In this presentation given to the Maryland Highway Administration's Recycled Materials Task Force, Brenda Platt outlines how compost use can control soil erosion.

1. Controlling Roadway Soil
Erosion with Compost
By Brenda Platt, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Co-Chair, National Capital Region Organics Task Force
Presented to Recycled Materials Task Force
MD State Highway Administration
October 24, 2012

2. Outline
What is and why compost?
Compost markets & applications
Focus on soil erosion mitigation and stormwater management
Soil-amended soil as best management practices
Soils for Salmon and Building Soil projects
Texas DOT & other models
Spotlight on Filtrexx
Maryland drivers:
 Green Maryland Act of 2010
 Compost Bill: HB 817 (2011)
 Chesapeake Bay & watershed problems

3. What is composting?
Composting is the aerobic, or oxygen-
requiring, decomposition of organic
materials by microorganisms under
controlled conditions.
During composting, the
microorganisms consume oxygen.
Active composting generates heat,
carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
Composting reduces the volume and
mass of the raw materials while
transforming them into a valuable soil
conditioner.
Source: Robert Rynk et al, On-Farm Composting Handbook, 1992.

4. Composting, lots of models

5. Growing in Maryland
University of MD program

7. Why not MD compost?
Maine produced compost
sold at Maryland retail
outlets

8. Benefits of Composting
 Creates a rich nutrient-filled material, humus,
 Increases the nutrient content in soils,
 Helps soils retain moisture,
 Reduces or eliminate the need for chemical
fertilizers,
 Suppresses plant diseases and pests,
 Promotes higher yields of agricultural crops,
 Helps regenerate poor soils,
 Has the ability to cleanup (remediate)
contaminated soil,
 Can help prevent pollution and manage erosion
problems, and
 Saves money and promotes the green economy.

9. Compost Applications
landscape and nursery
agricultural and horticultural
vegetable and flower gardens
tree and shrub planting
sod production and roadside
projects
wetlands creation
soil remediation and land
reclamation
sports fields and golf courses
sediment and erosion control

10. Compost: Foundation of healthy
soil and green infrastructure
Stormwater management (low-
impact development)
Water conservation (the cheapest
“new supply” of water)
Sustainable landscapes
Sustainable local/regional
agriculture
Added benefit of cost-effective waste diversion
Source: David McDonald, Seattle Public Utilities & Washington Organic Recycling
Council, Soils for Salmon Project.

11. WA Dept. of Ecology Stormwater BMP:
“Post Construction Soil Quality & Depth”
Retain native soil and vegetation wherever
possible
All areas cleared and graded require 8-inch
amended soil depth:
 Soil organic matter content 10% for landscape beds,
 Soil organic matter content 5% for turf areas

12. Benefits of Soil Best Practices
Better erosion control
Easier planting, healthier
plants
Easier maintenance
(healthier plants, fewer
weeds, less need for water,
fertilizer, pesticides)
Reduced stormwater run-
off, with better water
quality
Regulatory compliance
(current and upcoming
regs)
Source: David McDonald, Seattle Public Utilities & Washington Organic Recycling Council, Soils for Salmon
Project; and Soils for Salmon website: http://www.soilsforsalmon.org/why.htm#compost

13. www.buildingsoil.org

15. Benefits of Compost Use on Roadside
Applications
Improves the soil structure, porosity, and bulk density, thus
creating a better plant root
Increases infiltration and permeability of heavy soils,
reducing erosion and runoff
Improves water holding capacity in sandy soils, reducing
water loss and leaching
Supplies a variety of macro and micronutrients
Controls or suppresses certain soil-borne plant pathogens
and nematodes
Supplies significant quantities of organic matter
Improves cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils,
improving their ability to hold nutrients for plant use
Supplies beneficial microorganisms to soils
Improves and stabilizes soil pH
Can bind and degrade specific pollutants
Source: Ron Alexander, Compost Use on State Highway Applications, The Composting Research and Education
Foundation and US Composting Council, available online at:
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/composting/highway/index.htm

16. Potential “Roadside” Applications for
Compost
Photo Credit: Denbow,
www.denbow.com
Source: Ron Alexander, Compost Use on State Highway Applications, The Composting Research and Education
Foundation and US Composting Council, available online at:
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/composting/highway/index.htm

17. Erosion Control with Compost

18. Compost Blankets
Retain large volumes of water, which aids in
vegetation growth
Acts as a cushion to absorb the impact
energy of rainfall which reduces erosion,
Stimulates microbial activity that increases
the decomposition of organic matter, which
increases nutrient availability and improves
the soil structure,
Provides a suitable microclimate with the
available nutrients for seed germination and
plant growth, and
Removes pollutants such as heavy metals,
nitrogen, phosphorus, fuels, grease and oil
from stormwater runoff, thus improving
downstream water quality.

19. Photo Credit: Barrie Cogburn, Texas DOT

20. Compost Filter Berms (sediment control)
The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) and some state DOTs have issued specifications for filter berms
(AASHTO, 2003; USCC, 2001). These specifications describe the quality and
particle size distribution of compost to be used in filter berms, as well as the size
and shape of the berm for different scenarios.

21. Compost Filter Socks
A compost filter sock is a type of contained compost filter berm. It is a mesh tube filled
with composted material that is placed perpendicular to sheet-flow runoff to control
erosion and retain sediment in disturbed areas. The compost filter sock provides a three-
dimensional filter that retains sediment and other pollutants (e.g., suspended solids,
nutrients, and motor oil) while allowing the cleaned water to flow through. The filter
sock can be used in place of a traditional sediment and erosion control tool such as a silt
fence or straw bale barrier.

22. Photo credits: Dwayne Stenlund, CPESC
Minnesota DOT; Tom Glanville, Iowa State
University; and Jason Giles, CPESC, Rexius

23. TxDOT: award-winning model
BMP Materials for Storm
Water Pollution Prevention
Plans:
Compost manufactured
topsoil
Erosion control compost
General use compost
Erosion control logs
TxDOT one of the largest compost markets for
compost nationally: 400,000 cubic yards/year

26. US Composting Council

27. Filtrexx (many products/patents)
www.filtrexx.com
Old system: silt fence

28. Filtrexx: sample products
Slope Protection and
Erosion Control
Vegetated Walls Blanket Sediment Trap

29. Maryland Drivers
Green Maryland Act of 2010 (SB 693):
“each state unit shall review annually the
procurement specifications currently used by the unit
[commodities using recycled materials]” & “A state
or local unit responsible for the maintenance of
public lands in the state, to the maximum extent
practicable, shall give consideration and preference to
the use of compost in any land maintenance activity
that is to be paid for with public funds.”
Compost Bill (HB 817): “make
recommendations about how to promote composting
in the State, including any necessary programmatic,
legislative, or regulatory changes”
Bay watershed implementation plans

30. Changing Climate, also a driver
Intense storm events – stormwater loading, flooding,
wind damage
Precipitation variability – alternate drought and
flooding
Agricultural productivity – soil loss, weather
Source: David McDonald, Seattle Public Utilities &
Washington Organic Recycling Council, Soils for Salmon
Project.

31. Contact
Brenda Platt
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
bplatt@ilsr.org
www.ilsr.org
For model policies, please visit:
http://www.ilsr.org/initiatives/composting/
and click on “Rules”