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As 2023 closes, the WORC Board would like to extend its gratitude for the support and participation of all our members. For over 30 years, WORC has maintained its Mission:
The Washington Organic Recycling Council supports—via education, research, and advocacy—public and private efforts to reclaim, reuse, and recycle organic materials, process organic materials in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner, and promote beneficial end uses.
Your commitment makes this work possible. We would like to share with you some of the things we have accomplished this year with your support.
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Compost Facility Operator Training (CFOT) |
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Since the 1990s, WORC has offered a thorough week-long training for facility operators. The first of its kind, CFOT has been emulated by many other organizations and has withstood the test of time. As regulations, science and technology have evolved, so has the curriculum. But hands-on, experiential training has been the cornerstone of CFOT since its inception. 2023 was no exception. WORC again presented foundational knowledge, pile-making experience, and composting science for over 40 students from across the region.
CFOT routinely reaches registration capacity well before the October training. Watch for announcements and early registration opportunities in mid-2024.
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Another Successful Joint Tilth Alliance/WORC Annual Conference and Tradeshow |
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With a record sellout crowd, and for the second year in a row, WORC and Tilth Alliance combined our annual conferences and trade shows. This year’s conference was held October 26th-28th at Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, WA. We were also joined by the WSU Jefferson County Extension, Regional Small Farms Program, who kicked off the three-day event with a pre-conference research symposium on “Integrated Pest Management in a Changing Climate.” Pre-conference attendees had the choice of one of two “Farm Walk Tours:” one to White Lotus Farm & Inn that included a ninety-minute, do-it-yourself biochar demonstration by Francesco Tortorici of Olympic Biochar, and the second to The Grainery, an organic grain growing and processing operation in Chimacum Valley.
Following the tours, WORC met for our annual meeting and awards where we honored retiring long- time board member, Mary Harrington, with the Outstanding Career of Service Award. Thank you, Mary, for all your hard work and dedication! Wrapping up the day with a trade show reception and happy hour.
On day two, nearly three hundred attendees had their choice of six educational tracks. Building on the prior biochar production workshop, the WORC track offered continuing discussions of the many uses of biochar, including its use as a biofiltration media in both odor and stormwater management systems. April Thatcher of April Joy Farm; Ridgefield Washington, delivered an inspiring keynote luncheon address. Attendees received an update on the ongoing and recently funded two-year compost emission study and learned how Heyday Farm and Bloedel Reserve effectively manage their small, on-site composting programs. For the final session of the day, Derek Thedell from the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture (WSDA) explained how farmers can get reimbursed for up to $10,000 per fiscal year through WSDA’s brand-new Compost Reimbursement Program as part of the new Organics Management Law.
Saturday morning, WORC attendees met in an informal, impromptu legislative committee roundtable to discuss potential upcoming legislation followed by our final educational session. Alli Kingfisher, WA Department of Ecology, gave an update on the implementation of the 2022 Organics Management Law and the road ahead. Finally, Kate Kurtz, Kelsey Bailey and Dave Keeney shared the results of their study on the Economic Benefits of Organic Amendments and the added value beyond fertility, such as reduced stormwater runoff, reduced flood risk, carbon sequestration and more
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Mark Your Calendars!
The 2024 WORC conference will be in
Vancouver, WA November 14th-16th, 2024.
See you there!
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We want to thank all our Sponsors and Trade Show Vendors.
Without your continued participation and support none of it would have been possible.
