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This page
presents current issues with the potential to impact California organics recycling programs and markets, and provides links to resources and background
information on each
topic.
Current Issues
Clopyralid in Compost and Mulch
This site provides recent news and updates relating to clopyralid and its potential impact on the organics processing industry in California.
Sudden Oak Death
Since 1995, large numbers of oaks and tanoaks have been dying mostly in the
coastal counties of California due to Sudden Oak Death (SOD).
In recent years, the cause of the SOD has been identified as a new plant pathogen,
Phytophthora ramorum. Many species of nursery stock are now known to be
susceptible to SOD. In an effort to slow or prevent the spread of this plant
pathogen, all commercial nurseries within California and organic processing
facilities in the quarantined counties must follow specific regulatory
procedures. Please contact the County Agricultural Commissioner prior to the movement of
any California nursery stock (intra- or interstate shipments) or any plant
material trimmings moved from the quarantined area. Composting is an effective
sanitizing option for curbside-collected green material (see
2006 University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
report
in Adobe PDF format).
(Background)
Bark Beetle Infestation
California's multi-year drought conditions have exacerbated the current bark
beetle infestations, creating an abnormally high tree mortality in Southern California's
regional forests. On March 7, 2003, the Governor issued an
Emergency Proclamation for catastrophic fire prevention in San Bernardino,
Riverside and San Diego Counties involving
hundreds of thousands of trees that are dead and dying after being weakened by
drought and attacked by bark beetles. Bark beetle infestations
plagued well over a half-million acres in Southern California's regional
forests by the spring of 2004. Bark beetle infestations in Northern California
are also of concern because of the associated fire risk, but these infestations
encompass a significantly lesser acreage. Removal of dead and dying trees in
Southern California intensified with the influx of federal grant funds in 2004.
Lerp Psyllid Infestation
California’s diverse trees and crops are continually open to attack by
imported pests. Occasionally, the introduced insect or disease has a severe
impact on one or more plant species such as the
lerp psyllid relative to the red
gum eucalyptus. Vast numbers of eucalyptus trees have been killed in Southern
California because of heavy infestations of these small, sucking insects.
Especially hard hit by the lerp psyllid are red gum trees in Los Angeles County
where the insect was detected in 1998, as well as, counties on the southern
coast of California.
Caltrans and local governments are removing many of the
dead trees because of the hazards they present to the general public. Biological
controls are now being established to reduce the lerp psyllid populations and
render the situation manageable. If you observe eucalyptus trees being chipped
and the material piled nearby, rest assured that this is probably the best
option for this pest situation.
Emissions Reduction From Composting
and Related Facilities
(AQMD Rule 1133)
In January 2003 the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) adopted
three new rules requiring emissions reduction from certain composting facilities and related
operations.
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