Agromin News

Agromin Receives Two Awards For Its Recycling Efforts

2008-11-19T12:05:00.001-08:00

Agromin, the green materials recycler for 19 cities in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, received two awards on October 17 in recognition of the company's long-standing recycling efforts.

Agromin received the first-ever recycling award from the Ventura County Integrated Waste Management Division. The award was given for Agromin's leadership not only in recycling but marketing all of the green waste in Ventura County.

"The Integrated Waste Management Division of Ventura County appreciates
Agromin's willingness to experiment with new methods of processing difficult
to recycle materials," says Sandy Lomeli, environmental resource analyst at the county.

Agromin's second award came from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors for the company's "outstanding recycling and waste diversion efforts."

“I am proud of Agromin’s growing leadership in green waste recycling that is recognized throughout Ventura County and the State," says Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long. "Agromin’s recycling efforts cut waste that overwhelm our landfills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, curbs erosion, and improves water efficiency.”

Each month, Agromin receives and processes 260,000 tons of urban wood and green waste from local residents and businesses. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate soil products from the processed recycled green materials.

"Our company's primary goal is to complete the recycling loop," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CFO. "Each week, green materials collected from curbside are composted and processed until they become quality soil products for use in backyards, farms and commercial landscapes," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CFO. "The grass clippings and leaves you dispose of in your recycling bin comes back in the form of compost or mulch products for your lawn or garden as one of the reuse options."

Agromin compost is approved by the non-profit Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) so it is used in certified organic production or food processing in accordance to the USDA National Organic Program standards. Agromin soil products are certified and approved for organic production by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). The certification means Agromin has met the USCC standards for compost content and its soil products are clean and safe.

Santa Paula & Fillmore Recycled Green Materials Now Available As Soil Products

2008-10-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

Materials collected each week from the green waste bins of Santa Paula and Fillmore residents are turned into soil products and mulches that are now available at four area outlets.

Planting mix, potting soil and other soil amendments are produced by Santa Paula and Fillmore's green waste recycler, Agromin. They are available at AG Rx (186 Telegraph Rd., Fillmore), Fillmore Rentals (215 Palm St., Fillmore), Fruit Growers Supply Company (980 W. Telegraph Rd., Santa Paula) and Heritage Do It Best Hardware (568 W. Main St., Santa Paula).

Agromin, based in Camarillo, is the second largest green waste recycler in California. It processes more than 250,000 tons of green waste every year from cities throughout Southern California. One of Agromin's green materials recycling facilities is on five acres of Limoneira Company land in Santa Paula.

"Residents help with the green recycling process by putting green materials in their recycling bins each week and again by using the soil products produced from the cleaned and composted lawn clippings, leaves and wood," says Bill Camarillo Agromin CFO. "It's a unique way to reuse local green materials that would otherwise end up in our landfills."

Environmental Innovation and Improving the Lemon Crop

2008-08-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

California Fresh Fruit

August 3, 2008

Imagine using less water and less fertilizers on your crops, yet produce higher yields and healthier plants and trees. That’s the result of a unique partnership between agricultural giants Limoneira Company, The Newhall Land & Farming Company and the second largest green waste recycler in California, Agromin.Both ag companies use mulch produced by Agromin on hundreds of acres of farmland.

Limoneira, one of California’s largest agribusinesses, partnered with Agromin in 2004 to develop a five-acre green materials recycling facility on Limoneira land in Santa Paula. The facility receives 200 tons of green materials a day from surrounding municipalities, which is then converted into about 125 tons of mulch. The mulch is distributed throughout Limoneira’s lemon and avocado orchards.

“Our trees have healthier root systems because of the nutrients in the mulch,” says Alex Teague, senior vice president at Santa Paula-based Limoneira Company. “Crop production has increased 10 percent and the quality of fruit has improved.”

Since using Agromin mulch, Teague says Limoneira’s water usage is down 32 percent. So is the use of herbicides and pesticides. Erosion is also in check.

The partnership happened almost by accident. Agromin was looking for a new location for one of its facilities. “Limoneira is a leader in sustainable agriculture. When we saw the opportunity to obtain high quality urban mulch from a quality operator, we jumped at the chance,” says Teague. “We are guaranteed, day in and day out, quality materials for our land. Plus, we are helping the environment by keeping waste out of the landfill.”

The Agromin-Newhall Land partnership is relatively new. Formed in 2007, Agromin maintains a seven-acre green materials recycling facility on the Newhall Ranch. Agromin receives about 250 tons a day of green materials, collected locally from Valencia and the Santa Clarita Valley. The facility produces about 100 tons of mulch which is used on 250 acres of Valencia orange and lemon groves.

“Before partnering with Agromin, we used synthetic-based fertilizers to maintain our fruit trees,” says Mike Mendes, general manager of agriculture for Newhall Land. “Now we are reusing a sustainable mulch product and reducing expenses at the same time. By working with Agromin, we only incur the expense of spreading the materials.”

