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Vol. XI No. 1

January / February 2017

20 1

y er is s’ su g e uid

www.SoilandMulchProducerNews.com

2016 Mulch Sales Were Strong in Many Areas of the U.S.

y most anecdotal accounts, mulch industry sales were up in 2016 compared to 2015. Survey responses and conversations with mulch producers from around the U.S. suggested that colored mulch continued to gain in popularity, while consumers increasingly are gravitating toward bagged products over bulk, primarily due to convenience of transporting and spreading the material. “I think sales are trending upward,” said Robert LaGasse, executive director of the Mulch and Soil Council. “There are always cyclical trends. The weather is our worst enemy and our best friend. It varies widely across the country, but in general I would say that 2016 was a good year.” He said colored mulch now accounts for almost 70 percent of the market. “If you would have told me 10 to 12 years ago that colored mulch would be 60 to 70 percent of the market I would have laughed,” he said. “We’re now even colorizing natural materials because consumers are demanding longevity.” LaGasse said he is optimistic that the home construction business in improving and will continue to do so in the upcoming year, which will likely drive up demand for mulch and landscaping products. “New home construction hurt us in the 2008 to 2016 period, but that has been improving,” LaGasse said.

Better sales

ost producers contacted for this article said they are optimistic about their prospects in 2017. Richard Newton, of Eastern Red Cedar Products, Marengo, Ind., said 2016 sales of both bulk and bagged products were about the same as in 2015. In 2017, Newton says, he expects to sell “All we can move.” Billy Stinson, of Yard Works LLC, Mosely, Va., said he anticipates a 10 percent improvement in sales for bulk and bagged products compared to 2016.

By Ken McEntee “We expect demand to remain high,” Stinson said. In 2016 the company increased its sales in bulk mulch by approximately 35 percent, and bagged mulch sales increased by more than 300 percent. “Our best seller in both bulk and bagged products was dark walnut colored mulch,” he said. In Gettysburg, Pa., Matthew Nolt, president of Nolt’s Mulch Products, said his sales were up 15 percent in 2016 compared to the prior year, driven mainly by demand for black colored mulch, which he sells in bulk. “I expect that sales will probably be just as good this year, or better,” Nolt said. Duffy Layton, owner of Duffy Layton Inc., Stanfordville, N.Y., said wood mulch sales for his fiscal year 2016 had already exceeded the previous year’s sales with a few more months to go. “We definitely sold more of all our mulches in 2016 and it seems to have steadily increased for the last three years in our area,” Layton said. “Our compost mulch sales seem to grow quicker – we sell more compost mulch than all of our

wood mulches, including natural black, brown and red, combined. Our leaf compost has really taken off as well.” Layton said he had sold almost 1,700 yards of wood mulch so far in FY2016, compared to about 2,600 yards of compost mulch. Cornie Brouwer, co-owner of B&B Bedding Inc., Oskaloosa, Iowa, said he expects to realize a 5-10 percent increase in sales in 2017 – mainly because of more retail distribution locations. “We’ve been in business since 1989 and sales have gotten better every year,” Brouwer said. “This year we’ve been awarded a larger customer base with more stores in a big chain. We think the housing market will be stronger this year. Unemployment is down and people seem to have some more money to spend. So hopefully demand will be a little higher.” A trend Brouwer noted is the consolidation of mulch product lines at retail centers. “Some of our customers are pairing down their SKUs (Stock Keeping Units),” he said. “They are telling us that they want to narrow it down to five or six products instead of seven or eight.” Continued on page 3

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2016 Mulch Sales Were Strong in Many Areas of the U.S. Continued from page 1

B&B improved its sales in bulk mulch by about 6 percent last year, and sales of bagged mulch increased approximately 15 percent. Colored red mulch is the company’s largest seller among bagged products, while the most popular bulk product is natural hardwood mulch. Following a decrease in sales between 2014 and 2015, P.R. Russell Mulch and Soil Products, Brentwood, N.H., had a better year in 2016, a company spokesperson said. Bulk mulch sales were up over 11 percent, and bagged mulch sales increased by approximately 25 percent. Although P.R. Russell doesn’t anticipate increased sales in bulk products this year, the company expects a small improvement in bag sales. “In this company we see a lot more

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PUBLICATION STAFF Publisher / Editor Rick Downing Contributing Editors / Writers P.J. Heller • Ken McEntee Sandy Woodthorpe Production & Layout Barb Fontanelle • Christine Pavelka Advertising Sales Rick Downing Subscription / Circulation Donna Downing Editorial, Circulation & Advertising Office 6075 Hopkins Road, Mentor, OH 44060 Ph: 440-257-6453 Fax: 440-257-6459 Email: downassoc2@oh.rr.com Subscription information, call 440-257-6453. Soil & Mulch Producer News is published bimonthly by Downing & Associates. Reproductions or transmission in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited. Annual subscription rate U.S. is $19.95. Outside of the U.S. add $10.00 ($29.95). Contact our main office, or mail-in the subscription form with payment. ©

opportunity in bags,” the spokesperson said. “Any growth we see in bulk in the coming years will probably be from taking additional market share and not so much from an increase in the overall market.” She said she anticipates that landscapers in the northeast could follow the trend that is currently more prominent in the south – using more bagged mulch for convenience. “The economy is a big factor in this business,” she said. “As much as mulch is seen as a commodity, it is still a luxury for the homeowners, so if they are feeling confident in the economy, and their jobs, they are more likely to spend more money on their houses. If they are afraid, then mulching is something they might skip and do every other year, instead of every year. It is something we are always paying close attention to.” While 2016 bulk sales at Sylva Corp., Princeton, Minn., were about on par with 2015, Larry Doose, president and CEO, said bagged sales climbed by 45 percent. He said he expects continued growth. “We have been in the mulch business for almost 30 years and we’re seeing a very stable market all the way around,” he said. “Over the last few years the trend has been stability. Even in the recession mulch did better than a lot of other products, so our forecast is that demand will be up for both bagged and bulk products. Doose said his best selling bagged product is red colored mulch, while his most popular bulk mulch is a dark brown colored product called Mink.

Devalued in the market

ric Laszewski, of Waupaca Northwoods, Waupaca, Wisc. said colored mulch continues to dominate the market. However, he said, the product is being devalued by national retail chains. “The big box stores have made the decision to feature this product and price it as a commodity item, so colored mulch has been devalued in the market,” Laszewski said. “Sales of other bark mulch products have been cannibalized by this strategy. You have Walmart out there everyday selling it at $1.98 a bag. You have Lowes and Home Depot going five for $10, so that’s what’s driving increased sales on our end for that stuff. I am shipping truckloads of colored mulch to them, but I am locked into it. Product mix is what we thrive on. The big box stores have people coming in for the colored mulch at the commodity price and they can then sell them some other stuff to make money. I don’t have that same luxury. Mulch is what I sell.” Laszewsky is somewhat less optimistic about the upcoming year than some other mulch producers.

“I see a little bump in sales, but I don’t think it will be huge,” he said. “I don’t see a whole bunch of additional people coming up to buy mulch. I think we’re seeing what the market can bear right now.” Matt Smith, plant manager of Smith Creek, Borden, Ind., is even less optimistic. “Our sales didn’t change in 2016 compared to 2015,” Smith said. “I anticipate a decrease this year because the market for wood in our area has decreased which has put more pressure on the sawmills, and I have more competition. We will try to find new products outside of the mulch market.” LaGasse said increased competition for raw material – mainly due to biomass subsidies – has driven up business costs for many mulch producers. He said he is optimistic that those subsidies – mainly given by the U.K government for imported wood pellets – will be going away. “The subsidies have hurt businesses mainly in the southeast U.S., but increasingly in the northeast,” LaGasse said. “We are happy to compete in a fair and open market but a subsidized market is not fair and open. A lot of material is going overseas because it is so heavily subsidized. The U.K. is the largest importer of wood pellets from the southern U.S. forests, but hopefully some of that could change due to Brexit and changes in the U.K. government.”

Trump deregulation

aGasse said he is optimistic that the Trump administration will pull back intrusive regulations – such as the Obama administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule – that were restrictive to businesses. Also important to the industry, he said, is a strong economy. “I think we’re looking forward to a good year,” he said. “Good economic growth will bring back a good housing market.” Some of the producers contacted also are optimistic about an easing of government regulations that burden their businesses. “I’m optimistic that the attitude of the EPA will change a little bit and make it easier to deal with them,” said the P.R. Russell spokesperson. “We hope the new administration does good things for the economy.” Brouwer also is cautiously optimistic about the Trump administration. “I don’t think (Trump) will hurt our business in any way,” Brouwer said. “I think he can only help. If he does everything he says he is going to do, it should improve business. But talk is cheap. If he reduces the bureaucratic red tape, it will be easier for new businesses to start and operate, and maybe it will be better for the housing sector too. I anticipate it will be good.”

