VIII. Markets
|
| Once the commpost is made, there is the question
of what to do with it. Americans purchase vast quantities of
soil amendments which have attributes similar to compost. However,
compost can substitute for topsoil, potting soil, and peat moss.
Potential markets for finished compost include landscape contractors,
nurseries, greenhouses, golf courses and parks. Conducting a
market survey can help determine who the potential users of municipal
compost products are and the extent of their demand for compost.
Such a survey should solicit information on the customers' preferences
about product quality, type, and form of packaging. |
 |
| Some bagged product distributors make as many
as 10 to 20 different products. Yard waste compost products include
top soil, planting mix, potting soil, and mulches. |
 |
| Compost can be distributed in various ways: for
municipal use, as a free giveaway; by wholesale to distributors,
through bulk sales, and by retail. |
 |
| Municipal applications of compost will save money
by providing material that does not otherwise have to be purchased.
Communities planning to use compost for municipal purposes, such
as reclamation of a closed landfill or refurbishing parks and
roadways, should obtain a written commitment from the appropriate
local department. Municipalities can examine how much they currently
pay for particular quantities of fertilizer, topsoil, and peat
to estimate the potential municipal demand for finished compost. |
 |
| A municipality may also make compost available
for free to residents. Most giveaway programs require the public
to go to a centrally located distribution site to pick up the
finished compost. People must usually bring their own containers
and equipment for loading the compost. Most municipalities give
away compost to residents and charge a nominal fee to bulk users.
A municipality may also want to charge a fee to non-residents.
This approach increases community awareness about recycling and
waste reduction, and returns a tangible product to residents
for their efforts at recycling |
 |
| An increasing number of municipalities market
their own compost. Bulk sales are the easiest distribution option
for a local government. However, more money can be made by bagging.
Setting up a bagging line that is mechanized requires an investment
in equipment and management staff. |
 |
|
Many municipalities do not have the promotional expertise
for marketing compost or the means to administer such a program.
In such cases, it may be an advantage to leave the marketing
of compost to the private sector. The municipality could contract
with an independent firm to market some of the compost, while
allocating the rest for utilization by the municipality.
In the Northeast, three or four large companies currently
contract with commmunities to bag, sell and distribute compost.
Participating municipalities do not make much money in their
transactions, but they do escape sometimes burdensome marketing
responsibilities.
|
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IX. Econommics
|
| The costs of a composting facility include land,
labor and equipment. The argument for financing a yard waste
composting facility is that it will divert waste that would otherwise
need costly disposal. If the compost site is closer than the
other disposal site, there will be savings in transport costs.
The finished compost can be used as a substitute for purchased
mulch or topsoil in municipal landscaping. If sold commercially,
compost can generate revenues which help defray processing costs. |
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X. Conclusion
|
| From an environmental perspective, composting
not only reduces the problems associated with landfills and incinerators,
but the finished compost adds beneficial humus and nutrients
to soil. Composting is a waste management solution which can
benefit municipalities and benefit the environment at the same
time. |
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