• American Farmland Trust • Barr-Tech • Cascadia Produce • Chimacum Corner Farmstand • Columbia River Carbonates • Concentrates, Inc. • DRAMM Corporation • Engineered Compost Systems • Farm Aid • Green Mountain Technologies • High Mowing Organic Seeds • Johnny’s Selected Seeds • Northwest Agriculture Business Center • Pac West Machinery/Ecoverse • Pacific Rock & Recycle Equipment Company • Republic Services • Rodale Institute • Rotochopper, Inc. • Shy Acre Farm LLC • The Food Coop • USDA Farm Services Agency • USDA NRCS • WA Food & Farm Finder | Eat Local First • Washington Health Benefit Exchange • Washington State University • WSDA Produce Safety Program • WSDA Regional Markets • WSU Farm Stress and Washington AgrAbility • WRASAP – Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program
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Between April and September 2023, WORC presented 7 webinars covering topics of interest to our members. We were able to offer one webinar, “Offal: A Not So Awful Feedstock,” at no cost to attendees thanks to a grant from the Washington Department of Agriculture. Other topics included “Research to Improve Compost Facility Air Emissions Permitting” with Tim O’Neill of ECS; “What Does Safe Look Like?” presented by Samantha Winkle of Waste Connections; “Managing Epidemic Mortalities in Poultry and Livestock with Composting” with Lynne Carpenter Boggs of WSU; “EPR in Washington and Oregon - Summaries of the WRAP Act and the Recycling Modernization Act” with McKenna Morrigan of SPU and Justin Gant of Oregon DEQ; “Implementation of HB 1799 / Washington's Organics Management Law” presented by Mary Harrington and members of the WA Department of Ecology, and; “Environmental Implications of the Food System and Food Waste Management” presented by Peter Canepa of the Oregon DEQ.
WORC is committed to bringing our members webinars that provide practical information over a breadth of topics. Planning for the webinar series will begin in early 2024. If you have a topic you would like to see in our lineup, or if you would like to present, please reach out [email protected].
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The last few years have offered a wide range of bills affecting organics management in Washington state. From biosolids to the massive Organics Management law passed in 2021, there has been no lack of opportunities for WORC to advocate for our members on important topics.
WORC has provided written comments on bills and offered live testimony at hearings on a range of bills, including the Organics Management law (HB1799) and the Plastics Product Degradability Act.
WORC supported HB 1033 in the 2022-23 session which established the Compostable Product Advisory Committee. The committee is tasked with evaluating a range of topics related to compostable product usage in the state and providing the legislature with recommendations by September 2024. Board Member Liv Johansen represents WORC on that Advisory Committee.
WORC members are actively involved in the Organics Management to Reduce Methane and Combat Climate Change work group which helps inform our organization of issues under discussion and provides us the opportunity to comment on bills in development.
The voice of each of our members matters in the legislative process. In 2023, we endeavored to provide frequent updates during the legislative session and make it easy for you to participate. We will again provide updates during the legislative session beginning January 8, 2024.
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Provide Your Input on Compostable Products Management at Organics Facilities in Washington State.
HB 1033 directed the Department of Ecology to convene a Compostable Products Advisory Committee to make recommendations about standards for managing compostable products in Washington State. To support the Advisory Committee, Cascadia Consulting Group is conducting research and interviews with organics facilities around Washington to learn more about their processes, needs, and barriers for managing compostable products.
Cascadia will be reaching out to facility operators in December and January to conduct up to 1-hour interviews. Please respond to their request for an interview; your perspective is essential to give the Legislature an accurate picture of the challenges and needs of organics facilities across Washington and inform the development of statewide standards for compostable products.
For more information about this research, please contact Hannah Swee
Hannah Swee, Director
Cascadia Consulting Group
Thank you in advance for your time and expertise!
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While the conference is a great opportunity to connect with WORC members and learn what other members are doing, there are opportunities all year long to engage with WORC and have input on the organization’s focus and offerings into the future.
WORC committees are open to all members, and we encourage you to join! Committees include:
- Legislative
- Newsletter
- CFOT
- Soils for Salmon
- Webinars
- Annual Conference
- Website
If you are interested in joining any of our committees, or just want to come to a meeting to check it out, please reach out to [email protected].
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Goodbye to a Great Advocate |
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Finally, we want to express our gratitude to Mary Harrington who is retiring at the end of this year. Mary has been a tireless WORC member and Board Member for many years. She has brought a practical approach and a wealth of knowledge to the Board, as well as a passion for organics recycling and for our planet. Mary, your influence in this organization will last far into the future. Our sincere thanks and best wishes as you move into your next chapter. |
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Washington Organic Recycling Council
5727 Baker Way NW, Suite #200 | Gig Harbor, WA 98332
1-877-460-5880
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