January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Ohio Mulch Creates Renewable Wood Source Through Tree Farming By P.J. Heller

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Soil & Mulch Producer News

January / February 2017

im Weber knows what it takes to manufacture quality mulch. So when he became concerned about energy companies competing for raw materials with his Ohio Mulch business, he took action. “We were concerned that the energy companies were starting to compete against us for raw materials because they were mixing wood fiber in with their coal as they burned it to keep their coal emissions down,” explains Weber, the owner and president of Ohio Mulch headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. “We were concerned that we were going to start losing our raw materials.” So Weber, whose landscape supply company has been in operation for more than 30 years and has grown to become one of the largest mulch producers in the U.S., decided to create a tree farm, on land he owns in southern Ohio, to serve as a feedstock source for future mulch products. “My main concern for doing it was that I feared we were going to lose inventory, lose raw materials. This was a way to secure the raw materials and insure that it was available to me (in the future),” he says. Realizing that it would normally take upwards of 15 years before trees were ready for harvesting, Weber searched for a way to speed up the growing process. “I wanted trees to grow faster than every 15 years,” he says. The solution he found was to use biosolids – sewage sludge – as a fertilizer for the hybrid poplar trees he wanted to grow. “We did some tests and hired outside people [for the study]. Once a tree was planted [in sewage sludge], it would increase production dramatically,” he says. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concurs with those findings. “Biosolids have been found to promote rapid timber growth, allowing quicker and more efficient harvest of an important natural resource,” the agency says on its website. “Biosolids . . . can be applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth.” Trees which Weber is currently growing with the sewage sludge are growing at a rate of up to 4 feet a year, and should be ready to harvest in seven years, he says. Typically, the same tree planted in soil would grow about 1 to 2 feet a year, he says. Weber found that municipalities regularly disposed of sewage sludge by dumping it in landfills or other disposal sites, incinerating it, or more controversially, land-applying it to grow food crops or animal feed. He put together an RFP for his local municipality and was awarded a contract where he is paid to haul off the sewage sludge. Although Weber notes that there is still some controversy over landapplying biosolids for food crops, the National Science Foundation reports that “the use of these materials in the production of crops for human consumption, when practiced in accordance with existing federal guidelines and regulations, presents negligible risk to the consumer, crop production and the environment.” “The nice thing about how we’re using it is it will never be used as a food crop,” Weber says. “It will be used as a renewable resource for us.” The EPA notes that “after treatment and processing, biosolids can be recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. The controlled land application of biosolids completes a natural cycle in the environment.” Weber adds that no consideration was ever given to using the trees, grown with the sewage sludge, for use in producing lumber for construction. “We don’t know what the strength would be since it was growing so fast,” he says. “But it’s perfect for making mulch and coloring it red and gold. When you grind the tree up and then dye it red or gold, the colors are nice and bright and they just pop.” Continued on page 6

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Jim Weber stands among some hybrid poplar trees growing in sewage sludge on the Ohio Mulch tree plantation. The trees were planted 30 months ago.

Ohio Mulch Continued from page 4

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Weber spent two years researching the idea of using biosolids to grow the trees, obtaining EPA approval and overcoming some local opposition. The property is in a rural area on an old coal mining excavation (spoil piles) site. “We do testing on a regular basis, where we test the inflow of water that comes onto the property and then test the water that leaves our property,” he says. “The water that leaves our property is cleaner than the water that enters our property.” Weber’s tree plantation was started four years ago and spans over 1,012 acres. Trenches about 4 feet wide and 4 feet deep were dug, then filled with about 3 feet of sewage sludge and a foot of dirt before the trees were planted. Some 85,000 trees have been planted so far, including 25,000 last Fall. Another 40,000 trees are expected to be planted this year. The goal is to harvest the trees every seven years, harvesting about 150 acres each year and planting 150 acres each year. “We’re not at the point where we’re consuming 150 acres a year,” Weber says. “We haven’t had our first rotation yet, but we’ve had great success growing trees.” Weber believes he is a pioneer in the industry (growing trees with sewage sludge for commercial mulch production) and says the success of his operation can easily be duplicated by other mulch manufacturers. “What I’m doing in Ohio could be done in other states and municipalities to support the mulch industry,” he says. “It’s something that could be done anywhere trees grow naturally. I don’t see a reason why you couldn’t use the same method with other trees, such as pine.” Weber says he has no plans to expand the growing concept to other areas. “I think I’ve got my hands full in Ohio. But if someone asked me in another part of the country, I would give them whatever advice I could,” he says. Continued on next page

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Continued from previous page

Weber’s business operations include 24 landscape supply centers (retail stores) and production facilities in Georgia, Kentucky, and in the Ohio cities of Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus that manufacture high-quality mulch. The company employs about 150 people. Ohio Mulch sells bagged and bulk products primarily throughout the Midwest with its offering found in big box stores, hardware and grocery stores and garden supply centers. Its products are certified by the national Mulch and Soil Council. In Georgia, Ohio Mulch manufactures cypress, pine, and cedar mulch and has those products shipped via rail-car to Ohio. The company is not growing its own trees there, rather it buys wood on the open market and also has its own logging crews to harvest timber when contracted by a landowner. The company also operates a sawmill in Georgia, which turns older trees into fencing, siding, interior panels and trim. “I didn’t want to take a 25 or 30 year old or older tree and turn it into a one-year product,” Weber says. “I personally wanted to feel good about a tree that’s grown for 30 years, by making something out of it besides a one-year product. We’re making a long life product out of it, a 25 to 30 year product . . . then we take the scrap from the sawmill and grind it up and make mulch.” Weber started in the industry with a small retail store in Blacklick, Ohio, when he was 19 years old, after running a lawn service business out of his parents’ garage. “I never had an idea it would grow to be this big,” he admits. “We’ve been in business 33 years. I just think the landscape industry as a whole has been somewhat recession proof. A weak economy doesn’t have much of an impact on the industry, unlike the new housing market,” he says. “The mulch side is more of a maintenance side of the industry, while planting bushes, shrubs or trees might be more closely tied to the new housing market. The mulch side of the business is an easy way for homeowners to feel good about taking care of their homes and fixing them up.”

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Heartland Institute to Host Climate Conference in Washington, DC March 23-24 Twelfth International Conference on Climate Change Will Focus on ‘Resetting U.S. Climate Policy’ for the New Administration

rlington Heights, IL – The Heartland Institute will host the 12th International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC-12) at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC on Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24, 2017. The theme of the two-day conference is “Resetting U.S. Climate Policy.” Speakers will present to the Trump administration and members of Congress the case for ending the Obama administration’s “war on fossil fuels” and embracing a forward-looking agenda based on scientific data and economic analysis. The Heartland Institute is globally recognized as a leader of the climate change debate. In 2016, a peer-reviewed article in Global Environmental Change said “Heartland has been recognized by scholars as a significant contrarian actor, and has been prominently studied in past literature on organized climate skepticism.” In 2014, a peer-reviewed article in Geoforum about a report produced by Heartland for the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) said the report offered a “scientific background … quite similar to the IPCC report.” The full program and speakers will be announced and posted online by Heartland in the coming weeks. There will be five plenary sessions and 12 panel presentations featuring some 30 speakers presenting the latest science and economics on climate change and energy policy. “The purpose of this conference is to introduce members of the Trump administration and newly elected members of Congress and their staff to leading scientists and economists who hold a data-based, non-alarmist view

of the climate,” said Joseph Bast, president of The Heartland Institute. “It’s time to reset U.S. climate and energy policy away from the alarmism and fake science that dominated policymaking during the Obama era, and plot a new course based on real scientific data and economic analysis. The American people deserve a huge ‘peace dividend’ that can be brought about by ending the unnecessary and futile war on fossil fuels.” This will be the 12th ICCC hosted by The Heartland Institute since 2008. Other ICCCs have taken place in New York (ICCC-1 and 2), Chicago (ICCC-4 and 7); Washington, DC (ICCC-3, 6, and 10); Las Vegas (ICCC9); Sydney Australia (ICCC-5); and in the German cities of Munich (ICCC-8) and Essen (ICCC-11). Nearly 4,000 people have attended at least one ICCC. See video and information about the programs and speakers at past events at the archive page for the International Conference on Climate Change. ICCC-12 is open to the public, but space is limited. For more information, contact Heartland Institute Director of Communications Jim Lakely at jlakely@heartland.org. You can also contact Jim Lakely by phoning or texting his cell: 312/731-9364. The Heartland Institute is a 33-year-old national nonprofit organization based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. It is devoted to discovering, developing, and promoting free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, please visit Heartland’s website at www.heartland. org or call 312-377-4000.

