Turning waste to worth: Hands-on workshops for composting meat processing waste
Sustainable Agriculture
Rachel Wieme
Washington State University
Walla Walla
Abstract
Nearly 20,000 small and direct-marketing farms, ranches, and families raising livestock and poultry rely on Washington state’s small scale meat processors and slaughter facilities. There is desire and a pressing need from small meat processors for cost-effective, convenient, and environmentally-sound ways to dispose of the waste from animal processing. Increased limitations for available disposal options such as rendering have contributed to nearly 70% of this waste being sent to landfills, thereby wasting valuable nutrients and increasing methane emissions. The recent Washington State Organics Management Laws – which aim to divert organic materials from landfills – may further impact access and cost for businesses landfilling meat processing waste. Composting is one alternative strategy that allows this waste stream to be safely repurposed into a valuable soil amendment. This project addresses the knowledge gaps and barriers that exist for producers and processors to compost their animal harvest waste. Multiple approaches have been used to raise interest, conduct ongoing needs assessment, and disseminate information, and reduce barriers – including presentations at producer and processor-focused events and conferences, webinars, publication of an Extension factsheet, and engagement with multi-agency organizations and work groups. The highlight of the project is a hands-on workshop that has been hosted in three locations (to date). These workshops offer information that producers/processors need to begin or refine their animal byproduct compost practices, including presentations and activities on: the mechanics of composting, evaluation of feedstocks, navigating regulatory concerns, resources from state and local agencies (e.g., cost-share opportunities), an interactive demonstration with a working compost pile that contains offal, and a facilitated discussion around industry needs and existing barriers. Impacts from these workshops will be presented; preliminary analysis indicates 96% of participants report increased knowledge and 88% are “very likely” or “likely” to consider or recommend composting offal. Ongoing demand for these workshops and presentations is demonstrated by conservation districts adopting the curriculum to offer more workshops for their local producers/processors, invitations to partner with state agencies and regional workgroups to reach a broader audience, and participants flying in from other states to attend the workshop.
Authors: Rachel Wieme
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Rachel Wieme ANR Extension Specialist, Assistant Professor, Washington State University , Washington, 99362