Moving the Needle

Why Composting is Critical

Mandatory Compost Supplementation to Soil

Compost reverses global warming through deep carbon storage, AND reinvigorates out our ability to grow food. A major challenge being in MA, is that the vast amount of food we eat comes from outside New England. So we are a net importer of nutrients, and it is not cost effective to ship compost out of the area. We must expand our outlets of where compost should be used to make sure the whole system works. If compost manufacturers over-produce compost, the price plummets, and the cost of collecting food waste rises to offset that. Cities on the west coast know this and have implemented mandatory uses for adding compost to post construction soil to help cities manage rain water run-off problems due to composts' ability to soak in moisture like a sponge: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/programs/green-building/home-builders-owners/soil-standard.aspx

So step one is to divert the organics, and step two is to make sure compost has end markets. I would argue step two should be combined limiting our chemical warfare on the environment with an effort to decrease chemical fertilizers due to over fertilization causing algae blooms, low oxygen in the water, and depleting fish stocks. And even more important, restricting the use of pesticides and herbicides.

Illinois has a new law requiring municipalities, DOT, and other state agencies to use of compost:

https://news.wttw.com/2018/08/21/new-law-aims-increase-use-compost-illinois

PFAS and Contaminants in Drinking Water

PFAS are a class of chemicals that are used in a plethora of common household materials like waterproof clothes, furniture, teflon pans and other cookware, fire extinguisher foam, grease resistant paper products, carpets, cosmetics, and more. Just like the rest of the environment and our homes, composts can contain PFAS residual as a result of society's use of these chemicals. PFAS act as grease and water barriers that protect paper fibers in food packaging from becoming soggy. Over the last 15 years some PFAS chemicals have been phased out in the US and as a result, their levels detected in humans and the environment have been dropping.

With most environmental contaminants, as a society until we stop producing PFAS chemicals for use, we will continue to see these 'forever chemicals' in our households, environment and drinking water. We at Black Earth Compost do extensive testing to ensure our compost is high quality. We have rules on what we can accept. We grow food out of our compost that we feed to our families too, so we want to create a very healthy compost that we can use ourselves. This is why we continue to require everybody use BPI certified compostable food service packaging. BPI has a very strict threshold regarding PFAS that is in sync with the European standard.

The primary concern for us is to be careful on getting the right paper products, especially pressed fiber products such as trays, plates, and pizza boxes. That's why we ask that "when in doubt, throw it out". Seek out BPI certified compostable products and inquire respectfully to business owners about certifications they require for their compostable service items. With the public's recent awareness of this issue we can push for adoption of BPI's high standards and leadership. Bottom line: use BPI certified stuff not for composting's sake, but because you don't want PFAS in your food.
List of BPI certified items...
-CEH comprehensive list of PFAS-free compostables
-EcoProducts 'Vanguard' products (Limited availability currently)
-Earth To Go - http://earth-to-go.org/ -Trays and plates