| About CAV
 CAV seeks to foster a cooperative atmosphere on composting issues. Our projects and activities on emerging trends, issues, science, and technology are available to: generators of compostable materials; compost producers, marketers and consumers; educators and researchers; legislative groups; regulatory agencies; and environmental advocates. Current or past partnerships and work relationships include projects and activities with: University of Vermont’s Agricultural Extension and Plant and Soil Science Department, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and direct technical assistance to farmers and schools. Through these relationships and others, such as with watershed organizations, solid waste districts, and gardening and professional associations, we continue to expand the composting network and knowledge base in Vermont.
What are Some of the Challenges CAV is Working on?
Promoting Education. Heightened awareness leads to greater production and use of compost. We educate about the benefits of composting and compost use for soil and plant health, water quality and environmental protection.
Supporting Vermont-made Compost. The initial market for compost is very localized. Demand varies and follows consumer trends and understanding of the benefits from using compost. High price markets require capitol or labor intensive bagging. Low price markets involve selling in bulk. CAV works to promote Vermont-made compost as a high quality product.
Assessing Feedstock Availability. Compost ingredients are a tough market unto themselves. Assessing potential sources, such as liquid residuals from food processors, is essential to expand a composting operation. Increased cooperation - and where feasible, a buyers cooperative – can help lower production costs.
Advancing New Standards and Legislation. Barriers exist in the composting industry due to limited understanding of compost science and practice. CAV strives to promote composting to legislators, and advocates for rule changes that will effectively reduce barriers while protecting the environment and public health.
Increasing Generator and Hauler Participation. Incentives need to be increased for generators to separate their waste and for haulers to handle those materials. If hauling is not available commercially, forming ‘milk runs’ and other direct links to generators can cut costs.
Click here for our brochure (pdf)
Board of Directors
Robert Foster, CAV President
Robert is a dairy farmer, part owner and VP of Foster Brothers Farm, and part owner and President of Vermont Natural Ag Products and a Principal in AgRefresh, Inc. (an agricultural ecology consulting firm). He is a graduate of the University of Vermont with B.S. in Ag Engineering and M.S. Ag Economics and graduate of the Maine Compost School. Robert is also a speaker and consultant with over 25 years of experience at the state and national level with anaerobic digestion and composting of organic residuals.
Email: moodoovt@sover.net
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Bob Spencer, CAV Vice-President
Bob has over 20 years of experience in the development and operation of composting facilities. He is a consultant to communities and companies throughout the country, provides technical assistance to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and he assisted the City of Beijing, China in evaluating composting for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Bob is also a Contributing Editor for BioCycle Magazine and a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners. Email:spencebbc@aol.com
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Brian Jerose, CAV Treasurer
Brian has over 17 years of experience in resource recovery, conservation and the environmental science field. He is a founding partner of WASTE NOT Resource Solutions and has worked with over 50 farms and businesses in Vermont and New York on projects involving compost site development, watershed protection and biodiesel. Brian received a M.S. in Environmental and Resource Engineering from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 2001. He is also a technical advisor to the Missisquoi River Basin Association.
Email: jerose@together.net
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Erica Spiegel, CAV Secretary
Erica is the Solid Waste & Recycling Manager for the University of Vermont with 15 years of experience in higher education facilities management and environmental sustainability. Prior to her work at UVM, she spent 10 years in Michigan serving as a recycling program coordinator, a County resource recovery agent and a solid waste planning consultant. She received a M.S. in Natural Resources Policy from the University of Michigan in 1989, and more recently earned an M.P.A. at the University of Vermont.
Email: Erica.Spiegel@uvm.edu
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Deane Wilson
Deane works in the waste diversion program for the Rutland County Solid Waste District (RCSWD). Deane has 18 years of experience in the municipal solid waste field primarily in C&D and organics diversion. Prior to his work at RCSWD, Deane was employed in the wood products industry for 19 years. Deane graduated from the University of Vermont in 1975 with a B.S. in Forestry.
Email: deanew@rcswd.com
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Faith Ingulsrud
Faith brings more than two decades of on-the-ground experience in land use planning and regulation to the CAV Board. She currently works as a planning coordinator for the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and was awarded the 2010 Professional Planner of the Year award by the VPA and the Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association. A lifelong gardener, she blogs about growing and foraging for food at http://z4z.thirdculture.com/
Email: faith@thirdculture.com
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Advisors:
Karen Bates, Watershed Coordinator, Biologist
ANR/DEC – Water Quality Division
Reed Simms, GIS Specialist
USDA – NRCS
Contact CAV
Pat O’Neill, Program Director
Composting Association of Vermont
PO Box 112
Troy, Vermont 05868
Telephone: (802) 744-2345
info@compostingvermont.org
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