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January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News

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Maine Senators Urge Biofuel Reclassification as Carbon Neutral

ytopitlock, ME – Is wood biofuel carbon neutral? Not according to Mitch Lansky, author and founder of the Maine Low-Impact Forestry Project, writing in an article published in the Portland Press Herald. Two Maine Senators, Susan Collins and Angus King, however, are urging fellow lawmakers to pass an amendment to the S.2391 - American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 sponsored by Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The Maine contingent proposes to officially classify biomass energy as “carbon neutral.” The designation is intended to help biomass producers, and electricity generators that use biofuel, to qualify for renewable energy credits, and to stimulate the state’s forestry industry. “The carbon neutrality of biomass harvested from sustainably managed forests

has been recognized repeatedly by numerous studies, agencies, institutions, and rules around the world, and there has been no dispute about the carbon neutrality of biomass derived from the residuals of forest products manufacturing and agriculture,” Collins told Senate members. Lansky, who penned two books Beyond the Beauty Strip: Saving What’s Left of Our Forests and Low-Impact Forestry: Forestry as if the Future Mattered opposes the assertion that biofuel is carbon neutral. He argues that the position is not supported by science, nor is biofuel a very efficient form of energy. In the Press Herald article, Lansky worries that designating biofuel as carbon neutral will lead to heavy cutting and loss of sequestered carbon in forest soils. Current forestry regulations, he says, do not prevent large-scale whole tree removal and replanting, a method he

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rejects. The carbon sequestration impact of a short-term tree stand will never match that of a well-managed old-growth forest, Lansky wrote. In addressing the Senate, Collins said: “Specifically, our amendment would require the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to jointly ensure that federal policy relating to forest bioenergy is consistent across all departments and agencies and that the full benefits of forest biomass for energy, conservation, and responsible forest management are recognized. The amendment would also direct these federal agencies to establish clear and simple policies for the utilization of biomass as an energy solution. These include policies that” • Encourage forest management to improve forest health; • Encourage private investment throughout the biomass supply chain; • Recognize biomass as a renewable energy source; • Reflect the carbon neutrality of forest bioenergy; • And, that recognize state initiatives to use biomass.

ompost happens. Microbes are great at degrading leaves, food waste, and manure, creating a product that can be used to enhance soil health. But large volumes of these materials end up in landfills where composting does not happen. While commercial compost facilities are working to change that, more facilities and trained operators are needed. The Ohio Compost Operator Education Course, which will be held March 28-29, 2017 in Wooster, Ohio, provides the training commercial composters need to be successful. Participants will learn about site design, feedstock mixing, odor management, regulations, marketing, and other aspects of running a large facility. They will have a good understanding of the fundamentals of composting, including the biology, types of systems, and methods, as well as how to trouble shoot problems and ensure a quality product. Instructors include both academics and industry professionals with extensive research and practical experience in composting. The course will be held on the Ohio State University’s Wooster Campus, which allows for hands-on lab sessions at its compost pad and research laboratory. Details of the course are available at: www. oardc.osu.edu/ocamm or contact Mary Wicks (wicks.14@osu.edu; 330.202.3533). To learn more about becoming a member of ORAO, go to www.ohiocompost.org.

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Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Assoc Composting Council of Canada Mulch & Soil Council Organics Materials Review Institute U.S. Composting Council

Trucks, Trailers & Automatic Floor Systems

Apollo Equipment Brown Industrial Hallco Industries, Inc J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers Keith Mfg Co Smith Co Side-Dump Trailers Travis Body & Trailer Inc Trinity Trailer Mfg, Inc

Wear Parts & Replacement Screens

ArmorHog® Diamond Z Duragrind DynaHog® Grinder Wear Parts, Inc Kennametal, Inc King Kong Tools LLC Primary Machinery Rawlings Waste Wood Hogs Winn Wear Parts & Supplies

Stacking Conveyors

Continental Biomass Industries EZ-Screen McCloskey International Mollers North America Patz Corporation Premier Tech Chronos Screen Machine Industries, Inc Screen USA, Inc Sensortechnik

January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News 13

2017

BUYERS’ GUIDE COMPANY INDEX

Action Equipment Company Newberg, OR (503) 537-1111 www.actionconveyors.com

ALLU Group Inc Teterboro, NJ (800) 939-2558 www.allu.net

Badger Shredding

Denmark, WI (920) 863-1626 www.badgershredding.com

AGGCORP Equipment Systems Cleveland, OH (844) 2-AGGCORP www.aggcorp.net

Apollo Equipment Amadas Industries

AgriCoatings/ A Division of American Colors Inc

909 Tennessee Blvd Lebanon, TN 37087 (615) 443-0345 Jim Hallock jihallock@americancolors.com www.agricoatings.com The landscape industry demands systems that are dependable, durable, and color consistent from batch to batch. And, today, these systems must be economical. Our water-based dispersions offer the industry a vast selection of vibrant colors with excellent binding characteristics that will enhance the beauty of any landscape. See ad on pg 9

1100 Holland Rd Suffolk, VA 23434 (757) 539-0231 Tiny Andrews, Ind Sales Mgr tandrews@amadas.com www.amadas.com Amadas Industries’ current product lines include pull-type and self-propelled peanut combines, peanut diggers, Reel Rain® irrigators, cotton stalk puller/ choppers, round cotton module handlers and a line of industrial equipment for both the horticultural and recycling industries. See ad on pg 7

2062 – 20th Ave SE Largo, FL 33771 (800) 982-2844 Wayne Brown, Exec VP info@apolloequipment.net www.apolloequipment.net Global wood waste recycling equipment brokers assisting buyers and sellers to meet their future production and operating needs. Exceptional marketing services through our premiere website, equipment specialists and multiple channels including our massive database of over 7500 end users ensure a very positive purchase or sale. See ad on pg 24

Bandit Industries Inc

6750 Millbrook Rd Remus, MI 49340 (800) 952-0178 Regional Sales Manager sales@banditchippers.com www.banditchippers.com Bandit Industries is a leading equipment manufacturer for land clearing, wood waste recycling and mulch producing industries. Bandit offers a complete lineup of wood reduction machines, including The Beast® horizontal grinders that turn waste and chunk wood into a valuable end product. Every Bandit is backed by our industry-best dealer and factory support. See ad on pg 11

ArmorHog® Amerimulch

Airlift Separator / Hawker Corp

2111 Prairie Rd Eugene, OR 97402 (541) 345-9085 Jimmy Smith, Mfr Rep jimmy@airliftseparator.com www.airliftseparator.com Airlift Separator is a proven solution for effectively removing plastic from compost. It’s portable, easy to install and maintain, compatible with any screening plant and available in hydraulic, diesel or electric models. Airlift Separator is so effective in removing lightweight materials from compost and urban organic waste, that it comes with a norisk, buy-back guarantee. Customers include recycling centers, municipal organic waste facilities, and private compost and mulch manufacturers.

14 Soil & Mulch Producer News

2055 Enterprise Pkwy Twinsburg, OH 44056 (888) 556-3304 Eric Evangelista, Customer Service Rep erice@amerimulch.com www.amerimulch.com Amerimulch® provides landscape coatings and technology for the production of profitable, in-demand color-enriched mulches. Our colorants are formulated for superior bonding, coating and coverage and our equipment is designed for producers who want simple, effective, high-volume production. Take the next step in landscape coatings and technology with Amerimulch. See ad on pg 26

14 Commerce Dr Sabetha, KS 66534 (800) 743-3491 Brian Bergman, Parts Sales sales@armorhog.com www.armorhog.com ArmorHog® is focused on providing EXTREME DUTY, custom made, long-life hammermill screens, tips, hammers, and other replacement parts for all brands and models of RIGID HAMMER STYLE industrial grinders. Our tips are made using a unique blend of carbide called NitroGrit™, a proprietary blend of carbide found to best suit grinding applications. See ad on pg 25

ASV LLC

Grand Rapids, MN (800) 205-9913 www.asvllc.com

ATTENTION ADvERTISERS!

Schedule your 4-color logo/photo listing in our 2018 Buyers’ Guide! For details, call 440-257-6453. January / February 2017

BASF

1725 Dayton Ave Ames, IA 50010 (888) 663-6980 www.colorbiotics.basf.us BASF is an industry leader in the research, development, production, sale and support of mulch colorants and coloring systems. BASF offers a wide range of vibrant, long-lasting colorant for wood fiber mulch and reliable, productive equipment to meet any business need.

BASF Corp / Biodegradables

Wyandotte, MI www.bioplastics.basf.com

Bobcat Company West Fargo, ND (800) 743-4340 www.bobcat.com

2017 Britton Industries

BUYERS’ GUIDE D

Morrisvlle, PA (844) 274-8866 www.brittonindustries.com

Brown Bear Corporation Corning, IA (641) 322-4220 www.brownbearcorp.com

Brown Industrial

Botkins, OH (937) 693-3838 www.brownindustrial.com

Buffalo Turbine

180 Zoar Valley Rd Springville, NY 14141 (716) 592-2700 info@buffaloturbine.com www.buffaloturbine.com See ad on pg 4

Calhoun Super Structures Ltd Tara, ON Canada (800) 265-3994 www.calhoun.ca

Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Assoc St Albert, AB Canada (780) 460-8280 www.peatmoss.com

Caterpillar Inc

Cary, NC (919) 605-2361 www.catresourcecenter.com

CMC Mulch Colorants

1246 Maidencreek Rd Fleetwood, PA 19522 (610) 926-0984 sales@cmcmilling.com www.cmcmulchcolorants.com Custom Milling & Consulting, Inc. has designed a premium line of mulch colorants with unsurpassed color consistency and stability. CMC combines the most lightfast pigments with a superior additive package and processes this mixture through our custom grinding and dispersing system. Innovative technology for superior quality with CMC Mulch Colorants! See ad on pg 24