Mendes notes that the company now uses less herbicide since mulch helps prevent weed growth. “Our trees are healthy and the soil fertility has improved. The soil is now full of earthworms,” he says.Creating a sustainable process was also important to Newhall Land when deciding to use recycled green materials for its agriculture operations. “What was once a waste product is now a valuable resource for our company,” says Mendes. “We’re able to use local green materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill, turn it into mulch, and use it locally in our orchards. We are completing the circle of environmental sustainability.”

Agromin is the green materials recycler for 19 cities in Ventura, Santa Barbara and parts of Los Angeles counties. It receives over 20,000 tons a day of urban green waste (grass clippings, leaves, branches) at its five processing facilities. The materials are then cleaned of plastics, glass, paper and other “non-green” items. It is chopped and spread into long composting rows where it is watered and turned for about 45 days. Tiny microbes transform the green waste into nutrient-rich compost and eventually mulch.

“Facilities onsite at Limoneira and Newhall make it easy to distribute the mulch directly to the orchards,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin’s CFO. “Our three other processing locations distribute products to additional ag companies, municipalities, landscapers and to consumers who can buy in bulk or bag.”

Agromin’s compost complies with the requirements of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). Agromin is one of only five companies in the country that produces plant-only compost products approved by the non-profit organization. OMRI-listed products may be used in certified organic production or food processing according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program.

“OMRI approves the products used to grow or produce organic foods,” explains Camarillo. “Farmers who grow organic products can use our ‘Compost 100’ in their fields as part of their effort to comply with USDA organic standards.” Agromin soil products are also certified by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). The certification means Agromin has met the USCC standards for compost content and its soil products are clean and safe.

“We cannot continue to put synthetic products into the soil and expect it to be healthy,” says Teague. “Using mulch made from urban green waste in a natural fit. It’s common sense to work with Mother Nature not against her.” ■

Becoming Sustainable, A Step at a Time

2008-07-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Santa Clarita Signal

By Dianne Erskine-HellrigelPosted: June 28, 2008

'Sustainability" is our latest buzzword. But sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It is a great opportunity for companies, cities, and individuals to explore fantastic avenues for self-sufficiency, creating a healthier environment, and increasing profitability.

As the city of Santa Clarita is quickly moving in a green direction, many companies are following suit by offering sustainable opportunities for their clients. People are becoming more environmentally and economically conscientious.

A partnership between The Newhall Land and Farming Company and Agromin has created a sustainable operation right here in Santa Clarita, in the form of green waste recycling.

Bill Camarillo, president of Agromin at the Santa Clarita plant, says, "Over 10 million tons of green waste and 2.5 million tons of urban wood waste enters the waste stream in California. We can now keep this huge amount of waste out of the landfills, and recycle it."

By recycling this previously overlooked trash, Agromin and Newhall Land are able to reduce the waste that goes to our dumps by approximately 30 percent.Clean green waste consists of leaves, grass, lumber, branches and yard trimmings. It does not include plastic, kitchen waste, cardboard or other recyclables.

Once you've put these non-green things in your trash, it is difficult and costly to get them out of the system. When you purchase garden soils, you expect them to be clean and free of plastics, rocks and non-biodegradable trash. You can do your part by keeping those things out of your green waste container.

So what happens to all this green waste when it goes to Agromin? Green waste from the Santa Clarita Valley comes to the site every day. It is cleaned by hand and machine, removing non-green trash materials. Once the green waste is clean, the company grinds it, screens it, composts it and then screens it again. The yield is rich mulch, ready for farm and garden. These products are safe, organic, recycled waste, taking us all one step closer to sustainability.

Agromin's products are used by landscapers, homeowners, and California's farmers. California growers use approximately 40 percent of Agromin's products. Newhall Land uses the mulch, integrating it into the soil to improve soil fertility and reduce water evaporation. Newhall Land's agricultural operations are also using it in their orchards as a thick layer of mulch on top of the soil, which helps prevent weed growth. This has virtually eliminated the need to use herbicides in the orchards.

Newhall Land has also put together an environmental education program for local school children called "Carrots for Kids," which has educated Saugus Union School District second-graders about sustainability.Kids learn about green waste recycling, keeping the earth healthy, and growing their own food. Now, that is teaching our kids real, healthy, personal sustainability!

In addition to the kids' carrots kit, the program also offers salsa kits, pesto kits and kitchen herb kits. Check them out online at www.agromin.com.Problem soils are caused by overuse of pesticides, herbicides and natural erosion of topsoil. Using recycled green waste leads to healthier plants, less use of pesticides and herbicides, conservation of water, improvement of soil fertility, reduction of the amount of nitrates leaching into our groundwater, reduction in erosion and addition of organic matter to the soil.

Another plus to having Newhall Land working directly with Agromin is that everything stays local here in the Santa Clarita Valley. There are no major trucking operations anywhere. Agromin's finished products are used locally by Newhall Land's citrus orchards, as well as other local outlets. Keeping everything local means no long-distance trucking, and virtually no carbon spewed into the air by long truck hauls.

