By P.J. Heller Their business may be going to pot, but that is fine with Jonathan Lee and Garrett Rodewald. The co-founders of Gaiaca Waste Revitalization in California are among a growing group of entrepreneurs who are capitalizing on the need for companies to manage burgeoning amounts of cannabis waste. “Somewhere right now, there’s a state talking about legalization; updating rules …
By Kenneth Artz California may soon ban gasoline-powered gardening tools such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers statewide, following the lead of approximately 60 California cities that have already banned the use of gas-powered yard equipment. In an effort to reduce emissions of air pollutants and carbon dioxide, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is now considering a statewide ban, which …
By Ken McEntee Government imposed closings related to Covid-19 may have hurt – or even destroyed – many businesses across the country. The soil and mulch industry was apparently not one of them, according to mulch and soil producers who reported robust sales volumes this spring. “Our soil sales have been overwhelming and we have not been able to keep …
By Kathleen Marquardt The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Army finalized the Navigable Waters Protection Rule to define “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS). This probably caused a large number of people to yawn; few know what the WOTUS are or the importance of this ruling. But for those who have been affected negatively for decades, …
By P.J. Heller Mulch manufacturers appear to be viewing themselves as part of an essential supply chain for businesses deemed “essential services” and are remaining open and operating as states and cities impose shutdowns on businesses and issue stay-at-home orders for most of the public in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. At least two states, Delaware and Connecticut, have …
By P.J. Heller Phil Mueller admits it hasn’t always been easy to find green wood for mulch manufacturing in eastern South Dakota. “We’re still in a strike-a-match-and light-up kind of 1800s state,” he says. “We’re kind of behind the curve and always have been It’s a big challenge for us. Our number one competitor is a match.” Despite that, Mueller …
By Ken McEntee Taking inventory at Atlanta-based Oldcastle Lawn & Garden’s 30-plus mulch and soil yards used to require hours of manual measuring with a walking wheel and yard stick, then counting and recounting the collected data. After switching to an image-based measurement system, “They are now able to walk around a stockpile with an iPhone in two to three …
By Ken McEntee Federal Hours of Service (HOS) restrictions on truck drivers are costing the mulch and soil industry more than $1 billion per year – averaging close to $5 million per company, the Mulch and Soil Council (MSC) estimated. Mulch and soil producers could save that amount if they are granted an Agricultural Commodity Exemption to HOS regulations, said …
By Ken McEntee Workplace injury reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can serve as gruesome reminders about how dangerous grinders and other mulching facility equipment can be when proper safety precautions aren’t utilized. In March 2018, an employee at a Missouri lumber company was killed while operating a hog grinder used to make mulch out of lumber …
By P.J. Heller Mulch may be the not so secret ingredient when it comes to successful landscaping and plant growth. For nearly 100 years, the benefits of mulch for various applications, such as agriculture and landscaping, have been studied and recognized. While there are numerous types of mulch — including wood chips, stones, straw, cardboard and other paper-based trash, plastic …
