NEWS RELEASE March 2006

For more, contact Kenn Entringer at Casey Communications, 314/721-2828.

St. Louis Composting Earns
“Seal of Testing Assurance” Certification from U.S. Composting Council

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Composting has earned the “Seal of Testing Assurance” Certification from U.S. Composting Council St. Louis Composting (www.stlcompost.com) operates the largest composting facility in Missouri and is the largest composter in the St. Louis region. It operates composting centers at 3521 Centreville Ave. in Millstadt, Ill.; 39 Old Elam Ave. in Valley Park, Mo.; and 2520 Adie Rd. in Maryland Heights, Mo.
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Editor's note: St. Louis Composting is based at 39 Old Elam Avenue in Valley
Park, Mo. 63088.

The information contained in this packet explains the details of the United States Composting Council's (“USCC”) Seal of Testing Assurance (“STA”) program. The USCC's goal is to have all composters participate in this program AND to have compost specifiers, regulators and users accept ONLY STA compost for their specific projects. It is our belief that this program is of immense benefit to both composters and compost users. These reasons will hopefully become clear after reading this letter and the enclosed information.

How does the STA program work?

1. Compost producers regularly sample and test product, using STA Program approved labs, for chemical, physical and biological properties. All of these labs must use the same standardized testing methodologies.
   
2. Testing frequency is based on the production facilities volume and can be as frequent as monthly for the largest producers, to quarterly for the smaller composter.
   
3. The laboratory data will be made available to both the USCC (STA program management staff) and the compost producer (who, in turn, will provide it to compost specifiers and customers). Again, the only STA program “standards” placed on the compost products are that they be properly tested - we do not place numerical standards on the actual test results (outside of our health/safety standards, and any applicable state and federal regulations).
   
4. Compost use directions will be made available to all compost customers by the STA Program participant. These will be included in the STA “Compost Technical Data Sheet” along with the laboratory analysis and the product ingredients. This standard label allows end users and specifiers to compare compost products and make an informed purchasing decision.
   
5. The USCC will, upon receipt of the laboratory test data, fees and other required program information, certify the program participant's compost as “STA certified compost” and permit the use of the STA logo on all literature and bagged product.