Current Announcements
2020 Better Composting School has been cancelled due to COVID-19
Composting is becoming the method of choice for converting organic waste into a marketable, commercial product. Service-providers in the horticultural industries, like nurseries, greenhouses, landscape contractors, garden centers, and landscape maintenance companies, are major users of organic matter and fertilizers. But getting these operations and their clientele to accept commercial compost alongside commonly used agents (such as fertilizers, processed manures, and peatmoss) requires controlled production conditions and standardized methodology.
Since commercial compost can be manufactured from a variety of waste materials, a variety of standards have been established based on end-uses. Managers of composting facilities must be familiar with these standards and with the waste materials and composting systems that can best produce the desired products. Composting to produce a product that is consistent in quality will require good management and quality control.
By enrolling in the Mid-Atlantic Better Composing School, participants will not only learn the basics of making good compost, but they will also have the opportunity to tour commercial operations, perform product sampling and learn simple procedures for compost testing.
Meets the training requirement to become a Certified Compost Operations Manager. For more info, go to www.certificationsUSCC.org.
BCS (or Mid-Atlantic Better Composting School)
Note: 2020 Better Composting School has been cancelled due to COVID-19
Mid-Atlantic Better Composting School
Where:
Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Bldg 005
Beltsville, MD 20705
Topics Include:
Introduction, Science of Composting, Processes and Equipment, Site Selection, Feed Stocks and Mixes, Composting Mortalities, Processes and Odor Control, Computer-Aided Recipe Making, Tour of 4-5 Commercial Composting Facilities, Collect Compost Samples for Laboratory, Health and Safety Issues, Compost Quality and Standards, Laboratory Procedures for Compost Quality, Compost Utilization, & Marketing and Economics.
For further information, please contact:
-
Gary Felton (curriculum)
-
Tina Scites (registration)
Past Trainings
Contact:
Gary Felton
gfelton@umd.edu
301-405-8039
1433 Animal Science/Ag. Engineering Bldg. 142
College Park, MD 20742
Short Courses
Composting Short Courses:
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2014 Poultry Mortality Composting
Dead Bird Composting Course -
2013 Poultry Mortality Composting
Dead Bird Composting Course -
U.S. Composting Council Compost Operators Training Course, Sept 30 - Oct 4, 2013
Beltsville Flyer
Additional Resources & External Links
General Composting Principles
Biosolids
- Using Composted Biosolids in the Production and Maintenance of Ornamental Plants FS-501
Mortality Composting
- Composting Dead Birds FS-537
- Composting Animal Mortalities on the Farm FS-717
- Composting Catastrophic Event Poultry Mortalities FS-723
- Guidelines for In-House Composting of Catastrophic Poultry Mortality FS-801
- Cornell Waste Management Institute - Fact sheet, videos and other materials: Natural Rendering: Composting Livestock Mortality and Butcher Waste
- Composting Animal Mortalities [Minn. Dept. Ag.] (35 pages)
- Composting as a Large Animal Mortality Disposal Option in Shenandoah County [VA Tech] (17 pages)
- Guidelines for Composting Large Animal Mortalities in Maryland ENST FS-2.
- Washington State University Extension’s large animal composting guide .pdf
Food Waste Composting
- EPA food waste section of organic waste webpage.
Compost Utilization
Pad Construction
Estimating Volumes and Areas
- Determining the Amount of Manure in a Pile or a Pool FS-176
Structures
- Structures for Broiler Litter Manure Storage FS-416
State Agencies
Home Composting
- The Home and Garden Information Center has literature available concerning home composting, as well as many other topics to help manage turf clippings and other organic waste found around the home.
- Master Composters.
Vendors