Agromin Includes C&D in its Mix

Agromin, an Oxnard, Calif.-based recycler that receives material from more than 50 communities in four Southern California counties, says it recycled 366,800 tons of green material from residents and businesses in 2009. The amount recycled was a 21 percent increase compared with 2008, when 302,000 tons were recycled, according to the company.

Agromin’s recycling facilities accept green material, including grass clippings, leaves, trees, brush and wood that includes C&D scrap, from Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The company says items such as plastics, bottles and paper are removed before the remaining material is chopped and composted into soil products. After a process that takes about 60 days, the soil products are sold to growers, landscapers and household consumers.

“The soil is made using an all-natural process,” says Agromin CEO Bill Camarillo. “We speed up composting by constantly turning and watering the green waste, but it’s still the tiny microorganisms in the material that do all the work. The result is clean, healthy soil.”

In 2009, Agromin was named “Composter of the Year” by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). The company was also honored in 2009 with the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) 2009 Dave Hardy Leadership in Organics Award. Agromin compost is listed by the non-profit Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) so it can be used to produce certified organic products in accordance to the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) National Organic Program standards, says the company.

“Our sustainable system keeps waste out of landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions,” says Camarillo.“The increased amount of green materials collected in 2009 is a positive indication that more and more residents and businesses are joining in the effort.”

Agromin soil products are sold in bulk and in bags at locations in Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange and Los Angeles counties. The company says products are also available online at www.agromin.com.