CWC Technology Brief
| Key Words |
| Materials: Compost
Technologies: Landscape Architecture Applications: Standard specification development Market Goals: Opportunities for compost utilization as part of landscape architecture specifications packages Abstract: Compost specifications will follow existing typical specification formats and will address compost application areas that are most useful in the current professional specifying environment. |
Introduction
This Technology Validation Project was selected for funding by the Clean Washington Center to increase the use of compost through the development of compost specifications for several common compost applications. These specifications will allow for easy and accurate implementation by landscape architects, the major specifiers of soil amendment materials.
Project Description
The project will survey landscape design professionals to determine the specifications formats most suited to the majority of their projects and the applications for which compost could be most beneficially substituted. The applications which have been preliminarily identified are:
(1) Soil Mulch for Erosion Control
(2) Soil Amendment for Planting Beds, Trees, and Shrubs
(3) Backfill Mix Component
(4) Soil Amendment for Turf Establishment/Renovation
(5) Landscape Mulch
Drafts of the specifications for the above applications will be reviewed for accuracy by members of state and national landscape design professional organizations and The Compost Council.
When the specifications have been finalized, the information will be distributed and promoted to the landscape design community via professional publications and organizations. A final report, documenting the project and including the specifications, will be published by the Center in December 1997.
This technology brief was prepared by the Clean Washington Center. The Clean Washington Center is the Managing Partner of the Recycling Technology Assistance Partnership (ReTAP). ReTAP's mission is to advance industry's use of recycled materials through technology extension services. ReTAP is an affiliate of the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program of the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology. ReTAP is also funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the American Plastics Council. Please call CWC at (206) 464-7040 with any questions. Staff engineers and a technical writer are available to help as needed.
Fact Sheet Issued: April 1997