PWT accomplishments and impact to CCE and CUAES administration and to the appropriate Program Council at its annual conference.

What timeline do you view as appropriate for your PWT to carry out its programs/activities and to realize hoped-for outcomes?

One year ________ Two years ____ ___ Three years ___X____

What steps does your PWT intend to take to further the integration of research and extension in its programs/activities?

The projects and activities of the PWT do and will involve both researchers, stakeholders and extension educators in project design, development and implementation. Most PWT members are participants in organizations with interest in this area and they will be conduits to help information on needs and opportunities to flow between the groups.

What steps does your PWT intend to take to foster multi-disciplinary collaboration and approaches in addressing the statewide program needs identified above?

The PWT members represent a multidisciplinary group, with expertise from hydrology to compost production. Many members of the PWT are engaged in collaborative projects now, and the PWT will provide a means for involving additional players (researchers, educators and stakeholders) in collaborative work (including obtaining grant funds, doing joint educational work, developing materials).

All recognized PWTs will be eligible to receive $4,000 to support work team operational costs. Please indicate below, in a general breakdown (in dollars), how your PWT might utilize/allocate such annual support:

Communications: - conference calls, mailings, copying $1000

Meetings: $800

Website: $700

Travel: $1500 (costs for participants to attend annual meeting)

Other (specify):

TOTAL: $4,000

What other internal (Cornell and/or CCE association/regional-affiliated) sources of support, if any, are already committed to support work team activities?

PWT members' time. Current Hatch and Smith-Lever funding is supporting some projects related to PWT goals.

What external (non-Cornell and/or CCE association/regional-affiliated) sources of support, if any, are already committed to support work team activities?

Current NYSERDA, USDA and SARE funding is supporting some projects related to PWT goals.

What external sources of support will be targeted and sought to support work team activities?

The PWT will be exploring additional support from USDA, NYSDEC, NSF, other state and federal agencies, and foundations for its activities.