Agromin has also joined the Climate Action Registry and has agreed to voluntarily track and report greenhouse gas emissions.

Agromin receives 250,000 tons of green waste annually. That is probably 40 percent of our total waste stream. Imagine all that stuff being recycled instead of going into our landfills!By recycling this green waste, we also reduce the amount of greenhouse gases from landfills. Agromin and Newhall Land have definitely found a way to go green by taking something that would normally go into the landfill and turning it into something useful. Their work helps to bring us all one step closer to sustainability.

Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel is a Santa Clarita Valley resident, volunteer and leader of the SCV Community Hiking Club. Her column represents her own views, not necessarily those of The Signal.

Cut Down On Outdoor Watering Even As Weather Heats Up

2008-07-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

July temperatures can easily reach triple digits. Smart watering techniques can keep gardens and lawns from wilting during the summer's hottest days, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillo-based manufacturer of premium soil products.

Place Mulch Around Your Plants, Gardens And Trees: Mulch consists of various sizes of chopped wood, usually made from recycled trees and other wood materials. Place about 2 inches of mulch around plants and trees to keep roots cool even during the heat of the day. This reduces moisture loss and suppresses weed growth. It also reduces erosion so its use on hillsides and slopes is ideal.

Water In Early Morning: Use trickle irrigation, soaker hoses or other water-conserving methods. It's also best to water in the early morning, especially during hot summer months, to reduce evaporation. Apply about an inch of water-- enough that it soaks 6 to 8 inches into the soil. With a mulched landscape, you can usually reduce watering schedules to two or three times a week.

Lawn Water Care: It's best to water only when the lawn really needs it, and then to water slowly and deeply. This trains the grass roots to reach deeper into the ground. Frequent shallow watering trains roots to stay near the surface, making the lawn less able to find moisture during dry periods. Every lawn's watering needs are unique: they depend on rainfall, grass and soil type and the general health of the lawn, but even in very dry areas, no established home lawn requires daily watering.

Summer Garden Planting: If you haven't had time to plant a garden, you still can grow a variety of vegetables in July and enjoy vegetables by late summer and early fall. These include beans, beets, carrots, corn, cantaloupe, okra squash and spinach. Flowers such as gladiolus, calla lilies, marigolds, zinnias and dahlias can also be planted in July

Caring For Your Rose Bushes: Remove dried flowers by cutting back to the first leaf after rose flower clusters. This will stimulate growth.

Agromin wins key organic approval

2008-06-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

Certification to help farm sales
By Jim McLain Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Ventura County Star

Agromin Inc., a Camarillo company that uses green waste to manufacture some 250 soil and mulch products, has won a key designation that is expected to boost its sales to the organic farming industry.

Company officials were notified last month that Agromin products meet the requirements of the nonprofit Organic Materials Review Institute, an executive said.
The designation means that Agromin's composted products may be used in certified organic production or food processing according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program.

"This has tremendous potential for us because now this allows us to sell our composted products into the organics agricultural marketplace," said Bill Camarillo, Agromin's chief financial officer. "We had not been able to do that before."

Agromin is one of only five companies in the country that produce composted products from plants that are approved by the Eugene, Ore.-based organization.

Camarillo said Agromin will include the OMRI approval in its advertising and packaging labels. The designation, he said, assures growers that Agromin products contain no chemicals or human or animal waste, and it certifies that the company uses composting procedures that kill any pathogens and tests its products regularly.

The company recycles more than 250,000 tons of green waste annually from businesses and residences in 19 cities in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, including all 10 in Ventura County. It uses the grass, leaves, branches and other plant material to make a variety of topsoils, soil amendments and mulches for commercial farming operations and backyard gardeners.

Launched in 1972 as a wholly owned subsidiary of California Wood Recycling Corp. in Ventura, Agromin employs 70 people in six processing facilities in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Company sales last year totaled about $12 million, Camarillo said.
The OMRI designation should boost sales, he added, because increasing numbers of growers are switching to organic crop production. Organic farmers use fertilizers and pesticides made from plants and animals instead of manufactured chemicals.

Agromin has strategic partnerships with the Limoneira Co., Newhall Land and Farming Co. and other agricultural companies to turn their green waste into a variety of mulches and soil products for their crops. Because mulches retain moisture, their use enables growers to reduce irrigation, Camarillo said.

The company also is working to earn green waste recycling agreements with additional cities, he added. He noted that state law requires cities to recycle half their total waste by 2012.

Camarillo said Agromin is working with the state on a study that the company hopes will show that organic green-waste recycling reduces the release of carbon emissions and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

CSUCI Students Clear Non-Native Plants From Ormond

2008-06-09T17:02:00.000-07:00

June 4, 2008--Nineteen college students from Cal State University Channel Islands spent two weekends clearing non-native grasses and plants from Ormond Beach in Oxnard. The students, mostly business majors, volunteered as part of their Resource Management class. Their efforts resulted in three, eight-foot by six-foot piles of non-native materials that will be recycled into mulch by Agromin, the green materials recycler for cities in Ventura County.