Toronto, ON Canada (877) 571-4769 www.compost.org

Duff Brush LLC

Continental Biomass Ind

Duragrind

CV Compost

DuraTech Industries

Newton, NH (603) 382-0556 www.cbi-inc.com

(802) 363-3930 www.cvcompost.com/ccovers.php

Carroll, OH (740) 808-3130 www.cwmachineworx.com

1395 John Fitch Blvd South Windsor, CT 06074 (866) 643-1010 trussinquiry@clearspan.com www.ClearSpan.com/ADSMPN ClearSpan Fabric Structures are a fast, economical solution for the soil and mulch industry. ClearSpan’s Hercules Truss Arch Buildings feature exceptional height and wide-open spaces with ample clearance for equipment access. Made in the USA, these buildings can be built to any length and up to 300’ wide. See ad on pg 7

11299 Bass Ln Caldwell, ID 83605 (208) 585-2929 Pat Crawford, VP Products diamondz@diamondz.com www.diamondz.com Diamond Z is a manufacturer of industrial waste reduction products including both tub and horizontal grinders ranging in sizes from 30,000 to 180,000 lbs and in horse powers from 440 to over 2400. All models are available with either diesel or electric power, track stationary or wheel mounted. See ad on pg 27

630 7th St, PO Box 34 Menominee, MI 49858 (877) 863-3319 duffbrush@gmail.com www.duffbrush.com See ad on pg 29

Composting Council of Canada

CW Machine Worx Ltd

ClearSpan Fabric Structures

DynaHog®

Diamond Z

14 Commerce Dr Sabetha, KS 66534 (800) 743-3491 Jason Haug, Parts Sales sales@dynahog.com www.dynahog.com DynaHog® offers High Performance Grinder Parts for your Swing Hammer Style Tub Grinder, Horizontal Grinder, and other Hammermill Applications. Rotor repair or replacement and digital hammermill balancing is available for all brands.

Earth & Turf Products LLC New Holland, PA (888) 693-2638 www.earthandturf.com

Sterling, IL (815) 625-6500 www.duragrind.com

Jamestown, ND (701) 252-4601 www.duratechindustries.net

Dust Control Technology Peoria, IL (800) 707-2204 www.dustboss.com

Conferences & Special Events: May 8-11, 2017

Earth Shades

PO Box 43188 Cincinnati, OH 45243 (877) 685-2439 Dave Dutill ddutill@mulchdye.com www.mulchdye.com Whether large volume or small, Earth Shades product lines cover all of your mulch coloring needs. With strategic partnerships throughout the industry, Earth Shades continues to improve products and services. Contact us today so we can help you add a little color to your world. See ad on pg 6

EarthSaver Equipment

Kalispell, MT (406) 752-6290 www.earthsaverequipment.com

Exhibits: May 9-11, 2017 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (New Orleans, LA) wasteexpo.com www.wasteexpo.com

January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News 15

2017

E Continued

BUYERS’ GUIDE

EcoVision Environmental

Florida Coastal Colors

Edge Innovate

Pickering, ON Canada (289) 987-4567 www.ecovisionenvironmental.com

Dungannon, N. Ireland +44 (0)28 8774 0525 www.edgeinnovate.com

Ecolawn Applicator

PO Box 839 Derby Line, VT 05830 (802) 673-9077 Keith Schuler keith@ecolawnapplicator.com www.ecolawnapplicator.com See ad on pg 25

GrinderCrusherScreen.com West Coast (971) 344-0001 East Coast (770) 433-2670

Express Blower, Inc

1275 Bailey Hill Rd Eugene, OR 97402 (800) 285-7227 Jason Wedmore, Natl Accounts Mgr info@expressblower.com www.expressblower.com Express Blower, Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of large pneumatic blowing equipment. Quickly install compost blankets and berms to the remotest locations for permanent sediment and erosion control. Also spread large or small quantities of mulch, compost, soil blends, and aggregates for landscapes, green roofs and Terraseeding®.

Pontiac, MI (248) 745-5828 www.ez-screen.com

Farmer Automatic of America Inc

Fecon Inc 1265 Lear Industrial Pkwy Avon, OH 44011 (440) 937-3225 www.ecoverse.net The Ecoverse story began in 2001 with the introduction of the Doppstadt line, sold through DoppstadtUS, and has since grown to incorporate BACKHUS, Backers, Tiger, Stationary Solutions, and Harvest Quest. Headquartered in Avon, Ohio, Ecoverse delivers a full line of environmental processing equipment. See ad on pg 28

16 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Newark, DE (888) 914-4673 www.gore.com

Bainbridge Island, WA (802) 368-7291 www.compostingtechnology.com

EZ-Screen

Ecoverse

Gore Cover Systems

Green Mountain Technologies

EC ALL Ltd / Big Hanna Composter

8656 Rockridge Ct Macedonia, OH 44056 (612) 237-0831 Eskil Eriksson, President eskil.eriksson@ec-all-ltd.com www.bighanna.com Big Hanna and Neter are Swedish, on-site, in-vessel, aerobic composting machines. The automated, continuous process produces pathogen free, ready compost from food wastes, including fish, meat and dairy solids. Big Hanna and Neter can operate in warm and cold climates, indoors and outdoors. Capacities from 330 up to 38,000 lbs. per week.

Helena, AL (205) 664-5041 www.floridacoastalcolors.com

Lebanon, OH (800) 528-3113 www.fecon.com

Filtrexx International Grafton, OH (440) 926-2607 www.filtrexx.com

Finn Corporation Fairfield, OH (800) 543-7166 www.finncorp.com

January / February 2017

Hamer - Fischbein

14650 28th Ave N Plymouth, MN 55447 (800) 927-4674 packaging@hamer-fischbein.com www.hamer-fischbein.com Everything in Bagging Equipment™ Hamer equipment offers faster, more accurate packaging while keeping designs simple, robust and easy to maintain. Experts in bagging soil, mulch, sand, aggregates and compost. Bulk material handling, Volumetric Fillers; Form, Fill & Seal technology, as well as bag handling conveyors, palletizers and wrappers. See ad on pg 2

HCL Machine Works Grinder Wear Parts Inc

2062 – 20th Ave SE Largo, FL 33771 (800) 827-0401 Wayne Brown, Executive VP info@grinderwearparts.com www.grinderwearparts.com Factory direct tub and horizontal grinder wear parts manufactured at our facilities on both coasts, Florida & Oregon. Over 15 years’ experience delivering wear parts for most every grinder assisted by our knowledgeable sales & manufacturing staff. If you need to improve your operating costs then you need to contact us for your wear parts: tips, bolts, nuts, hammers, screens, cutter bars, wear plates and much more!

Guard-All Building Solutions Dallas, TX (877) 397-1594 www.guard-all.com

HALLCO Industries, Inc Tillamook, OR (800) 542-5526 www.hallcoindustries.com

15142 Merrill Ave Dos Palos, CA 93620 (209) 392-6103 casey@unwiredbb.com www.compostturners.com See ad on pg 29

HogZilla® Grinders

14 Commerce Dr Sabetha, KS 66534 (800) 743-3491 Tim Wenger, VP/Sales Mgr hogzilla@cwmill.com www.hogzilla.com Diesel or electric powered HogZilla® MONSTER Tub & Horizontal Grinders ranging from 565-2000HP. Options including self-propelled track drive and self-loading units available. HogZilla® MONSTER Grinders provide the highest production rates for solid waste reduction, wood recycling, land clearing, construction demolition debris, mulch production, tire processing, or any other tough grinding application. See ad on pg 30

2017

BUYERS’ GUIDE L

Lachenmeier

Glenview, IL (877) 859 7205 www.lachenmeier.us

Lake Erie Portable Screeners

King Kong Tools LLC J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers

10558 Somerset Pike Somerset, PA 15501 (800) 777-2671 x3410 Corey Sechler, Sales Manager cls@jjbodies.com www.jjbodies.com The DynaHauler® /Live Floor is an open top transfer trailer engineered for municipal or commercial use and is ideal for use in mulch hauling applications. The trailer unloads horizontally and is available in steel or aluminum and includes hard working features such as four heavy-duty aluminum cast hinges with stainless steel pins. See ad on pg 22

Johnson & Sons Mfg Inc

753 Church St Buford, GA 30518 (678) 765-7930 info@kingkong-tools.com www.kingkong-tools.com King Kong Tools is a German manufacturer that provides highest quality grinder tips for virtually all models of wood grinders and shredders. Our innovative KingPact™ grinder tip design has revolutionized the industry. It combines high cutting performance with extreme impact and wear resistance. More Grinding - More Profit!

Rolling Meadows, IL (847) 437-5800 www.komatsuamerica.com

Cleveland, OH (800) 962-4010 www.soilmoist.com

Madras, OR (541) 475-3802 www.keithwalkingfloor.com

Kennametal Inc

Latrobe, PA (800) 458-3608 www.Kennametal.com

Kimball Equipment Company

Sparks, NV (775) 356-6998 www.kimballequipment.com

South Haven, MN (320) 259-7126 www.legacybuildingsolutions.com

Komptech Americas LLC

10855 Dover St, Ste 1000 Westminster, CO 80021 (720) 890-9090 info@komptechamericas.com www.komptechamericas.com Komptech is a leading international technology supplier of machinery and systems for the mechanical and mechanical-biological treatment of solid waste and for the treatment of biomass as a renewable energy source.

Kuhn North America Inc Brodhead, WI (608) 897-2131 www.kuhnnorthamerica.com

Join the Mulch & Soil Council TODAY ...

