Subject: Re: Question on certification of organic by-products
From: "Lynn Lucas" <meslmcl@duplinnet.com>
Organization: Ye 'Ol Disorganized NNTPCache groupie
Date: 1 Dec 1997 22:15:19 GMT
Message-ID: <MOD$971201.3451@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$971126.381@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
Whether or not your ash product would be suitable for certification as
"organic" would depend entirely on the process that produces it. Generally
speaking, the more it is "processed," the less likely it is to be
appropriate for certified organic systems. It's likely that a fly ash or
bottom ash would be unsuitable for certification.
While there has been an effort to become more "scientific" when evaluating
proposed materials and products, EPA testing methods and other evaluation
criteria routinely used in the scientific and regulatory world have not
found their way to the organic mainstream. Decisions on whether or not a
material or product receives an "organic" designation has more to do with
how close it is to a natural state and not TCLP or other test results.
However, that doesn't mean that your end product does not have value as an
agricultural amendment for conventional growing systems. My suggestion is
to contact your state's department of agriculture for information on
licensing a fertilizer. Also ask for contact information on your state's
organic certification agency ... there may be no such agency, it may be
handled by the department of agriculture, or it may be handled by a private
agency.
If you are unsuccessful in getting contact information for certification,
please let me know and I'll try to dig up some phone numbers for you.