"I'm in awe at what they accomplished in such a short period," says Nancy Pederson, who heads the Ormond Pointe Native Plant Nursery and Restoration Project.

During their work weekends, college students planted native coreopsis and lupine grown by kids at Briggs Elementary School in Santa Paula and by members of the Ventura County Master Gardeners. The plants were grown from seeds in soil donated by Agromin.

The college students also used black plastic from Agromin to solarize some of the non-native plants that had intruded in the area. " The plastic is placed over the non-native vegetation for several months, baking the soil and keeps the sunlight out," explains Pederson. "This process makes it easier to remove dense, non-native vegetation. We'll then plant native milkweed grown at Briggs Elementary School."

As the college students began clearing a hill on the site, they found that it wasn't a hill at all. "Underneath the dirt was a mound of concrete that someone had discarded," says Pederson. "Construction workers used the area as a dump. The students removed the non-native plants and grasses but left a bit of the concrete visible as a reminder of what was done. The hill will eventually be planted in coreopsis and lupine."

The 10-year restoration project of Ormond Beach started in 2006 and covers approximately 11 acres of degraded wetlands currently owned by the Oxnard Waste Water Department. Volunteers have succeeded in restoring about 1 1/2 acres. "The hard work by the college students put us ahead schedule," says Pederson. "The kids were there waiting for me and were ready to work. They could have written a paper to satisfy their class assignment, but chose to work on this project instead."

Pederson gives Agromin credit for helping the project succeed. "If we didn't have Agromin's generous help, we couldn't have done what we've done," says Pederson. "We couldn't afford to buy potting soil or the solar plastic. The Briggs Elementary School didn't have the money to buy soil for planting and many Master Gardeners are on fixed incomes so they couldn't afford the soil and seeds for the project. Agromin donated it all."

"Anytime we see an opportunity to recycle green materials that we can eventually return to the earth, we're happy to help," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CFO. "The Ormond Pointe restoration project is a great way for residents of all ages to contribute to restoring the beauty of our area. It's also an opportunity to teach kids, from elementary school to college age, about the importance of green recycling and becoming good stewards of the land."

Last Chance to Plant Trees & Lawns Before Summer

2008-06-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

May 27, 2008--June is the last ideal time to plant citrus trees from containers and lay new lawns before summer heat makes successful planting difficult, say experts at Agromin.

Transplant Citrus Trees and Sod Lawns: Hot weather puts stress on plants and lawns. Cooler temperatures afford the best conditions for transplanting. If unable to transplant trees or lay sod in June, wait until fall when the weather cools.

Plant Foliage Requiring Little Water: With water rates on the rise, consider planting trees and shrubs that require little water once established. Drought tolerant trees include many varieties of oak and pine as well as the Australian willow, olive and California pepper tree. Flowering plants include Desert Willow, Scarlet Larkspur, Beach Suncups, Red Buckwheat and Golden and Woolly Yarrow. Shrubs include California Fuchsia, Hollyleaf Cherry, Bigberry Manzanita, California Buckwheat, Spice Bush and Evergreen Currant.

Herbs for Drought Tolerant Gardens: Many herbs require little water. Rosemary, English thyme, oregano and sage all do well with minimal watering. Remember, as with trees and shrubs, newly planted herbs require regular watering until the roots are established.

Don't Forget The Mighty Oak: Besides being drought tolerant, oaks are deciduous to the area and make an impressive statement in any yard. The most imposing is the Valley oak, which can reach 70 feet high. Other varieties include Coast Live oak, which can also grow as high as 70 feet, Scrub oak, with its dense growth can grow as high as 15 feet and Interior Live oak, which can reach between 30 to 75 feet in height.

Plant Summer Flowers: For a splash of color in summer, add summer annuals to your garden such as zinnias, cosmos and marigolds--either from seed or from transplants.

Still Time to Plant Vegetables: Tomato, squash, cantaloupe, celery, corn, cucumbers, lima beans, okra, pepper, spinach and squash can all be planted in June in time for a full summer harvest.

Control Weeds Before They Flower: The best time to control weeds is early, before they flower and establish their root system. Pull weeds and then cover the area with mulch to keep weeds from returning.

Agromin Compost Receives OMRI Approval

2008-06-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

May 21, 2008--Agromin has learned its compost complies with the strict requirements of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). Agromin is one of only five companies in the country that produces plant-only compost products approved by the non-profit organization. OMRI-listed products may be used in certified organic production or food processing according to the USDA National Organic Program.

"OMRI approves the products used to grow or produce organic foods," explains Bill Camarillo, Agromin CFO. "With the OMRI stamp of approval, farmers who grow organic products can use our 'Compost 100' in their fields as part of their effort to comply with USDA organic standards. As more and more farmers go organic, the OMRI certification opens up new customer channels for us."

Agromin, the green materials recycler for 19 cities in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles Counties, produces soil amendments, bark and mulches from the more than 250,000 tons of green materials it collects each year from city residents and businesses.