YOUR best opportunity to protect YOUR business! For more information, call 806-832-1810 or visit www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org 7809 FM 179, Shallowater, TX 79363

Mollers North America

5215 52nd St, SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512 (616) 942-6504 mollersna@mollersna.com www.mollersna.com For over 60 years, Mollers has set the standard for bag and unit load material handling systems. Mollers offers innovative solutions to pack, palletize and protect a wide variety of products. Mollers’ systems are reliable and reflect a history of engineering excellence customer satisfaction.

Morbark Inc LOADSCAN Limited

(800) 747 2973 www.loadscan.com Global specialists in load volume scanner technology: Accurate volume measurements Real-time load reporting Guarantee supply quantities Manage inbound loads Accurate inventory control API for software integration

JRM Chemical

Legacy Building Solutions

Komatsu America Corp

Elgin, TX (800) 463-0270 www.johnsonbaggingequipment.com

Keith Mfg Co

Lake City, PA (888) 448-2486 www.pitbullscreeners.com

McCloskey International Keene, ON CANADA (705) 295-4925

Midwest Bio-Systems

Tampico, IL (815) 438-7200 www.midwestbiosystems.com

Milagro Rubber Inc 3355 Bee Cave Rd Ste 304 Austin, TX 78746 (512) 330-9352 Marisa Barnes marisa@e-milagro.com www.e-milagro.com See ad on pg 4

MobyDick

Downingtown, PA (610) 458-9151 www.us.mobydick.com

Winn, MI (800) 831-0042 www.morbark.com

Mulch & Soil Council (MSC)

7809 FM 179 Shallowater, TX 79363 (806) 832-1810 Robert LaGasse, Executive Director execdir@mulchandsoilcouncil.org www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org The mission of the MSC is to define quality products and promote an open marketplace for producers of horticultural mulches, consumer soils and commercial growing media. Join with the industry’s leading companies to expand the market for consumer and commercial mulch and soil products.

Mulch Tech Shield

Linwood, NJ (609) 365-8727 www.mulchtechshield.com

National Building Group Aylesford, NS Canada (902) 844-0233 www.nationalbuidlinggroup.com

Natural Light Fabric Structures, LLC Jordan, MN (888) 708-3272 www.nlfabric.com

January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News 17

2017

BUYERS’ GUIDE

N Continued

Poly-Flex Inc

Grand Prairie, TX (888) 765-9359 www.poly-flex.com

Nature’s Reflections

Reynoldsburg, OH (866) 466-9134 www.natures-reflections.net

NCM Odor Control

South River, NJ (570) 460-8476 www.ncmodorcontrol.com

Neustarr Equipment LLC Liverpool, NY (864) 606-9830 www.neuenhauserna.com

Orbit Screens, Inc

PO Box 345 Delhi, IA 52223 (563) 922-9230 brad@orbitscreens.com www.orbitscreens.com One of Americas finest Screening Plant innovations. Truly a “General Purpose” machine. Screen topsoil, Mulch, Compost, Rock, Sand, yard waste, etc. Visit our web site for videos, photos and performance charts. Proudly, Made in the USA.

Organics Materials Review Institute Eugene, OR (541) 343-7600 www.omri.org

Nova Packaging LLC

2525 W Evan Ave Denver, CO 20219 (303) 495-5010 www.Novap.us Van Claud, VP Sales –Decorative Landscape Products Div. van@novap.us (757) 377-6299 Designers and Manufacturers of : Horizontal Form, Fill Seal Machines, Conventional Palletizer, Rob otic Palletizers, Radial Arm & Turntable Wrappers, Volumetric and Load Cell Weigh Baggers, Bulk Bag Loading Systems, Soil Blending Systems, Chain and Belt Conveyors, and Bulk Feeders. See ad on pg 10

Orion Engineered Carbons

Montreal, QC Canada (514) 340-5250 www.odotech.com

OMI Industries

ADvERTISERS! Schedule your 4-color logo/photo listing in our 2018 Buyers’ Guide Issue! For details, call 440-257-6453.

18 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Pound, WI (920) 897-2251 www.patzcorp.com

Lakeland, FL (888) 387-6500 www.peninsulaequipment.com

Peterson Pacific Corp

PO Box 40490 Eugene OR 97404-0082 (541) 689-6520 www.petersoncorp.com In 1990 Peterson developed its first wood waste recycling machine. Continuous development of wood grinders, with production rates up to 150 tons per hour. With our line of blower trucks, Peterson has extended its reach into the soil erosion and landscape markets, building trucks designed for distributing bark, mulch, compost, and soil amendments. See ad on pg 21

January / February 2017

1251 Arundel St St Paul, MN 55117 (651) 488-4250 Kevin Fenelon kfenelon@prismpigments.com www.prism-corporation.com Serving America’s color needs over 25 years, Prism produces premium quality mulch colorants and value pricing. Prism’s colorants are lightfast, weather resistant, provide high tinting strength and come in an unlimited choice of colors. Strict quality control assures accurate color consistency and performance; delivering premium products at a reduced cost. See ad on pg 32

22073 Fino Mornasco COMO - Italy +39 031 267331 www.promeco.it

Patz Corporation

Peninsula Equipment

Prism Corporation

Promeco SpA

Odotech Inc

ATTENTION

PO Box Drawer 507 Leeds, AL 35094-0507 (205) 640-5181 Steve Briscoe, ProGrind Sales Mgr steveb@precisionhusky.com www.precisionhusky.com Precision Husky Corporation is an International Manufacturer of Wood Waste Tub Grinders, Horizontal Grinders, Whole Tree Chippers, Debarkers, and Husky Knuckleboom loaders. ProGrind grinders are available with diesel engines from 150HP to 1100HP with electric models as an alternative.

Kingwood, TX (281) 854-8997 www.orioncarbons.com

Long Grove, IL (800) 662-6367 www.odormanagement.com

Precision Husky Corporation

Premier Tech Chronos

1, Avenue Premier Rivière-du-Loup, QC G5R 6C1 Canada (418) 868-8324 info@ptchronos.com www.ptchronos.com Premier Tech Chronos is recognized worldwide for its innovative solutions and unique way of designing state-ofthe-art packaging equipment: screening systems, hopper, volumetric feeder, manual bagger, FFS bagger, palletizers, and stretch wrappers/hooders. Our dynamic team is constantly aware of the soil and mulch industry growth, providing you with engineering excellence and solutions that will fit your specific needs. See ad on pg 8

Primary Machinery

Salem, OR (503) 588-8312 www.primarymachinery.com

Rawlings Manufacturing Inc

PO Box 4485 Missoula, MT 59806 (406) 728-6182 Judi Tyacke, Sales/Project Manager judi@rawlingsmanufacturing.com www.wastewoodhogs.com Rawlings wood waste recovery systems are available in stationary, portable and skid mounted systems; both vertical and horizontal models are available. See ad on pg 6

Rayco Manufacturing, Inc Wooster, OH (800) 392-2686 www.raycomfg.com

2017

BUYERS’ GUIDE Scott Equipment Company New Prague, MN (800) 264-9519 www.turborecycling.com

REAL DEMANDS. REAL SOLUTIONS.

Screen Machine Industries Etna, OH (800) 837-3344 www.screenmachine.com

Screen USA Inc REA JET

7307 Young Dr Walton Hills, OH 44146 (440) 232-0555 Nicole Richie, Marketing Manager sales@reajetus.com www.reajetus.com Because REA JET knows that real demands need real solutions, we continue to be a growing provider of coding and marking equipment for the soil & mulch industry. German engineered, our technology has been consistently designed and developed to withstand the demands of harsh production environments. Our extensive line of technology includes Large Character Ink Jet Printers (DOD), zero maintenance High Resolution Ink Jet (HP) printers as well as Laser and Spray Mark systems. Contact REA JET today to learn more about our products, capabilities and service offerings.

Rethceif Packaging

420 Industrial Pkwy Ossian, IN 46777 (260) 622-7200 Greg Thornton, COO/President greg@rethceif.com www.rethceif.com Rethceif provides solutions for feeding, packaging and palletizing agriculture, forestry and other products. Whether customers need standard or customized equipment, the Rethceif team of salespeople, engineers and technicians is the supplier of choice for customers in North America and Australia. Rethceif delivers with quality components, less parts and more productivity.

Revolver Screening Systems Guelph, ON Canada (416) 460-5285 www.revolvertrommels.com

Smyrna, GA (770) 433-2440 www.grindercrusherscreen.com

Netherlands +31 23 5689070 www.slootweg.com

15055 Henry Rd Houston, TX 77060 (281) 931-9832 Valerie Campos, Sales Valerie@triconprecast.com www.triconprecast.com The Alfabloc® Wall System is a very efficient and versatile concept in bunkering wall design. With the ability to remain freestanding to allow for reconfigurable bays and to be ground fixed for permanent installations, makes it the most versatile precast concrete bunkering wall system available today.

SmithCo Side-Dump Trailers

Trinity Packaging Corp

Sensortechnik

Chilliwack, BC Canada (855) 217-2750 www.opticalbeltscale.com

Slootweg Machinefabriek B.V.

