Events Are Occurring Around the U.S. for International Compost Awareness Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Linda Norris-Waldt, Marketing Specialist
4/30/2014 lnorriswaldt@old.compostingcouncil.org/301-897-2715
Events Are Occurring Around the U.S. for International Compost Awareness Week 2014– May 5-11
People around the U.S. are playing with dirt next week.
They will learn how to compost with worms; tour local composting facilities; watch a film about the importance of soil with a “pre party”; or take their children to a compost-themed storytime.
These events and many others are being offered in dozens of communities around the U.S.—and even the world—in celebration of the 11th annual International Compost Awareness Week, the compost industry’s largest educational awareness campaign.
Lobbying. Some local composting advocacy groups and enthusiasts are marking the celebration with lobbying of their local officials for regulations that are easier on compost manufacturing, that encourage use of compost in public projects, and educate about composts’ critical use in retaining water and nutrients and soil. The Association of Compost Producers in California, the lead compost organization in the drought-stricken state, is lobbying its state officials for pro-composting legislation, noting that compost helps retain moisture in soil.
Events. Environmental and recycling groups around the U.S. have planned festivals, compost giveways, training events and other educational activities around compost during the week of May 5-11. Events are listed on the USCC’s International Compost Awareness Week Events Calendar, at https://old.compostingcouncil.org/icaw-press-and- events/ To add an event, contact Linda Norris-Waldt, Marketing, 301-897-2715 or lnorriswaldt@old.compostingcouncil.org.
National Poster.The winning poster symbolizing the year’s activities was submitted by a high school student from Vietnam whose studies taught him the disadvantages of chemical fertilizer and the benefits of compost and is displayed at many of the events.
The design of Tam Pham Hoang Buu, a 12th grader at the ABC International School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, won from a field of 116 submissions in student and adult categories, coming from 29 countries around the world, with about half from the United States. This posters are now available for purchase in the USCC store, at www.old.compostingcouncil.org/publications.
The Soil Connection. This year’s theme, Compost: The Solution to Sustainable Soil and Water, generated interest from many contestants who are gardeners or concerned about growing food pesticide-free. Many also incorporated other uses of compost into their designs that referenced green public works uses, such as projects to slow down erosion from stormwater.
“It is clear from these entries that the benefits of compost for clean soil and water resonate around the world,” said Jeff Ziegenbein, chair of the USCC’s International Compost Awareness Week Committee and project manager for Inland Empire Regional Composting Authority in California.
“This competition allows me to have a chance to protect the environment through the use of design,” Tam said.
International Compost Awareness Week is an annual multi-media publicity and education campaign that showcases composting and compost products, from backyards to large-scale composting facilities. Sponsors of this year’s campaign include: BioBag, BioCycle Magazine, City of Los Angeles, Composting News, Filtrexx International, Georgia Recycling Coalition, MSW Management Magazine, NatureWorks, Recology, Reotemp, St. Joseph Regional Health Network, StopWaste.Org, Vermeer, Waste Management, WeCare Organics.
The U.S. Composting Council is a national organization dedicated to the development, expansion and promotion of the composting industry. Established in 1990, the USCC achieves this mission by supporting and performing compost-related research, promoting best management practices, establishing standards, educating professionals and the public about the benefits of composting and using finished compost. USCC members include compost producers, marketers, equipment manufacturers, product suppliers, academic institutions, public agencies, nonprofit groups and consulting/engineering firms.
The USCC is a non-profit 501(c) (6) organization that also directs the Composting Council Research and Education Foundation (CCREF), a 501(c) (3) charitable foundation, which administers public and private research and education activities.
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