The company has partnered with agricultural operations including Limoneira Company and Newhall Land to distribute its compost on farm acreage. "Farm water usage is down across the board because compost holds in moisture," says Camarillo. "The need for pesticides and herbicides is also reduced as the compost keeps away bugs and reduces weed growth. Trees and plants are healthier and the quality of the produce and vegetables have improved."

Agromin soil products are also certified by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). The certification means Agromin has met the USCC standards for compost content and its soil products are clean and safe. Agromin is also a member of the California Climate Action Registry. By joining the registry, Agromin agrees to voluntarily track and report its greenhouse gas emissions.

For information about OMRI, go to www.omri.org.

Las Colinas School Visits Agromin

2008-06-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

March 25, 2008--Students from the special education class at Camarillo's Las Colinas Middle School recently visited Agromin's green materials recycling facility in Oxnard to learn about the recycling process. The field trip for students in sixth through eighth grade was also designed to help them understand how to create their own composting pile at school.

"The kids knew about the importance of recycling glass, plastics and paper, but didn't realize that green materials needs to be recycled too," says Laura Wittington, the special education teacher. "They thought the green materials collected at curbside each week was just dumped into the landfill."

The kids were in for some more surprises. "They were shocked to see the amount of garbage that had to be picked out of the green materials because people aren't careful where they put their trash," says Wittington.

"Any garbage, including paper, glass and plastics, has to be removed from the leaves, grass clippings and wood we collect before the materials can be chopped and composted into mulch," says Dave Green, director of sales at Agromin, who conducted the tour. "The students got a firsthand look at what happens when people are careless."

The giant rows of compost at Agromin were a big hit. "The students were impressed that the bacteria than can hurt plants is 'cooked' out during the composting process," says Wittington. "They also liked the coffee grounds mulch pile. They never thought about where these grounds go after people make coffee."

The mulch created from the students' compost pile at Las Colinas will be used in the school's community garden. "When we got back to school after our visit to Agromin, the kids wanted to get going on the compost pile right away," says Wittington. "They told the groundskeeper to make sure to put grass clippings in the pile, and to post a sign so students wouldn't toss leftover food in the pile. They came away from the field trip with a greater understanding of the importance of green recycling. They learned how 'good dirt' is made and to only put plant materials in the green recycling bin."

"We always enjoy teaching kids about green recycling," says Green. "The Las Colinas students are well on their way to creating a successful compost pile and garden."

Green Waste Diversion Saves Landfill Space - American Recycler

2008-06-09T16:25:00.000-07:00

by Irwin Rapoport

February 05, 2008--Each year, hundreds of tons of green waste from households, businesses, institutions and farms are deposited into landfills.

For more than 10 years, Camarillo, California-based Agromin has been converting green waste (lawn clippings, leaves and wood, including dimensional lumber) into compost, soil and mulch.
"We processed over 250,000 tons in 2007 and this year we surpassed over three million tons in total," says Dave Green, Agromin's director of sales and marketing.

Green waste, when dumped in a landfill, eventually breaks down into water and various materials and is lost for re-use.

"By recycling green waste, not only are we extending the life of landfills, but you are reducing the amount of green house gases that are emitted from landfills," says Green.

The second largest green waste recycler in California and eighth in the nation, Agromin operates in 19 cities in southern and central California--from San Diego County to Monterey County.
Local trash haulers bring green waste directly to Agromin's five recycling sites for processing--paying a lower tip fee than if the waste were deposited at a land fill. The material is cleaned, chopped and laid out in huge composting rows.

"It's turned and watered continually for about 45 days," says Green.

Wood from construction sites is also chopped and mulched. When the material is removed from the composting beds, it is screened once more to create various particle sizes and then sold to landscapers, farmers, government entities and to consumers in bulk or in bags.

Agromin produces custom soil blends, compost and soil amendments (60 percent of its production), with the remainder being mulches. The firm also produces wood chips for power plants that generate "green" electricity.

"Instead of ending up in a landfill, the green waste is recycled into nutrient-rich soil, thus closing the recycling loop," says Green. "Our soil is certified by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC)."
Green notes that many municipalities and counties use Agromin's compost and mulches. "Without these and other outlets, we would just become a storage facility--basically a landfill," he says. "Without municipalities re-using or buying back material that their residents recycle, it would be much harder to close the recycling loop.

"A municipality can become self-sufficient in mulch and compost," he adds. "Some have neighborhood clean up programs and Earth Day and Arbor Day events where our compost is available. Others offer our bag products through various retailers in their communities. We also donate product to schools for school gardens. A big part of our school program is to educate students on green waste recycling and saving our landfills."

Green says that students are great ambassadors for recycling. "They are our best green waste and recycling police because they really look at what goes into recycling containers and make sure that the waste is sorted properly," he says. "The material has to be clean because northing works with contaminated waste."