Le Mars, IA (800) 779-8099 www.sidedump.com

Bocholt, Germany +49 2871 2134-649 www.spaleck-us.com

SPR Packaging

REOTEMP Instrument Corp

Rockwall, TX (469) 252-1070 www.sprpackaging.com

Old Orchard Beach, ME (888) 600-0018 www.remu.fi

San Diego, CA (800) 648-7737 www.reotemp.com/compost

Sterling, CO (970) 522-0663 www.rrskw.com

Conferences & Special Events: May 8-11, 2017 Exhibits: May 9-11, 2017 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (New Orleans, LA)

www.wasteexpo.com wasteexpo.com www.wasteexpo.com

Armonk, NY (914) 273-4111 www.trinitypackaging.com

SPALECK GmbH & Co. KG

REMU USA Inc

Resource Recovery Systems Intl

Tricon Precast Ltd

T.H. Glennon Co Inc Salisbury, MA (978) 465-7222 www.mulchcolorjet.com

Rotochopper Inc

217 West St St Martin, MN 56376 (320) 548-3586 info@rotochopper.com www.rotochopper.com Rotochopper manufactures grinding and slow-speed shredding equipment that converts wood waste into premium l a n d s ca p e m u l c h a n d c o m p o s t . Rotochopper also offers portable bagging systems for mulch, compost, topsoil, decorative rock, and other products. See ad on pg 5

TANA - North America

Vaughan, ON Canada (844) 778-6799 www.torxxkp.com

Salerno Packaging Inc Monroe, GA (770) 361-7308 www.salernobags.com

SCARAB Mfg

Lubbock, TX (806) 771-9944 www.tana-na.com

Terex Environmental Equipment Farwell, MI (989) 588-4295 www.terex.com

TORXX Kinetic Pulverizer Ltd

Travis Body & Trailer Inc Houston, TX (800) 535-4372 www.travistrailers.com

Trinity Trailer Mfg Inc

8200 South Eisenman Rd Boise, ID 83716 (800) 235-6577 sales@trinitytrailer.com www.trinitytrailer.com Trinity Trailer’s new generation of light weight Eagle Bridge Stainless Steel truck beds feature the Trinity Trailer chain and flap unload system that has made Trinity’s trailers so popular. This unload system greatly reduces belt slippage and provides a fast clean unload. Trinity’s high capacity beds are also remarkably light. Designed for applications where it is just not practical to maneuver semi trailers or when a smaller load needs delivered. See ad on pg 31

U.S. Composting Council Ronkonkoma, NY (631) 737-4931 www.compostingcouncil.org

White Deer, TX (806) 883-7621 www.scarabmfg.com

January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News 19

2017 BUYERS’ GUIDE

U Continued

United Rotary Brush Corp

ASV Introduces New VT-70 Vertical Lift Compact Track Loader

15607 W 100th Terrace Lenexa, KS 66219 (913) 888-8450 engineered@united-rotary.com www.united-rotary.com See ad on pg 29

Universal Refiner Corp Montesano, WA (800) 277-8068 www.universalrefiner.com

Vecoplan Midwest

Floyds Knobs, IN (812) 923-4992 www.vecoplanmidwest.com

Product / Equipment Profiles

Walz Scale Company

656 High Point Ln East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 694-3200 Matt Walz, Vice President mwalz@walzscale.com www.walzscale.com Walz Scale has been supplying weighing and measurement equipment to the mulch and agriculture industry for nearly 50 years. Our family owned business specializes in truck scales, onboard scale systems and in-motion volumetric load scanning technologies. Walz Scale is your single source for weighing and measurement solutions. See ad on pg 23

SV LLC, a manufacturer of all-purpose and all-season compact track loaders and skidsteers, recently introduced the company’s first mid-frame, vertical lift compact track loader, the Posi-Track VT70. The machine features a vertical lift loader linkage for applications requiring extended reach and level loads. The compact track loader excels at lift, carry and load tasks as well as heavy digging in industries such as agriculture, construction and excavation. The VT-70 features a Kubota 2.4-liter turbocharged diesel engine. The 65-horsepower engine produces 146 foot-pounds of torque. Planetary drive motors transfer the torque to the patented internal-drive sprockets. Internal rollers prevent friction loss in the undercarriage, resulting in all power being transferred to the track regardless of drive speed. The VT-70 achieves Tier 4 Final compliance using a diesel oxidation catalyst that features less wiring and requires no regeneration, sensors, diesel exhaust fluid or additional maintenance. The VT-70 features a rated operating capacity of 2,328 pounds and a tipping load of 6,650 pounds. It is 66 inches wide and has a 10.5-foot lift height. Standard joystick controls make operation easy and intuitive, while a self-leveling system allows attachments to stay at a set position while lifting. Operators can use the unit with all standard attachments, such as pallet forks, buckets, snow blades and brush cutters. For more information on the VT-70 and available options, visit ASV LLC’s websites: www.asvllc.com or www.positrack.com.

Morbark® Teams with Pronar to Add Mobile Trommel Screens to Its Equipment Line

Vermeer

1210 Vermeer Rd East Pella, IA 50219 (641) 628-3141 salesinfo@vermeer.com www.vermeer.com Ve r m e e r d e l i v e r s a r e a l i m p a c t in a progressing world through the manufacture of high-quality environmental equipment, including trommel screens, compost turners, and horizontal and tub grinders. With a reputation for durability and reliability, that equipment is backed by localized customer service and support provided by independent dealers around the world. See ad on pg 12

Warren & Baerg Mfg Dinuba, CA (559) 591-6790 www.warrenbaerg.com

WCCO Belting

Wahpeton, ND (800) 342-4887 www.wccobelt.com

Winn Wear Parts & Supplies Winn, MI (844)262-3649 www.winnparts.com

20 Soil & Mulch Producer News

West Salem Machinery

PO Box 5288 Salem, OR 97304 (800) 722-3530 Bob DeSouza, General Manager info@westsalem.com www.westsalem.com WSM Grinders, Screens, & Systems make mulch and soil processing reliable, less labor intensive, and more profitable. Capacities from 100-500 cubic yards/ hour. Bulk feeders for less material handling. Pre-screening and cleaning reduces grinder wear, lowers energy consumption, and increases throughput. WSM Grinders produce premium quality mulch. Finish screening for precise product classification. All in one integrated package. Engineering and project management insure a smooth start-up and productive installation. See ad on pg 25

Zedco

Morin-Heights, QC Canada (514) 609-1310 www.zedcosolutions.com

January / February 2017

orbark has entered into a partnership w i t h P r o n a r, a company based in Poland that specializes in the manufacturing and sale of mobile trommel screens, as well as machinery and equipment for agriculture, municipal services and the transportation industry. Available in four sizes, these mobile trommel screens, which will be co-branded Morbark and Pronar, are perfectly suited to work with a wide variety of materials, including soil, compost, municipal waste, coal, aggregate and biomass. The easy-to-use electronic controls allow the operator to tailor the operation parameters to the materials to be separated. A variety of drums are available to meet the customer’s specific needs, with round or square holes and of any mesh size. Key features include: • Wide-opening doors for accessibility and quick switching of drums • Pull-out platform, on which the engine and hydraulic systems are mounted, for easy maintenance access • Magnetic roller for removal of ferrous metals, which may be mounted on the rear and/or side discharge conveyors • Hydraulic tipping grid for removal of large objects, to help prevent damage to the trommel drum If you would like more information about Morbark equipment, please visit www.morbark.com or call us at 1-800-831-0042.

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January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News 21

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Duluth School Board Decides to Replace Rubber Playground Mulch

uluth, MN – Concerns about the safety of mulch made from rubber tires has prompted the Duluth School Board to order removal of the material from most of the district’s elementary school playgrounds, Duluthnewstribune.com reports. Engineered wood has been suggested as a possible alternative, but a panel is investigating solutions and no final decision has been made yet. The existing “rubber crumb” mulch will be removed by start of the 2017 school year. The cost of the removal and replacement of the rubber is expected to be between $300,000 and $400,000. The toxicity of recycled tire rubber is being investigated under the Federal Research Action Plan, which is implemented chiefly by the EPA, along with divisions of Centers for Disease Control and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Other federal agencies and the state of California are involved, as well. Key stakeholder groups under the Action Plan include tire crumb manufacturers, non-profit organizations, field installers and maintenance professionals, and field users. A status report, The Literature Review and Data Gaps Analysis was released in December of 2016, although it does not include research findings, it does explain methodology, however. For the characterization of the chemicals research, tire crumb material has been collected

from tire recycling plants and synthetic turf fields around the U.S. Tire crumb samples have been gathered from nine tire crumb recycling plants, 19 fields located on U.S. Army installations and 21 community fields including both indoor and outdoor fields. Analysis of the tire crumb samples collected from fields and recycling facilities, and the exposure characterization component of the study, will continue in 2017. Parts of the exposure study may be conducted during the summer months of 2017 because more outgassing occurs in hot weather. The CPSC playground study also will continue in 2017. Other federal, state, and local government agencies have conducted limited studies on artificial turf fields. For example, from 20092011, New York City and the states of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey conducted studies on tire crumb infill and synthetic turf. Also, in 2008 and 2009 the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry evaluated synthetic turf “grass blades” in response to concerns about lead exposure. Their evaluations estimated that any potential releases of toxic chemicals from the grass blades, such as lead, would be below levels of concern. In 2008, EPA conducted a limited ScopingLevel Field Monitoring Study of Synthetic Turf Fields and Playgrounds. The purpose of the

limited study was to test a method for measuring possible emissions from using synthetic turf on playgrounds and ball fields, not to determine the potential health risks of recycled tire crumb in playgrounds or in synthetic turf athletic fields. No long-term effects of the chemicals found in the recycled tire rubber are known at present and limited studies have not indicated elevated health risks from playing on fields with tire crumb.

