Research and outreach advanced technologies that convert Washington’s organic wastes into energy, biochar, compost, and other products.
The 2017–2019 Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership joined Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Ecology to advance technologies and strategies for recovering value from organic wastes. Applied research examined compost-facility emissions, agricultural compost use and policy, biochar-compost systems, carbon drawdown potential, engineered biochars, soil water-holding capacity, crop responses, and the economics and supply chains of biochar production. Extension and engagement activities shared information about composting, anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, nutrient recovery, and municipal biorefineries with solid-waste managers and other stakeholders. Together, the work aimed to reduce technical, economic, and adoption barriers; expand markets for recycled organic products; and help Washington convert discarded organic material into renewable energy, soil amendments, recovered nutrients, and other beneficial products. The partnership also supported goals in Washington’s State Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan.
Products from this Project
- Report
Advancing Organics Management in Washington State: The Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership 2017–2019 Biennium - Report
Lessons for Compost Policy: What Can Recycling Policy Tell Us? - Report
Extension, Engagement, and Technology Transfer - Report
Emissions from Washington State Compost Facilities: A Review of Volatile Organic Compound Data, and an Estimation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Report
Differentiating the Value and Cost of Compost Across Likely Farm Use Scenarios in Western Washington - Report
Integrating Compost and Biochar for Improved Air Quality, Crop Yield, and Soil Health (2019) - Report
Assessment of the Local Technical Potential for CO2 Drawdown using Biochar from Forestry Residues and Waste Wood in 26 Counties of Washington State - Report
Production of Engineered Biochars for Phosphate Removal from Waste Lignocellulosic Materials: First, Second, and Third Generation Engineered Products - Report
A Rapid Test for Plant-Available Water-Holding Capacity in Soil-Biochar Mixtures
Project Leads
Yorgey, G. and Hills, K.
People
Yorgey, G., Hills, K., Amonette, J., Ayiania, M., Berim, A., Brady, M., Bronstad, E., Collins, D., Flury, M., Garcia-Perez, M., Gang, D., Hoashi-Erhardt, W., Jobson, T., Khosravi, N., Haghighi Mood, S., Jefferson Milan Y., Nelson, R., Pickering, N., Saari, B., Seefeldt, S., Stacey, N., Stockle, C., Tanzil, A., and Zhang, J.
Project Dates
2017– 2019
Areas of Focus
- Agricultural Practices
- Agricultural Technology
- Climate & Environment
- Research Engagement & Communication
- Value from Waste
- Water Resources & Policy
Topics
- Climate Change
- Crops
- Energy
- Natural Resources
- Production Systems
- Soils & Fertility
- Waste Management
- Water Resources
Project Status
Complete