Agromin is also conducting experiments with food scraps to generate products. It composts food from packing warehouses including excess produce, cores and trimmings. "Our testing facility is composting pre-consumer food waste and we are having good results," says Green.
Agromin soil is used by agricultural companies to replenish their fields. It has partnered with Newhall Land and Farm in Los Angeles County and Limoneira Company in Ventura County.
"These ag companies have seen tremendous gains, not only in erosion control, but in water conservation," says Green. "They are finding that they use 30 percent less water for citrus crops by using mulches and composts from recycled green materials."

Soil depletion, particularly the loss of valuable topsoil, takes years to regenerate naturally.
"We can do what mother nature does in only 45 to 60 days," says Green, who believes the United States Department of Agriculture could do more to spur the development of compost and soil production companies to reduce the effects of erosion on farms. "There are not a lot of incentives for the agricultural community to do anything more than the existing fertilization programs."

Agromin is also selling products to farmers in the San Joaquin Valley--California's key agricultural production center. The area is greatly affected by losses to soil erosion via irrigation, wind and rain.
"Anytime we can cover fields in mulch or composted soil, it slows down the natural process of erosion," says Green. "Along with the use of pesticides and herbicides, erosion continues to be an area of concern.

"The problem right now is that everyone is trying to educate the agricultural community," he adds, "but it really comes down to cost--what can a farmer earn for a crop? It's economics and sometimes it's not as economic in the short run to use compost and mulch where fertilizers get a quicker result."

Green is finding that landscape architects are looking to "go green" when using compost and soil products for their residential, commercial or institutional projects.

"In California alone there is about three to four million tons of green waste produced annually," he says. “Having state and municipal legislation that requires green materials be recycled is essential for green recycling success. California's AB 939 mandates a 50 percent diversion rate from landfills. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is considering increasing the diversion rate from landfills to as high as 75 percent. If that comes to pass, California will have to get everything out of the landfill that can be recycled."

Another way to ensure green waste collection and processing success, says Green, is for cities and counties to mandate that private solid waste contractors partner with green recyclers.
"Agromin partners with private waste haulers that collect the green material and drop it off at our facilities," he says. "Since the haulers pay a lower 'tip fee' than at the landfill by recycling the green waste, they come out ahead."

Recreating the California model in other parts of the United States is doable as long as viable soil amendments or compost could be created from the available green materials, notes Green "The composting process has to be adjusted so the soil has the right nutrient values and be safe from pathogens," he says. "Northern climate zones might be limited to seasonal operations because of weather. We can operate 24/7 year-round in California."

Agromin Selects Wood & Bender As Corporate Counsel

2008-06-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

Agromin, the second largest green waste recycler in California and a premium soil manufacturer, has selected the Ventura law firm of Wood & Bender as its corporate legal counsel.

Agromin, the green waste recycler for 19 southern and central California cities is projecting strong company growth as cities and businesses plan for new, stricter conservation laws, says Agromin's CFO Bill Camarillo. "We needed a law firm that could help us in our growth process," Camarillo says. "Wood & Bender has the experience and legal ability, the staffing and infrastructure to support our growth. The firm will be a huge asset to us."

"Agromin is a cutting edge company that helps our community and our environment," says David Bender, Wood & Bender partner. "Agromin enables all of us to live better lives because of what it does. We're very excited to represent Agromin so it can reach its growth goals."

Wood & Bender maintains a national practice representing Fortune 100 companies as well as companies experiencing rapid growth.

Agromin, based in Camarillo, collects about 20,000 tons a month of yard trimmings from homes and businesses in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties. It cleans and processes the green waste so it becomes mulch and other soil amendments, and then redistributes it back to the soil on farms, landscapes and in consumer products.

Agromin Gives Kids A Lesson In Green Recycling

2008-06-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

About 70 sixth graders from Mesa Union School in Somis recently received a up-close environmental lesson on how green waste is recycled in Ventura County. The students, from two science classes at the school, visited the Agromin green waste recycling facility in Oxnard as part of their school's year-long "Garbage to Gardens" project.

The students watched as green waste (leaves, tree limbs, wood, grass clippings) that had been collected throughout Ventura County was dropped off at the site. From there, Agromin employees pick out paper, plastics, metals and other debris. "The kids were surprised about how much trash was thrown away with the green waste," says Michele Waggoner, a teacher and Mesa Union School who is coordinating the "Garbage to Gardens" project. "The students thought it was wrong that people didn't pay attention to what they are putting in their green recycling bins."

Waggoner said her students were also surprised about how many steps it takes to make green waste into finished compost. After the green waste is cleaned of unwanted materials, it is chopped and then laid out into large rows where its temperature increases to about 140 degrees. The level of heat kills most weeds and disease-causing organisms. The piles are turned and watered regularly. Eventually, the green waste turns into dark, rich compost and then made into various soil products.

"The ultimate goal of the project is to teach students how to reduce their environmental impact," says Waggoner. Agromin will provide bags of finished compost to add to school gardens and soil amendments when students plant flower bulbs and vegetable seeds. Students will also make their own compost and send samples to Agromin to test for nitrogen and carbon levels.

