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Reports that Bruce Zimmerman received the Queen's Global Jubilee Commemorative Medal for his contribution and support for the Canadian Plant a Row-Grow a Row program.

The article offers information on the national specification standard for compostable plastics in Canada. It mentions that the said standard is on the consultation stage and it will be reviewed by the Standards Council of Canada. Meanwhile, the BNQ 9011-911: Compostable Plastic Bags—Certification Program is the current standard used in the country. Moreover, the ISO standard for composting plastics is also mentioned.

The article provides update on a number of composting programs by the Composting Council of Canada. Regional workshops across the country will be loaded with information on local and national initiatives that are propelling composting development forward. The Compost Quality Alliance, a voluntary initiative that would enhance the testing and marketing of finished compost, is being incorporated into compost production usage programs. Grow a Row is a public campaign encouraging gardeners to plant an extra row of vegetables and donate the harvest to their local community food-sharing agency.

The article presents information on the introduction of organics recycling by the Canadian composting industry. Even though organic recycling has come a long way, there are a number of specific issues designed to support the move-forward-needs of composting programs in Canada. The first priority is for all of the provincial and territorial ministries of the environment to incorporate the guidelines released by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. The recently updated version is automatic in some jurisdictions. The product quality program of Canada requires to be expanded to address both regulatory requirements as well as the agronomic parameters of compost. To advance the credibility of the composting industry, the operator certification program stresses its importance. It will involve a series of levels, which will cover various aspects of relevance to large-scale composting operations. Another significant area that need to be considered is the establishment of a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) protocol, which will help determine composting's contribution to GHG reduction.

The article discusses the need for funding and setting priorities for organic recycling in the composting industry to attain environmental and economic sustainability in Canada. The author comments on the sixth Canadian extended producer responsibility (EPR) conference to discuss the implementation of EPR programs across the country in which the issue on organic residuals was not even hashed out. She is persuading the industry to look for solutions for financing of organics recycling.

Opinion. Focuses on the Canadian compost standards. Organizations responsible for the development of standards; Compost maturity indicator tests; Criteria used as the basis of the standards; Regulatory provisions for product safety, benefit claims and labeling; Foreign matter mass content limits for organic wastes.

Presents an obituary for Mary Appelhof, an earthworm educator, who died in 1936.