July 2018 News
Mark Your Calendars
 
Board of Director's Meeting
Date: Thursday, August 23rd, 2018
Location: Mount Vernon WSU Research Station
16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
See below for more information.
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Compost Facility Operator Training (CFOT)
Dates: October 15-18, 2018
Location:  WSU Puyallup - Allmendinger Center
2606 W Pioneer Ave, Puyallup, WA 98371. 
Click here for more information.
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WORC Annual Conference!
Date: Thursday, November 15th with a Tagro Tour on November 16th!
2702 East D Street, Tacoma, WA 98421
See below for more information!
In This Issue
Board of Director's Meeting

Thursday, August 23rd, 2018 10:00 am - 3:00pm.
Mount Vernon WSU Research Station - 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.

Join you fellow members and the Board of Directors for discussions on VOC's and the Title 5 Permit History! Also, WSDA has a new staff member working on the Apple Maggot issue, come to hear an update on this important issue.

Tour! A tour of the Biodegradable Mulch Research Study has been arranged from 9:00am - 10:00am at the Mount Vernon WSU Research Station. Please email Andy Bary to confirm your attendance on the tour!

Click here for our Board meeting agenda!
 
WORC members are welcome.  If you are interested in attending, RSVP to [email protected].
SAVE the DATE!!! 

The 2018 WORC Annual Conference comes up at the usual time this year but the event promises to be refreshingly new and different. Save Thursday, November 15 to meet at the LeMay Car Museum for networking, informative presentations, and seeing the fabulous cars on display.  Friday, November 16 features optional tours at the TAGRO facility and Compost Factory in Puyallup.  More details coming soon!
Board Member Spotlight
Nehemias Chalma, Natural Selection Farms

Nehemias directs operations at Natural Selection Farms (NSF) Compost Facility, Sunnyside Washington. He began working for NSF in May 2005. Under his leadership, throughput doubled as NSF regimented its pursuit of quality by establishing an in-house lab, achieving STA certification, and mandating WORC's Compost Facility Operator Training (CFOT) for facility employees.  He is appreciated by his employees and colleagues as being a developer - helping those around him grow and be successful.
 
Nehemias grew up in the heart of production agriculture and understands the needs and challenges of farmers and their soil. As a CFOT alumni, Nehemias continues to demonstrate his support of Washington's Compost Industry by serving as a CFOT instructor.
 
Nehemias was one of the first in the nation to receive the U.S. Composting Council's Certified Compost Operations Manager (USCC CCOM) Certification. In addition to CFOT, other achievements and trainings include SWANA Training and Certified Composting Systems Manager Certification (2014), Washington State Farm Bureau Supervisor Training (annual), Washington Farm Labor Association Leadership Training and Communication Summit (2013).   
Member Spotlight    
Engineered Compost Solutions (ECS)

Founded in 1999 ECS is an engineering and science-based company dedicated to the composting industry.  ECS provides technical services, compost systems & components, and product support to commercial-scale compost facilities.  ECS has provided process design and technical consulting services to over 110 facilities in North America, Europe, and New Zealand; and has provided compost systems, technology and on-going technical support to over 58 composting facilities.  Their customers are public and private entities processing a wide range of feedstocks that include: biosolids, food waste, industrial & agricultural wastes, green waste, and MSW.
 
ECS advances Best Management Practices in design and operation of composting facilities and works closely with regulatory agencies to ensure relevant, meaningful, and effective rulemaking.  Some recent efforts by ECS President, Tim O'Neill include:
  • Presentations to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Methane Expert Panel: Composting Training and Operator's Perspective on June 14th, 2018. 
  • Facility and Odor Control workshops at WORC and USCC Compost Operator Trainings: 2016, 2017, 2018.
  • Presentations to the South Coast Air Quality Management District August 2017 on "Process Factors that Drive and Control Air Emissions from Composting and the Practical Measurements of Emissions".  
ECS is exhibiting and presenting at several upcoming trainings and conferences:
  • the Compost Council of Canada (Montreal)   (conference link)
    • Tim O'Neill: Facility Enclosure: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly   (link)
    • Geoff Hill: pH and the compost process   (link)
  • Biocycle Refor18 (Raleigh NC)   (conference link)
  • Full day workshop at the USCC (Phoenix AZ) on compost facility design and operation with a focus on the science and practice of odor emission prevention (conference link).  This workshop has limited seats; check the link or sign up to the ECS list serve (link) if you are interested in being notified when registration opens.  
Become a Member!
 
WORC is the forum that provides education, networking, and advocacy to the Organic Recycling Industry. If you want to associate with the best in the industry you belong with WORC.
 Join or Renew Your Membership Now
Get Involved
 
Volunteers are the heart of WORC! -You have great ideas to share. Participate in the work that steers the industry! By serving on a committee or task force, you will help guide WORC's future.
View WORC's Committees

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