Tulsa Gives Mulch Away for Free, Saves $$

ulsa, OK – According to a TulsaWorld.com article, the City of Tulsa produced a record volume of mulch in 2016. Last year’s production reached 386,900 cubic yards. The volume increases in years that have major ice storms or weather events that generate even more green waste. City data shows 9,647 vehicles picked up free mulch out of the 96,113 vehicles that dropped off green waste in 2016. At $1.70 or $1.80 per cubic yard to haul the material away, the city was spending $300,000 to $700,000 per year. Allowing residents to pick up the mulch for free has eliminated that cost.

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Call and let us quote you your next trailer. Tippers, push outs, and end dumps also available. 22 Soil & Mulch Producer News January / February 2017

Truck Measurement & Ticketing Systems

Volumetric Load Scanner System Starting @ $23,900.00

Skid Steer Scales Starting @ $1,495.00 Wheel Loader Scales Starting @ $4,400.00 Truck Scales Starting @ $3,950.00 800-747-0701 - www.walzscale.com 656 Highpoint Lane, East Peoria, IL 61611 January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News 23

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Utility Company Recycles Utility Poles

www.apolloequipment.net

www.grinderwearparts.com

PL, one of the largest investor-owned companies in the U.S. and U.K., is recycling 100 percent of its wood utility poles, according to an article on WFMZ.com. Broken or weak utility poles and cable spools can really add up in refuse hauling costs, and they take up a great deal of space in landfills. So, PPL partnered with Indiana-based National Salvage and Service to run a pilot recycling program. Now, instead of going to landfill, an annual 1600 tons of poles are being converted into fuel at waste energy plants, and PPL is saving about $100,000 in holding and tipping fees, a company spokesman said. According to the National Salvage & Service Corporation website, the utility poles they accept “find new purposes in building, fencing and landscaping projects. Poles that do not meet reuse quality standards can be landfilled or sent to a permitted cogeneration facility. Untreated wood can be recycled in its original form or ground into clean mulch.” Utility poles can last upwards of 40 years. Typically they are preserved with creosote, pentachlorophenol (PCP or Penta) and inorganic copper chromated arsenical compounds (CCA) that prevent pest damage. According the US EPA website, recycling of treated utility poles is covered by The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). For treated wood being disposed of by non-households, it is the responsibility of the persons generating the creosote-treated wood wastes to make a determination if it is hazardous waste. State and local governments may have specific guidance or instructions for disposing of treated wood, the agency advises. The recycling of utility poles by incineration or mulching must be done in an approved facility capable of appropriately containing the chemicals, according to the EPA, as well as state and local laws. PPL energy companies serve areas of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Midlands, South West and Wales in the United Kingdom.

Service and Quality that You Can Count On!

CMC Mulch Colorants is a privately owned company that values our customers. We strive to provide dependability, quality, and outstanding service. Our colorants will help you increase your bottom line by allowing you to use less colorant and still achieve optimal coverage. We manfuacture millions of pounds of colorant every year at our 70,000 sq. ft. Fleetwood, Pennsylvania facility. Contact us Today to speak to a representative and see for yourself. 24 Soil & Mulch Producer News January / February 2017

330 Gallon Totes

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Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Perdue Farms Expands $68M Nutrient Recycling Operation

elmarva Peninsula, DE – a $12.8 million addition to the $68 million Perdue Farms’ AgriSoil composting facility here doubles the company’s capacity to compost surplus poultry litter and treated bio-solids from poultry plant wastewater, a Feedstuffs.com article. According to the company’s website, other agricultural byproducts, such as soybean stems also will be collected from area farms and composted at the Perdue facility. The 200-mile-long Delmarva Peninsula includes part of Delaware and the 11 Eastern Shore counties of Maryland and Virginia. University of Maryland researcher, Thurka Sangaramoorthy, notes on her web page that the Peninsula’s broiler industry consists of five major poultry plants (Tyson Foods, Perdue Farms, Mountaire Farms, Amick Farms and Allen Harim Foods), which together employ 21,000 workers, and consist of 2,800 contract growers, 10 feed mills, and 15 hatcheries. Along with its own poultry farms and processing facilities on the Peninsula, Perdue also operates AgriBusiness, which produces natural and organic fertilizers and soil amendments and the AgriRecycle organic fertilizer plant in Blades, Delaware. Perdue expects to nearly double the amount of litter and byproducts recycled and relocated to an estimated 80,000 tons per year. The

composting and recycling facilities were built to stem runoff from land-applied nutrient mixes. According to Perdue’s website, raw material for the AgriSoil compost process is loaded into concrete bunkers and covered by a high-tech fabric that seals in odors and speeds up the natural composting process. Wood and water from Perdue AgriRecycle’s scrubbers are added. The process takes 60-70 days, naturally heating to 140-165 degrees F for an extended period of time, resulting in a high-quality, composted soil amendment that’s rich in organic matter. The final product will be marketed for commercial use and to distributors of consumer lawn and garden products.

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Soil Study Finds Biodegradable Cups and Cutlery Don’t Break Down

almerston North, Manawatu, New Zealand – Curious about manufacturers’ claims of biodegradable plates, cups and cutlery in collected in its food waste composting program, a New Zealand city tasked scientists to dig into the matter, according to Stuff.Co.NZ. A team of student scientists from Massey University’s Zero Waste Academy composted 47 paper and plastic products the city of Palmerston North had allowed in its compost program. The products chosen for the study were those that were labeled by manufacturers as biodegradable. The researchers found thickness to be a factor in biodegradability rates. Polylactic acid (PLA) film broke down quickly. PLA and wood stirrers and cutlery were nearly intact after six months of composting. Because the city’s composting process takes three to six months, this could be a problem. Palmerston North has invested in a “hot rot” composter machine that has been revamped to take new material. Meanwhile, the study has been useful in helping the city update the list of items it will accept for composting.

www.westsalem.com

January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News 25

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Landlords Fight Virginia Mulch Ordinance

n December, the Virginia Apartment Management Association filed a “declaratory judgement” against the city’s mulch ordinance, which the landlord group says violates a state law prohibiting such codes, reports a WHSV.com article. According to a summary on the Virginia.gov website, the state law (SB 736) provides that notwithstanding any provision of law, general or special, any ordinance in effect and any ordinance adopted by the governing body of the City of Harrisonburg shall not include in any local fire prevention regulations a requirement that an owner of real property who has an occupancy permit issued by the City use specific landscape cover materials or retrofit existing landscape cover materials at such property. The City of Harrisonburg had passed an ordinance in 2015 that required an 18” setback for landscape cover materials, such as wood mulch, from multi-family buildings with combustible siding (such as wood, vinyl, masonite, etc). The ordinance also applies to detached single family R-3 and R-5 residential structures being utilized as a child care or adult care facility. The ordinance does not apply where non-combustible building foundations (concrete, block, brick, etc) rise at least 6 feet above the combustible landscape material. According to the city’s website, “from January 2008 through December 2014, the Harrisonburg Fire Department responded to over 200 fires involving mulch. The majority (78 percent) of the fires occurred during the warm weather months of April and September when outdoor fire dangers are significantly higher. Sixteen of the fires caused damage to structures, over half of which were multiple family dwellings (apartment complexes). These incidents combined have resulted millions of dollars in damage and losses, though luckily resulted in no civilian deaths.” Patrick McCloud, the CEO of the Virginia Apartment Management Association says his group was not consulted about the Harrisonburg mulch ordinance. The city issued a statement to television station WHSV saying that it would vigorously defend the ordinance.

www.amerimulch.com

info@amerimulch.com

26 Soil & Mulch Producer News January / February 2017

Colorado Residents Make a Stink about Anaerobic Digester

ort Collins, CO – Responding to odor and other complaints, county commissioners here have suspended operating permits for the newly-built $115 million Heartland Biogas plant, reports Coloradoan.com. Owned by EDF Renewable Energy, Heartland Biogas has been billed as North America’s largest anaerobic digester. The plant converts mainly cattle manure and food waste into about 50 MW energy, soil amendments and fertilizer using six 1.7 million gallon capacity bioreactors. Through a long-term agreement between the city and EDF, the gas is sold to the City of Sacramento, which receives it via the Colorado Interstate Gas Company pipeline. More than 600 complaints were documented in a lawsuit that the county has filed against Heartland. The company has filed a counter lawsuit. The odor complaints and reports of dizziness and headaches began soon after the digester started operating at full capacity in 2015. Heartland has already spent about $1 million on odor mitigation and expects to spend additional money. Court filings show that the permit suspensions will cost the biogas producer $29.4 million in shutdown costs and $3.2 million a month in profits, as well as jeopardizing its contracts with local ranchers and gas companies. Because Heartland did not secure a “certificate of designation,” it will have to re-apply for county permits in order to start operating again. Meanwhile, with landfill closure looming just eight years away and a goal of zero-waste by 2030, a citizen’s group was formed to figure out how to handle the area’s waste. The Heartland digester has been suggested as one solution.

