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Pre-Conference Training & Workshops
Learn from the experts!
All full-day workshops (or two half-day workshops) include lunch.
USCC Foundations of Compost Training Course
The course will provide a solid understanding of the foundations of composting for operators, managers and regulators. The course will train new composters on the basic principles and techniques of composting and will reacquaint veteran composters with the underlying fundamentals of their profession. This will include the review for the SWANA/USCC Manager of Composting Programs Certification exam to be given on Tuesday at 3:30 PM
8:30 AM-4:30 PM | members: $195 | non-members: $245 | max. of 60 attendees
Instructors
Dr. Robert Rynk is an environmental and agricultural engineer. He is the editor of the ‘On-Farm Composting Handbook’, and a faculty member with the State University of New York at Cobleskill.
Matthew Cotton, Integrated Waste Management Consulting, LLC. Matt teaches SWANA's Manager of Composting Programs Course and has over 20 years experience in composting.
Odor Management and Odor Control For Windrow Composting
This workshop will provide information and discuss odor management for various handling systems and control technologies for windrow composting. Methods of odor assessment will be presented. Odor modeling and its value will be discussed. There have been several studies concerning odor as a potential public health issue. As a result there have been several legal actions against operators. This aspect will also be discussed.
8:30 AM-12:00 PM | members: $145 | non-members: $195 | max. of 45 attendees
Instructors
Jeff Gage, Compost Design Services, Olympia, WA, 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. He consults with compost operations to improve the many variables that may contribute to their total odor impact.
Health & Safety Training for Compost Facility Personnel
This one-day program covers the specific health and safety concerns of the composting operation, including mechanical hazards of equipment, heat/cold stress, overexertion injuries, engulfment, and the biological and chemical hazards of raw materials and the composting process steps.
8:30 AM-4:30 PM | members: $195 | non-members: $245 | max. of 50 attendees
Instructors
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 is the author of “Composting Safety and Health†in: Rynk, R. et al. (Eds) (tentative 2008). On-Farm Composting Handbook. NRAES Cooperative Extension. Ithaca, NY
Compost Marketers Toolkit
Provides training for compost sales and marketing staff on the basics of compost marketing and sales, as well as providing pertinent technical information on compost benefits, and plant and soil responses (ammunition for the compost salesperson). The workshop provides marketing insight, sales techniques and sales tools for new salespeople, as well as veteran, compost sales staff.
8:30 AM-2:00 PM | members: $195 | non-members: $245 | max. of 40 attendees
Instructors
Ron Alexander, a horticulturist and veteran compost salesman and sales/marketing manager with 25 years of experience in compost marketing, sales and end use.
How to Use Compost: Fruit, Vegetables, Ornamentals, Golf Courses, Landscaping, Forestry, Diseases Suppression and Organic Agriculture
Appropriate compost utilization for agriculture, horticultural and landscape products must ensure a proper balance between organic applied nutrients and the nutrients needs of the particular crop being produce, and must consider potentially harmful effects such as plant phytotoxicity and or presence of heavy metals. Attendees will learn compost use for specific crops based on composting principles and promote the improvement of soil physical, chemical and biological properties by the correct use of composts.
8:30 AM-4:30 PM | members: $195 | non-members: $245 | max. of 40 attendees
Instructors
Dr. Monica Ozores-Hampton, has more than a decade of experience researching compost production and utilization, Dr. Don Rockwood and Dr. Ronald French-Monar, University of Florida/SWFREC
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities: Green Roof Design 101
This course will provide participants with an overview of plants and growing medium design considerations and maintenance for green roof assemblies. It establishes design and implementation best management practices. Discussion includes the principles of plant physiology and soil sciences as they apply to green roofs; identify appropriate applications of various plant and growing material for your green roof project; understand the technical requirements for growing medium and plant life; and, understand the potential implementation issues related to plant care and growing medium contamination.
8:30 AM-5:00 PM | members: $349 | non-members: $399 | max. of 40 attendees
Instructors
Rick Buist is a pioneer in green roof design
**NEW** Compost Business Management
This one-day program will be of benefit to both newcomers and experienced composters. The seminar covers the business management aspects of developing and running a compost business. Topics to be covered will include: the basics of business management, developing a new composting business, business expansion and growth, and exiting a business, among other topics.
8:30 AM-4:30 PM | members: $195 | non-members: $245 | max. of 40 attendees
Instructors
Craig Coker is a Principal in the firm Coker Composting & Consulting, and is an experienced composter and small business owner. He is the author of “Composting Enterprise Management†in: Rynk, R. et al. (Eds). On-Farm Composting Handbook, 2nd Ed., (tentative 2009), NRAES Cooperative Extension. Ithaca, NY, and is authoring a new book, Composting Business Management, to be published in 2010. He has taught seminars in compost business management in North Carolina and in Georgia.
Tom Spiggle is a Principal of the Law Offices of J. Thomas Spiggle, Esq. Tom Spiggle is an attorney who has worked in a number of governmental positions and private law firms since graduating with honors from Georgetown University Law Center in 2001.
Andrew Kessler is a Managing Director and Founding Member of Turning Earth, LLC. Prior to launching Turning Earth, Mr. Kessler spent 15 years as an investment banker holding various senior positions as a Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions professional at various firms including HSBC, Waller Capital, Morgan Stanley and Duff & Phelps.
**NEW**Aerated Static Pile Composting: Applications and Advancements
This course is for experienced composters who would like to expand beyond the basics of leaf and yard waste composting into food residuals, manures and other challenging materials. Participants will learn the differences among various systems, how to determine fan size and piping, and what kind of environmental protection and permitting is needed.
9:00 AM-4:00 PM | members: $195 | non-members: $245 | max. of 50 attendees
Instructors
Peter Moon, PE, O2 Compost, has 25 years of experience in setting up compost facilities to process organic waste with aeration and to keep this process simple, systematic and affordable
How to Develop a Successful Organics Diversion Program
Sustainability is on the top of the list of all companies and organization's goals. The development of organic diversion programs will be of utmost importance for the next decade. This workshop will outline a formal procedure for developing an organic diversion program. Participants will receive a booklet of all containing the necessary waste audit documentation and tracking forms for program implementation.
1:00 PM-4:30 PM | members: $145 | non-members: $195 | max. of 40 attendees
Instructors
Peter Klaich, Vice President, International Environmental Management, is an international expert in the biodegradable plastics market arena and program development infrastructure.
Michael Manna, Managing Director of Organic Recycling Solutions, LLC. Specializing in the development of organic waste diversion programs, recycling project solutions and resource development.
**NEW**Compost Specifications to Help Municipal Governments, Landscape Architects, Engineers, and Landscape-Related Professionals Better Specify and Use Compost
Join us for this interactive workshop that will integrate discussion of local needs with experiences in specification implementation in California and Texas for Cal Trans and TXDot type applications. There will be a special focus on partnerships between Municipalities, Compost Producers, and End users to increase compost use through public procurement, policy drivers and standardized specification. Specification guides will be provided as samples for replication, and each use will be discussed from a marketing perspective by Ron Alexander. Don't miss this opportunity to increase compost use in your area through partnership and standardized specification.
2:30 PM-5:00 PM | members: $95 | non-members: $145 | max. of 50 attendees
Instructors
Michele Young is the Environmental Services Director with the City of San Jose, CA. She has extensive experience with the development of backyard composting programs, organics diversion and zero waste planning.
Ron Alexander 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 24 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’.