STA Certified Compost
Quality is in the eye of the consumer: Compost use and selection decisions consider many factors, and therefore are not one-size-fits-all. The Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) Program helps you make the best decision for your application by providing the 3 C’s:
Clarity –
Similar to a nutrition label, the STA Program’s Compost Technical Data Sheet (CTDS) includes test results, a list of ingredients, and recommended directions for use.
Consistency –
The STA Program provides checks and balances within the STA Lab and Participant network to ensure proficiency and consistency with testing procedures and compliance, providing apples to apples comparisons of compost properties.
Confidence –
Similar to trusting a vehicle history report when purchasing a vehicle, the STA’s CTDS report provides consumers with confidence and knowledge of what is in the compost and how it was produced.
What does STA Certified Compost mean?
USCC Seal of Testing Assurance Certified Compost Requirements for Compost Manufacturers
For a compost product to be an STA Certified Compost from the US Composting Council, manufacturers must meet the following criteria. (This information is sourced directly from CompostingCouncil.org.)
According to the Composting Council, to be considered compost, a product must: Be created via the controlled aerobic, biological decomposition of biodegradable materials. Undergo mesophilic (68° to 113° F) and thermophilic (106° to 252° F) temperatures to reduce the viability of pathogens and weed seeds, and to stabilize carbon levels so as to be beneficial to plant growth. This thermophilic heat sanitization must meet the standards of the Processes to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRP) as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40, Part 503, Appendix B, Section B. Be used as a soil amendment or to contribute plant nutrients. Bear little resemblance to the raw material from which it was created. Be an organic matter that is able to improve the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of soils or growing media. Or a product must: Be vermicompost/worm castings (worm manure) for which all feedstocks have been composted prior to being digested by the worms. Meet PFRP standards.
STA Certified Compost products are subject to regulation from officials in order to control for environmental impact (air emissions, leachate), impact to neighbors (odor, traffic), and operational issues (safety, end product applications). In Colorado, the regulatory agency that oversees composting is the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. You can learn more about federal, state, and local regulations on the U.S. Composting Council’s Regulations page. If any issues arise with regulations or permitting, manufacturers are advised to immediately inform the U.S. Composting Council.
These labs use TMECC (Test Method for the Examination of Composting and Compost) methods and are tested against one another three times a year through the STA’s CAP program, ensuring that each lab is held to a high standard.
Product testing guidelines are as follows: Compost samples must only be sent to STA Compost Certified labs. Samples must be collected from ready-to-sell finished compost using the TMECC compost sampling methods. You can learn more about collecting samples in the “Collecting Field Samples” resource provided by the U.S. Composting Council. Compost samples should be sent in using the Chain of Custody form. Frequency of testing depends on the annual finished wet tonnage of compost that you manufacture: 1 – 6,200 tons: 1 sample per 3 months 6,201 – 17,500 tons: 1 sample per 2 months More than 17,500 tons: 1 sample per 1 month Both the compost manufacturer and the U.S. Composting Council receive test results directly from the labs.
CTDS sheets include information about the composition of a compost product, its test results, practical applications, and instructions for use.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets maximum concentrations for heavy metals like arsenic, lead, or mercury in every compost product. Products must also comply with maximum concentration limits for pathogens including salmonella and fecal coliform. These concentrations are expressed on a dry weight basis. Heavy metal concentration limits: Arsenic (As): 41 mg/Kg Cadmium (Cd): 39 mg/Kg Copper (Cu): 1500 mg/Kg Lead (Pb): 300 mg/Kg Mercury (Hg): 17 mg/Kg Nickel (Ni): 420 mg/Kg Selenium (Se): 100 mg/Kg Zinc (Zn): 2800 mg/Kg Pathogen concentration limits: Fecal coliform: <1,000 MPN/gram Salmonella: <3 MPN/gram This information is included in the CTDS for each STA Certified Compost product.
This contract ensures compliance with all of the regulations outlined on this page.
These fees help to sustain the STA Certified Compost program.
To learn more about STA Certification standards, visit CompostingCouncil.org or feel free to contact us at A1 Organics.
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