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www.diamondz.com January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News 27

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

ADVERTISER NEWS Bandit Industries Expands Bobcat of Connecticut Dealership Territory

artford, CT – Bandit Industries has expanded the territory for Bobcat of Connecticut, the company’s authorized dealer for Bandit small equipment sales, parts and service. Bobcat of Connecticut now serves Bandit customers throughout Connecticut and western Massachusetts. Bobcat of Connecticut has been in business for over 5 years and joined the Bandit dealership network in 2015, bringing decades of combined experience to the Bandit brand. Bandit’s former dealership for the area, Massachusetts-based Tyler Equipment Corporation, is exiting the tree care market. Bandit Industries and Tyler Equipment Corporation enjoyed a partnership of over 5 years. According to Bandit, the companies are parting ways on amiable terms.

Bandit Industries Reaches Settlement with U.S. EPA

andit Industries Inc. has reached a settlement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding civil penalties for alleged violations of the Transition Program for Equipment Manufacturers (TPEM) under the Federal Clean Air Act. The settlement follows Bandit’s voluntary self-disclosure to the EPA after Bandit discovered one of its suppliers of engines shipped to Bandit from 2012 to 2015 approximately 2,300 diesel engines that Bandit understood to be legally conforming engines. Discussions with the government have been ongoing since February, 2015. In November 2016, EPA and Bandit were able to reach an agreement to resolve the government’s allegations. Bandit does not admit liability and Bandit expressly denies an intentional or deliberate TPEM non-compliance in the agreement.

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28 Soil & Mulch Producer News January / February 2017

Kentucky-Based Louisville Tractor Inc. Joins Bandit’s Dealers

ouisville, KY – Bandit Industries recently welcomed Louisville Tractor Inc. as the company’s newest Bandit Authorized Dealer for small equipment sales, parts and service. Louisville Tractor will serve customers in southern Indiana and north central Kentucky, focusing on hand-fed chippers and stump grinders. With over 40 years of service to Louisville and surrounding communities, Louisville Tractor Inc. offers a wide range of experience among their staff, including specialized Bandit parts and service training. All sales and service takes place at the company’s Louisville location. “We’ve worked with Louisville Tractor for years, and we’re very happy to have them onboard as a Bandit dealer,” said Bandit Industries Sales Manager Jason Morey. “They know Bandit equipment, and they also know how to take care of customers. Our companies share the same philosophy of customer service, and I’m very excited at what we can achieve as we work together for Bandit customers in the region.” For more information on Louisville Tractor Inc., call 800-866-5473 or visit online at www. louisvilletractor.com.

Soil

Economics of Forest Biomass Raise Hurdles for Rural Development

orvallis, OR – An Oregon State University feasibility study has found that transforming residual forest biomass into useful products or energy would be costly and wouldn’t help struggling rural communities in need of an economic boost. Usually residual biomass is left in place to decompose or it is burned. In more easily accessible locations, the wood residues are ground up or chipped and used to make a product known as “hog fuel.” But researchers at the College of Forestry wanted to see if residual biomass could help revive rural communities around the state. The study, published in Forest Policy and Economics, focused on biomass generated during timber harvesting operations. Using a model of the forest industry, College of Forestry researchers analyzed the costs of collecting branches and treetops and transporting the material to existing mills or plywood manufacturing plants in western Oregon. Mindy Crandall, a doctoral student who led the research, said such economic development initiatives are not feasible without targeted subsidies or support. Obstacles include high costs of transportation and processing. Despite the lure of new markets (including turning biomass into jet fuel and industrial chemicals), the prospects look weak, she noted. The researchers also considered the possibility of generating biomass from restoration or thinning operations on federal forestlands, but concluded that the additional volume would do little to change the economic feasibility of processing facilities. The study may be the first to combine a model of biomass operations with specific locations for regional processing facilities where the material could be processed and stored. Researchers identified 65 likely locations in western Oregon for such facilities, referred to as “depots” in the study. The cost of harvesting, chipping and loading biomass at timber harvesting sites comes to about $37.50 per dry ton, researchers estimated. Operating costs of a regional depot -- including labor, fuel, maintenance, electricity and supplies -would add another $11 per dry ton. These estimates do not include transportation and depot construction. “The actual levels of these costs that operators experience will be really critical to feasibility,” added Crandall. The first commercial aircraft testing aviation fuel made from forest harvest residues was flown by Alaska Airlines in 2016. For large-scale production, the cost would have to be offset by generating income from co-products as well.

To make residual biomass into a sustainable industry, processor facilities would have to solve issues of weight and density to reduce trucking costs. Efficient methods for drying the material and making it more compact would have to be developed. If accomplished, these solutions would reduce handling expenses, as well as the scale of processing facilities, thus bringing down the price per ton of the raw material. Crandall and her colleagues estimated that a depot operating three shifts per day and producing 75,000 dry tons per year would create about 19 jobs. The study authors concluded that biomass is not a strong stimulus for Oregon’s rural economic development unless other aims can be achieved, including wildfire risk reduction, forest restoration and energy generation. Support for the research came from the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance, an initiative led by Washington State by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Mulch Producer NEWS

EQUIPMENT PRODUCT SHOWCASE

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Denver Food Waste Program Set to Expand

enver, CO – The city of Denver wants to boost participation in its subscription residential compost program and eventually do away with the fee, reports TheDenverChannel.com. Six more routes will be added, making a total of 11, which extends the program to most of the city. According to the City of Denver’s website, residents enrolled in the program receive a large green compost cart and a two-gallon kitchen pail. Compost is picked up once a week by Denver Recycles, the same outfit that collects yard waste. Participants can choose a quarterly payment plan of $29.25 every three months, or a discounted one-time payment of $107.00 for the entire year. Eventually, the city plans to remove the fee and provide every home with a composting barrel. The Denver Composts pilot program began in 2008 with 2,200 participants. After food waste collection became fee-based the following year, enrollment rose slightly, and then dropped off. According to a spokesperson for the Denver Public Works Solid Waste Management, each route costs about $400,000 to start, which includes a new truck. New trucks were purchased in 2015. Denver has set a target goal of 35 percent for diverting organic waste from landfill.

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Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Maine Regulators Approve Biomass Subsidies Split Across 4 Plants

angor, ME – The December 2016 approval of $13.4 million in biomass subsidies by Maine Public Utilities Commission sets the stage for a French-owned company to refire two former Covanta plants, reports biomassmagazine.com Stored Solar LLC, a subsidiary of the French energy firm Capergy, acquired the two Covanta plants last year. The MPUC approved the acquisitions and gave unanimously voted to give the company the go-ahead on reopening the plants, which were idled last April. Capergy’s purchase agreements were submitted to MPUC in advance of state legislation that established a competitive solicitation process for contracts to supply up to 80MW of biomass-generated electricity. The other winning bidder was ReEnergy, which will operate two plants in the state. Emera Maine will be the counter-party utility for the ReEnergy contract and Central Maine Power to the Stored Solar contract. The $13.4 million in subsidies represent above-market prices to be paid out of the state’s general fund. According to state law, contracts must—to the maximum extent possible—provide benefits to taxpayers, provide instate benefits, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote fuel diversity and support grid reliability. MPUC also is responsible for determining both in-state benefits and above-market costs in an expected annual dollar per megawatt-hour average for each contract. The Commission can reduce the contract payment by the percentage difference between the actual in-state benefits achieved and the projected in-state benefits, if the determined instate benefits are not realized. Where investor-owned power companies and electrical co-ops operate, the Capergy plants will get no more than 50 percent of the subsidy. The state rule applies to the ReEnergy facilities serving regions where an independent administrator oversees energy transmission and access.

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CW has been manufacturing electric powered grinders for over 40 years, in addition to its diesel powered units.

CW's 800 HP Electric HogZilla Grinders are what experienced buyers are looking for today with increased efficiency, reduced maintenance, massive construction, & simplicity.

30 Soil & Mulch Producer News

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January / February 2017

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January / February 2017 Soil & Mulch Producer News 31

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VOL. XI NO. 1

U.S. Postage

PAID

JAN / FEB 2017

Inside This Issue

2017 BUYERS’ GUIDE Pages 13-20

2016 Mulch Sales Were Strong in Many Areas of the U.S. PAGE 1 Ohio Mulch Creates Renewable Wood Source Through Tree Farming PAGE 4 Maine Senators Urge Biofuel Reclassification as Carbon Neutral PAGE 10 Duluth School Board Decides to Replace Rubber Playground Mulch PAGE 22 Landlords Fight Virginia Mulch Ordinance PAGE 26

“Top-Quality Color, Exceptional Value.” Serving America’s color needs for over 25 years, we combine a one-two punch of premium quality mulch colorants and value pricing. This combination allows our customers to increase their profitablility by providing vibrant and long-lasting colored mulch at a reduced cost.

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