The field trip and student studies have already made an impact. "Students try to recycle everything now," says Waggoner. "Students have been collecting dead leaves around campus and the custodians are saving grass clippings. Starbucks is donating used coffee grounds for our composting pile. The project makes them feel connected to the school environment and that they are making a difference."

The "Garbage to Gardens" project is funded by a grant from Lowe's Toolbox for Education.

Agromin Soil Products Now in Thousand Oaks Stores

2008-04-12T11:02:00.001-07:00

December 27, 2007--Materials collected each week from the green waste bins of Thousand Oaks residents are turned into soil products and mulches that are now available at two Thousand Oaks outlets.

Planting mix, potting soil and other soil amendments are produced by Thousand Oaks' green waste recycler, Agromin, and are available at Carlson Building Materials (1432 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks) and John Deere Landscapes (31240 La Baya Dr., Westlake Village). Agromin, based in Camarillo, is the second largest green waste recycler in California.

"Residents help with the green recycling process by putting green materials in the recycling bins and again by using the soil products produced from the cleaned and composted lawn clippings, leaves and wood," says Bill Camarillo Agromin CFO. "It's a unique way to reuse local green materials that would otherwise wind up in our landfills."

Agromin Donates "Carrots for Kids" Kits in Saugus

2008-04-12T11:01:00.003-07:00

November 21, 2007--Agromin teamed up with Newhall Land to donate 375 "Carrots for Kids" seed growing kits to the Saugus Union School District. The first of the kits were distributed to second graders at Bridgeport Elementary School in Valencia in October.

The kits are part of an overall program by Newhall Land called "Clippings for Carrots." The program teaches kids how to grow vegetables and to understand the green recycling process. Students grow carrots in soil made from yard trimmings collected from Santa Clarita Valley residents and processed by Agromin--thereby completing the recycling circle of sustainability.

In addition, Agromin transforms the green waste from the Santa Clarita Valley into soil products that are used at Newhall Land's agricultural operations. Agromin uses this same technique in Ventura County, where it provides local farmers with soil products for their orchards and fields. Farmers have found the soil prevents water erosion, reduces the need for herbicide and pesticide use and produces healthier, better growing trees and crops. "Residents help farmers by making sure they put their green waste in their green recycling bins each week," says Bill Camarillo, Agromin CFO.

“We want to teach kids about the importance of green material recycling as well as the fun of growing their own vegetables,” said Marlee Lauffer, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Newhall Land. “This program will demonstrate to students how the green waste from grass clippings and yard trimmings are transformed into a useable products: garden mulch and soil. In fact, the soil the children will be using for growing their carrots is actually made from the green waste from homes in the Santa Clarita Valley.”

Processing Green Materials

2008-04-12T11:01:00.001-07:00

BioCycle

November, 2007--In 1989, California's state law AB939 mandated that municipalities reduce the total amount of waste finding its way to landfills by 50 percent. At the time, and throughout the early years of the diversion mandate, yard trimmings and wood waste - which accounted for well over 20 percent of the municipal solid waste stream - were candidates for helping local jurisdictions meet the diversion mandate. Along the way, and still today, managing these materials and turning them into high value end products has offered a great opportunity for enterprising companies.

One company that tapped into the opportunity is Agromin/Cal Wood, which works with haulers to receive green waste from curbside programs in 19 cities in the tri-county region (Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara) in southern California. Agromin/Cal Wood has created a unique business model that not only helps the haulers with contracting cities meet the goals of AB939, but lets them know their waste is reentering the local economy as value added products.

The company's origins go back over 15 years ago. Bill Camarillo, CEO and co-owner, said he and his partners started California Wood Recycling in 1990 as a by-product of trimming trees for utility companies. The wood chips, they discovered, could be sold to biomass electricity generators in the northern and central parts of the state. In 1993, as cities started to ramp up green waste programs, Cal Wood was asked to receive more and more green waste from city recycling programs. The problem was that the energy companies were purely interested in wood chips but not other green waste, so Cal Wood started looking for alternative markets.

Camarillo and his partners hit on the idea of shopping around for a company already experienced in the business of formulating and manufacturing soil products and selling them commercially. In 1994, they found and purchased Agromin, which had been creating organic products for landscapers, nurseries, homeowners and farmers since the early 1970s. Working as one company, Agromin /Cal Wood (Agromin) could both receive green materials from yard waste recycling programs in the region and be assured that these materials had a sustainable marketplace.

A THRIVING ENTERPRISE

Agromin grosses about $10 million/year in revenues. The largest part, $6 million, comes from tipping fees, paid mostly by cities. The current tip fee is $30/ton to receive green waste. Landfill tipping fees are about $40/ton, so cities save money and fulfill the requirement of AB939 at the same time. About $1 million in revenues come from sales to the biomass energy industry; $3 million come from sales to the agriculture, landscaping and home use markets.

