2013 Rhode Island Compost Conference and Trade Show

321 Harborside Blvd, Providence, RI | Get Directions »
$25.00

Press ReleaseEnvironment Council of Rhode Island
Contact informationGreg GerrittCoordinator  RI Compost Initiative  Environment Council of Rhode IslandGerritt@mindspring.com    environmentcouncil@earthlink.net401-331-0529  401-621-8048http://environmentcouncilri.org

The 2013 RI Compost Conference and Trade Show takes place on Friday February 8 at the Johnson & Wales University Harborside Recreation Center 305 Shipyard St in Providence. 
The Environment Council of Rhode Island, in conjunction with many partners in the Compost Industry will present the 2013 Rhode Island Compost Conference and Trade Show on Friday February 8, 2013  beginning at 8:30 AM at the Johnson and Wales University Harborside Recreation Center, 305 Shipyard St in Providence. This year there is both a new location, Johnson & Wales University graciously agreed to host the conference,  and a new format including a variety of panels focused on developing the compost industry and practice in Rhode Island.  The keynote speaker will be Gretel Clark, the spark behind the successful Hamilton MA compost collection program, which has spread from a pilot to a full community program.  She will have much to offer us.  Other featured speakers include Mike Merner of Earthcare Farm, Ken Ayars, chief of the RI Division of Agriculture, Matt Genuso of Chez Pascal discussing how to collect compostables at a restaurant, state representative Art Handy, chair of the House Environment Committee, Dr. Robert Rafka of the URI Master Composters speaking on compost science, Paul Frade of PF Trading discusiing the hauling of commercial food scrap for composting, and vendors for Big Hanna and Biogreen 360,  in vessel aerobic systems for institutions.   We will see more sectors of the industry than at previous conferences and more for home composters than ever.  
The trade show will include a number of compost oriented businesses highlighting new trends in the industry and products individuals and businesses can use to help them manage their food scrap.  Trade show participants include:
Buxton Hollow Farm, Earthcare Farm, ecoRI News, Focused Sustainability Consulting Group, LLCFull Circle Recycling, Johnson & Wales University, Newport Biodiesel, RI Resource Recovery Corporation, Southside Community Land Trust, URI Master Composters, Vegware, Waste Management
Registration  is available at   http://www.environmentcouncilri.org/content/compost-conference-registration  For information Environment Council of Rhode island  401-621-8048

RI Compost Conference and Trade Show  Friday February 8, 2013  

Johnson & Wales University Harborside Recreation Center 

SCHEDULE

8:30 AM  Registration begins and trade show opens.

9  AM      Welcome    Greetings From hosts, conveners, and dignitaries   

9:25 AM   Charge for the day

9:35  AM       Keynote  Gretel Clark     Hamilton MA compost program 

10:15 AM  announcements

10:20 AM  head to workshops

First session of panels  10:30  to 11;25

Solutions for restaurants   Matt Genuso  Chez Pascal   Paul Frade PF Trading 

Home composting   Nancy Warner  Worm Ladies of Charlestown     Reinhard Sidor URI Master Composters

Compost science  Dr. Robert Rafka  URI  Master Composters

The environment in RI for advances in composting    Frank Jacques  Buxton Hollow Farm     Greg Gerritt  RI Compost Initiative

Second session   11:35 to 12:30

Solutions for institutions  Scott Miller   JWU    Jim Murphy   RIC     David Temple Vegware

The state of compost on Smith Hill  Rep. Art Handy   

In vessel aerobic composting   John Clifford  Big Hanna     Bill Hanley Biogreen 360

Compost, soil, and food in Rhode Island   Mike Merner  Earthcare Farm    Ken Ayars   RIDEM

Lunch and Trade Show at 12:30  in the exhibition hall

2 PM  panel   what next    Panelists    Michael O'Connell  RIRRC   John Riendeau RIEDC     Sheila Dormody  City of Providence

3 PM  next steps  closing  

3:15 PM  Trade show