Our vision is to advance composting technologies, practices, and beneficial uses that support resource conservation and economic and environmental sustainability.
The Composting Council Research and Education Foundation is a catalyst for advancement of composting technologies, practices, and beneficial uses that support resource conservation and economic and environmental sustainability. The philanthropic arm of the US Composting Council, the Foundation positively impacts communities locally and globally by:
- Fostering scientific research opportunities
- Increasing awareness and educating the public
- Advancing the stature and practices of the composting industry
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CCREF News
North Carolina Scholarship Funded by the North Carolina Composting Council
The North Carolina Composting Council (NCCC) for the second year in a row is generously funding a CCREF/NCCC Young Investigator Scholarship. This scholarship is for college students studying at a college or university in North Carolina. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is July 31, 2018. The goal of this scholarship is to bring assistance and attention to emerging young professionals in the field of compost research and to spark interest in the future of the composting industry. Read more...
International Compost Awareness Week Kicks Off in Bethesda, MD
Bethesda Green, an incubator and community partner working towards building a sustainable economy, along with the Composting Council Research & Education Foundation (CCREF) and the Montgomery County Food Council (MCFC), hosted an event to kick off International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) on April 30, 2018. Read more...
CCREF is Making a Video
The CCREF is pleased to announce it is seeking to hire a video production company to produce training videos on the proper acquisition and preparation of finished compost samples to send to a lab for analysis. The video production company must have experience with on-site filming and educational film development. Familiarity with compost is a plus, though not required. Completion date for the project is anticipated to be fall 2018. For full details, see the RFP.
If interested, direct any questions or submit proposals and examples of work to Wayne Howard: waynehoward@compostfoundation.org, 919.271.6749.
Two CCREF Awards Given at the Compost 2018 Conference
Each year, the Composting Council Research & Education Foundation highlights one or two companies that has shown long-term, continued support of the work of the Foundation. Read more...
CCREF Preparing to Launch New Program on Open Source Field Testing for Certified Compostable Packaging
Read details in the recently published article in BioCycle magazine, co-authored by CCREF Education Director, Cary Oshins. Read more...
The International Compost Awareness Week Committee Announces the Winning Design for the 2018 ICAW Poster Contest
Created by talented eleventh-grade, high school student, Talia Mitre, from Rockville, Maryland, the winning entry for the 2018 ICAW Poster Contest highlights the current theme of Compost! Building a Better Future. Talia, who attends the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, explains the concept behind her design:
"I have always cared about the environment and I love doing design work. When I found out that there was a contest combining both of these I jumped at the opportunity. I wanted to show on my poster how composting can really help our world become beautiful in the future. To achieve this, I created a globe shaped as a flower growing out of a pile of compost. Compost takes what many people consider as trash and turns it into something both beautiful and useful for our planet."
Close to 300 people, age ten and above from over 30 countries, entered this year’s contest. The ICAW Committee would like to thank all the talented people who took the time to create so many amazing designs and who care about promoting compost and sustainability.
Read more...
Nominations Open for 4 CCREF Trustees
The Composting Council Research & Education Foundation is accepting nominations for new members of its Board of Trustees until December 8, 2017. If you are interested in making an impact to your industry and to the composting community nationwide, submit your application or pass along the information to someone you think would make an excellent addition to the current trustees.
For more information, please review Roles & Responsibilities or contact us at info@compostfoundation.org. Submit your application by Dec. 8th.
CCREF Picks New Scholarship Winner for the Young Investigator Scholarship Program
October 2017
Meet Russell Galanti, This Year’s Young Investigator Scholarship Winner. Russell is from Maryland originally and got his undergraduate degree in Horticulture Science from Temple University in Pennsylvania. He is now completing his Master's in Tropical Plant and Soil Science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He plans to continue his research in improving agro-ecosystem cultural management under the context of sustainable agriculture.
Russell’s project is focusing on looking at the effect of five locally sourced soil amendments on plant health and production and soil properties in macadamia orchards. The treatments are wood chip mulch, macadamia husk mulch, husk mulch with biochar, husk mulch with lactic acid bacteria inoculation, and soil profiling. He is looking at tree yield, root growth, and tissue nitrogen, as well as soil organic matter, soil nitrogen, pH and electrical conductivity. This project focuses on protecting Hawaii's limited natural resources, reducing the need for external resources. A cost benefit analysis will also be performed to determine the economic suitability of such treatments
Scholarship Given to North Carolina Student Thanks to a Donation from the NCCC
September 2017
Meet the winner of the North Carolina Composting Council/CCREF Young Investigator scholarship, Seth Heffern. Seth, an Army veteran, is now pursuing his undergraduate degree at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC. His project is based on introducing commercial composting to this region of NC in a unique manner. Seth works with GrowingChange, a non-profit start-up. Click for more...
CCREF Issues a Request for Proposals
September 2017
The CCREF is pleased to announce it is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct a literature search for published papers on the content of salts (electrical conductivity) in finished compost. The results of the search will be written up in a “White” paper and a brochure will be developed summarizing the findings will be developed. Completion date for the project will negotiated at the award of the project, but is expected to be 2-4 month after the award of the project. For more information see the RFP.
If you have questions or would like to submit a proposal you should e-mail Al Ratti at: al.rattie@compostingcouncil.org
CCREF Welcomes a New Project Manager to its Staff
July 2017
On June 5th, Wayne Howard joined the staff of CCREF, the first new staff member in over a year. Howard will be the Foundation’s new Project Manager. Howard will be working with the Foundation predominately on its Compost Operation Training Courses (COTC), researching the development of an online library, and creating webinars and videos for training and educational purposes. He brings to CCREF a wealth of knowledge and experience in agricultural waste treatment, water resources, as well as in film and developing online learning opportunities, which will be an exciting addition to the educational and resource materials offered by CCREF.
North Carolina Compost Council to Fund Scholarship
July 2017
The North Carolina Compost Council (NCCC) is generously funding a CCREF Young Investigator Scholarship for students studying at a college or university in North Carolina. The scholarship is to encourage emerging young professionals in the field of compost research to spark interest in the future of the composting industry. The ideal candidate will have interest in improving the compost process and the application and the utilization of finished compost to increase drought tolerance, soil nutrient content, reducing erosion and water pollution, and increasing carbon storage in soils to combat climate change.
To learn more click here
CCREF is Now Accepting Applications for its Young Investigator's Scholarship
May 2017
The CCREF Young Investigator Scholarship focuses on supporting undergraduate through PhD students, from a college or university in the United States, conducting research and education in the fields of composting and compost use. More specifically, the ideal candidate will have interest in improving the compost process and the application and the utilization of finished compost to increase drought tolerance, soil nutrient content, reducing erosion and water pollution, and increasing carbon storage in soils to combat climate change. Deadline is June 30, 2017
The Composting Council Research & Education Foundation Announces the Release of the Just Published The Compost & Climate Connection: A Land Manager’s Guide to Organics
February 2017
Exploring the topic of how to manage food scraps, yard trimmings and other organic materials and the impact that can have on climate change, the Composting Council Research & Education Foundation (CCREF) released The Compost & Climate Connection. This new publication, a companion to The Soil & Water Connection, provides a clear explanation of how ‘wastes’ can be looked at as resources in the fight against climate change. (read more…..)
The Composting Council Research & Education Foundation announces winner of the International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) Poster Contest
January 2017
Out of over 200 entrees from all over the world and all ages, Ursula Gutowski's design was chosen. Ursula is a graphic designer from Niles, IL. Using this year's theme of Compost! Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Ursula's design will be turned into a poster and sent across the country to help promote ICAW held May 7 - 13 this year. (read more…..)