T-4-106 continues to hold as compost standard with introduction of the Organics Products Regulations

While the implementation of the Organics Products Regulations has been extended to June 30, 2009, the CFIA has advised that the Trade Memorandum T-4-106-Organic Fertilizers under the Fertilizer Act will continue to be applied to compost --- whether positioned as a fertilizer or supplement. Details of this decision were discussed at our recent national conference and may be found in the attached correspondence from the CFIA to our Council.

GHG Protocol for Composting Industry Moving Forward

Thanks to support from All Treat Farms, the City of Edmonton, the City of Hamilton, the City of Calgary and the Regional Municipality of Niagara, the development of a greenhouse gas protocol for the Canadian composting industry is underway.

The protocol will be used to quantify the direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions attained through the implementation of an aerobic composting initiative relative to having the same organic residuals landfilled.

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Winter Regional Workshops Scheduled to Brighten the Months Ahead

Like soup warming a winter day, our regional workshops are destined to brighten a couple of yours in the months ahead. Our annual regional workshop schedule is as follows:

• February 24-25: Red Deer, Alberta
• February 26-27: Agassiz, British Columbia
• March 3-4: Wolfville, Nova Scotia
• March 9-10: London, ON
  (in conjunction with the Growing the Margins conference)

Vancouver, British Columbia booked for the 2009 National Compost Conference

Make one of your first entries in your 2009 calendar by marking September 30th – October 2nd as your trip to Vancouver, BC for our National Compost Conference. The Hyatt Regency Vancouver, located in the heart of the city, will be our conference headquarters with tours being planned to many of the composting heartbeats throughout the province, both pre- and post- our conference. The deadline for Call for Papers is April 3rd, 2009 with the sponsorship package also now online.

COMPOST QUALITY ALLIANCE test Facility Audit approach

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has set up a review to assess the viability of utilizing the Compost Quality Alliance (CQA) to supplement the CFIA marketplace monitoring of compost products across Canada. The Council has been working with CQA members and the CFIA to develop a facility and product audit process for CQA members which, once finalized, will become a fundamental component of the CQA program. Trial audits have been successfully conducted with Greater Moncton Sewerage Commission and Envirem Technologies’ Clarendon, NB facility. This process will now be extended to all CQA members with the plan being to have them completed by Spring 2009.

Compost Week 2009: May 3rd to 9th

Even Santa gets into the act when it comes to Compost Week --- why not you? Once you get back from your holidays, you have four full months to plan your celebration. This year, our much-anticipated poster will feature an image given to us by our UK colleagues, the Association for Organics Recycling (formerly known as the UK Composting Association). Early in the new year, we'll be able to share this with you. Stay tuned.

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Rare Opportunity to Collect International Work of Art and also Support Council’s Efforts

Graham Clarke is a British artist whose work is collected by admirers around the world. Found in both Royal and public collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Tate Gallery, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC and the British Museum, you also now have the opportunity to own one of his limited edition prints and help our Council at the same time.

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Conference Proceedings of our “18th Annual” now online

With learning shared, connections made and networks enhanced, Quebec City proved to be an excellent venue for our 18th Annual National Composting Conference. Special thanks are extended to the combined forces of our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and participants who contributed to the conference’s success.