(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 2013) The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority has produced high quality yard waste compost since 1991, and has marketed over 69,000 yards to residents and businesses in Oneida and Herkimer Counties. The Authority is pleased to announce that as of September 2013, its compost has been certified by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC) under their “Seal of Testing Assurance” program, which is the only compost testing and labeling program in the Country. This means that the Authority’s compost has been rigorously tested by third party laboratories to ensure that it meets all state and federal environmental requirements.
The Authority’s finished compost is made entirely from processed brush, leaves and grass clippings, fully cured and screened to ½”. Through this certification, the Authority can promise that residents and businesses are purchasing consistent, high-quality compost that is guaranteed to provide maximum benefits.
The third party laboratory will perform chemical, physical and biological tests on the Authority’s compost quarterly to insure that the compost remains in compliance. The USCC certification will allow the Authority’s compost to be available for purchase in large volumes to professional users such as landscape architects and soil suppliers.
“Residents and businesses reap both environmental and economic benefits from using compost. Using compost enriches soil with nutrients, making plants grow better, retains moisture, suppresses plant disease, and reduces the need for costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” stated Authority Director of Recycling David Lupinski.
The Authority’s compost is available at both Utica and Rome Residential Convenience Stations.
For more information on the Authority’s compost and certification specifications, please visit www.ohswa.org or call 733-1224.