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Survey conducted by a market development organization, to quantify existing green compost utilization and calculate the replacement markets bringing higher values, focusing on the populations of the Glasgow and Clyde valley regions of Scotland is described. The use of prevailing compost products with the replacement options and the hurdles faced while promoting the sales of green compost indicate that the surveyed areas had a significant demand for green composts.

Traditional and Nontraditional markets need to be recognized to understand how to increase the dollar value of compost markets. Examples on how to value benefits as well as increase the baseline price of compost products are presented.

The United States Forest Service has produced a national map, using geographic information systems, to identify compost facilities that are able to help with forest fire byproduct management, and prevent future fires by removing fuel sources such as underbrush from fire-prone regions.

The American Assn of State Highway and Transportation Officials is reviewing standards for using compost in road construction projects for preventing erosion. Proposed specifications are presented for compost blanket parameters and compost filter berm media for both vegetated and unvegetated applications.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation have launched a program to incorporate compost in state and local road construction processes. Compost can be used as roadside filter berms and other erosion-control applications; the article also provides information on compost content specifications for such uses.

The Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) passed a motion recommending adoption of the Canadian standards for heavy meals in inorganic fertilizer products. The US Composting Council has developed a White Paper on the origin and recommendation for the use of Canadian standards, and implications for composting and organics recycling.

The use of compost in environmental applications, such as erosion control, biofiltration and bioremediation, is being intensively researched. Research sows that compost can often outperform traditional slope stabilization methods in erosion control. The benefits of compost in revegetation and reclamation of low quality soils include improved soil quality and reduced erosion. Bioremediation via composting is effective in degrading and changing certain contaminants.

Successful marketing programs for compost have been increasing even as end uses for compost become more numerous. In the past, marketing programs have failed to take off because of poor product quality and lack of effort on the part of compost makers. However, manufacturers have learned from their mistakes and introduced several innovations in compost marketing. These include using new varieties of feedstock for producing compost, targeting the homeowner market and integrating compost into mainstream products.

The American Association of Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) adopted standard language for Bulk Compost Rules and Regulations. It allows composters to reduce the risk to marketers of bulk compost when making nutrient claims.

Some tips are provided on how to develop a robust and reliable revenue-generating program in the field of composting.

Commercial composters should understand that the agriculture departments can greatly impact the way they do business. It can be from requiring them to pay tonnage and other registration fees, to creating minimum product standards, to changing the way the products are labeled.

A survey of 32 composters taking part in the US Composting Council's Seal of Testing Assurance Program shows that homeowners and landscapers are the top markets.

Santa Barbara County, CA, implemented a yard and garden trimmings collection program in 1997. The county contracted E&A Environmental Consultants Inc to conduct a market research and development for the county's mulch product. The market research project aims to determine if the county could market its increased volume of mulch and to secure additional mulch customers for the county. Avocado and lemon growers were cited as the primary market for the green mulch.