Agromin employs 55 people at five facilities. Four of the facilities - in Oxnard, Simi Valley, Santa Paula and Santa Clarita - are permitted as processors. They preprocess the recycled material received mainly from green waste programs, but also from tree trimmers, farmers, commercial projects and homeowners. “We receive 220,000 tons of green waste annually,” says Camarillo. “That's the equivalent of 11,000 semitruck loads. But it doesn't all arrive that way. There are packer trucks and pickup trucks as well.” Homeowners cleaning up their yards may deliver waste directly.

Preprocessing involves removing trash, chipping and grinding the materials, and screening it to specs for a variety of applications. Product destined for biomass plants is hauled directly to those facilities from Agromin's preprocessing facilities. Other materials are transported to Agromin's Camarillo, California facility for soil manufacturing and mulch production. Finished materials are used in over 250 soil products, all containing lesser or larger amounts of recycled organic material. “We're a custom soil products manufacturer,” says Camarillo.

VERSATILITY OF PRODUCT LINE, DIVERSITY OF MARKETS

One of the company's keys to success, notes Camarillo, is “versatility of product line” to deal with fluctuations in markets throughout the year. He refers again to the 220,000 tons of material received annually: “When you look at it, that's four million barrels of green waste from curbside collection. We can't have that material just sitting in our yard.”

The solution for Agromin has been two pronged - create a wide variety of products and at the same time identify and cultivate a diversity of markets for those products. Farmers and growers represent the largest market for compost and mulches made from urban green waste, accounting for about 40 percent of Agromin's product sales. Its aged and screened mulches are used by vegetable, strawberry and avocado growers in the central coastal region. The products meet growers' needs for weed suppression and soil erosion control, as well as enable reductions in water, herbicide and pesticide use.

Biomass energy conversion accounts for another 30 percent of sales. The final 25 to 30 percent are direct sales to nursery owners, horticulture, professional landscapers as well as homeowners and “do-it-yourselfers.” Agromin claims a database of 3,000 customers in direct sales made through its on-line store (www.Agromin.com) and by a team of sales representatives.

Commercial products fall into three main lines: soil amendments, soil blends, and barks and mulches. “Agromend,” for example, is described as “a soil amendment specially designed to keep heavy clay soils loose and workable,” while “Garden Humus” is “for sandy soils to add natural organic humus while rebuilding the soil.” “Topper Mix” is targeted at lawns, and “Vegetable Garden Mix” is specifically designed for vegetable gardens. Likewise, Agromin produces soil blends for a variety of uses, from pots, containers and raised beds to balcony and rooftop planters, and for landscaping and backfilling. The company also markets barks and mulches made from a variety of materials, coming in various consistencies for different end uses.

The key to market success, says Camarillo, is “understanding the needs of the plant the consumer is trying to grow. To use an animal analogy, you don't feed a dog the same way you feed a horse.” A delicate mix for roses might contain 20 percent peat and 15 percent compost, he says. A palm tree mix might use 35 percent compost, whereas a mix for hardy carrots might include 85 percent. Where a product doesn't exist for a certain grower or landscaper's needs, one is created. Adds Camarillo, “If someone calls and says, 'I have sandy soil. How can I grow some tulips?', we'd create a product.” All of Agro-min's products are offered bagged or in bulk.

BROADENING AWARENESS AND ACTIVITIES

Agromin has taken part in another unique approach to handling vast quantities of green waste. In 2004, Agromin and Limoneira of Santa Paula, - Ventura County's oldest and largest grower of lemons, Valencia oranges, avocados and row crops on 4,000 acres - created a composting facility on five acres of Limoneira land. The facility receives 200 tons of waste a day and converts it to 120 tons of finished material that is added to the soil. One obvious advantage of this method is that once the waste is delivered and composted, it does not need to be transported again and can be applied to crops directly.

On the consumer level, Agromin recently created a new line of garden kits to promote its products and educate consumers. Salsa and Pesto Kits - and a forthcoming Peppers Kit - sell on the company's website for $39.95. These kits include seeds, soil, pots and printed instructions - everything needed to grow all the ingredients for salsa or pesto. Another kit, “Carrots for Kids,” encourages children to start growing their own food and teaches them about organic gardening.

Agromin views the rapidly growing market for organic produce as a major opportunity. Camarillo notes that all of Agromin's products meet certification standards as organic. The company has found, through testing, that residual pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers from yard waste collection programs are not an issue given the vast quantities of compost produced and the tendency for those products to be diluted by the process.

The company's products have been used in high profile projects, like landscaping at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and in the rose gardens at Oprah Winfrey's Montecito mansion. Environmental applications include use in Integrated Pest Management, for land application in the remediation of depleted soil, and in some experimental projects to reclaim wetland areas. Concludes Camarillo: “I've read a lot of articles about composting. Most companies have one market, or one or two types of farmers they sell to. We service all the different markets.” In this way, Agromin is achieving the goal of sustainability, both for itself as a viable company and for green waste recycling as a whole.

Josh Wachtel is a free-lance writer for BioCycle (www.biocycle.net) and In Business, the magazine for Sustainable Enterprises and Communities (www.inbusiness.org).

Copyright 2007, The JG Press