1. Barrie Cogburn, RLA Design Division Texas Department of Transportation TxDOT’s Compost Utilization Program Becomes Nation’s Largest Market Capital Area Resource Recovery Roundtable, May 15, 2008

6. Texas Department of Transportation “Poor quality topsoil can’t sustain vegetation & this leads to erosion … we need organic matter!” Texas Commission on Environmental Quality “Compostable materials are taking up valuable landfill space … this is a waste of organic matter!” WHY NOT COMPOST?

7. IS COMPOST THE ANSWER? Could we convince the engineers? Roadway industry support? Cost savings? Quality Control? Would compost perform? Good or Bad PR for TxDOT?

8. How we got the word out …

10. IH 20 Big Spring, TX 7/99 After 3” rain IH 20 Big Spring Demo 6/99 IH 20 Big Spring 7/99 after 3” rain

11. Workshop Presentations

12. Why TxDOT Uses Compost Improves poor quality topsoil Establishes vegetation Avoids erosion Fulfills Stormwater abatement obligations (Phase II)

13. Acceptable Feedstocks for Item 161 - Compost leaves and yard trimmings food scraps food processing residues manure Class A biosolids

14. Compost IS NOT: raw sewage sludge or manure

15. Compost IS: a pasteurized, pathogen free, organic soil amendment

18. Composted Manure Incentive Program

19. Erath County Dairy Operation

21. Promotional logo to “brand” our message …

22. Booths at Trade Fairs

23. Earth Day Events at TxDOT Campuses

24. Repeated contact with contractors and compost producers …

25. Support letters from EPA and TxDOT District Engineers …

26. Trade Publication Articles

28. Cubic Yards of Compost Used by TxDOT

29. TxDOT Compost Research The Use of Compost and Shredded Brush on Rights of Way for Erosion Control 1352 Texas Transportation Institute, January 1995 A Review and Evaluation of Literature Pertaining to Compost Characteristics and to the Application of Compost Alone and Mixed with Different Soils 4403-1 Center For Transportation Research, July 2002 Characteristics of Compost: Moisture Holding and Water Quality Improvement 4403-2 Center For Transportation Research, August 2003 Water Quality Characteristics and Performance of Compost Filter Berms 4572 Texas Transportation Institute, April 2006 The Effects of Using Compost as a Preventative Measure to Mitigate Shoulder Cracking: Laboratory Studies 4573 University of Texas at Arlington, October 2006 Roadside Sediment Control Device Evaluation Program 5948 Texas Transportation Institute, ongoing

30. New Stormwater Control Tools

33. Site Perimeter Protection – Easy to Move

34. No Fence to Knock Down & Repair

36. SUMMARY COMPOST … Solves high-priority environmental challenges Provides self-sustaining market solutions Builds public/private and interagency partnerships

37. Texas Department of Transportation Barrie Cogburn, RLA Landscape Design & Enhancement Section Director TxDOT Design Division 512/416-3086 bcogburn@dot.state.tx.us