New Organic Compost from the RI Landfill
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Rhode Islanders no longer need to make a trip to their local home improvement store for high-quality compost – they can literally find it in their own backyards. Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation’s Class “A” compost has been certified by the Rhode Island Department Environmental Management (DEM) Division of Agriculture for use in organic crop production, ensuring that Rhode Island residents have access to the safest and most sustainable compost on the market. The state-generated compost is used for a variety of different purposes from agriculture to sports field construction, wetlands restoration and green roof projects.
Class "A" compost
The compost, which has been certified as Class “A” – safe and effective for all uses – since 2008, is comprised of leaf and yard debris collected from Rhode Island municipalities, landscape contractors and residents. On average, RIRRC collects 40,000 tons of leaf and yard debris each year, which is then broken down through a process called open-windrow composting, which facilitates natural decomposition.
“Our compost has been Class ‘A’ certified for the past three years,” noted Brian Card, Director of Operations and Engineering for RIRRC. “This additional certification only further solidifies the high standards to which we hold our compost. It also provides an exciting opportunity for Rhode Island residents to practice environmental sustainability without giving up the quality they’re used to paying for in a retail store.”
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Compost, at its simplest level, is a natural soil improver made of decomposed organic matter. It has a host of agricultural benefits – increasing the soil’s ability to hold moisture, improving soil structure and aeration, and reducing nutrient loss – all things that make it superior to chemical fertilizers. With this new certification, purchasers of Resource Recovery’s compost will know that they are receiving the best available organic compost in the region.
Rhode Island residents can purchase compost at the RIRRC facility in Johnston for $30 per cubic yard, with a minimum purchase of at least half a yard. The compost is also available in larger quantities through RIRRC’s compost wholesaler, New England Organics. Additionally, each year, RIRRC reserves up to 1,000 cubic yards for Rhode Island’s municipalities that participate in the leaf and yard debris program. This reserved compost is available free of charge to those cities and towns for use by their Public Works and Parks Departments for municipal projects.
If you are interested in purchasing RIRRC organic compost or have questions about the composting program, please contact Brian Card at [email protected] or 401-942-1430 x140. For inquiries regarding wholesale purchases, contact New England Organics at (888) 472-9471.
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