“Not all composts are the same,” says Clinton Sander, marketing manager at A1 Organics, Eaton. "Knowing what’s in it is very important to both a residential home owner with a small garden or a commercial contractor installing a new highway median. The US Composting Council’s (USCC’s) STA Certified Compost Program assures that compost manufacturers are held to high standards by using approved labs, testing frequently, following state regulations and disclosing specific information about their compost." A1 Organics, which provides multiple certified composts and provides organic recycling solutions, participates in the program. 

Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) Certified Compost
The US Composting Council recognizes that Quality is in the eye of the consumer. Compost use and selection decisions consider many factors, and therefore are not one-size-fits-all. The Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) Program helps you make the best decision for your application by providing the 3 C’s: clarity, consistency and confidence (as described below).

Similar to a nutrition label, the STA Program’s Compost Technical Data Sheet (CTDS) includes test results, a list of ingredients, and recommended directions for use.

Consistency –
The STA Program provides checks and balances within the STA Lab and Participant network to ensure proficiency and consistency with testing procedures and compliance, providing apples to apples comparisons of compost properties.

Confidence –
Similar to trusting a vehicle history report when purchasing a vehicle, the STA’s CTDS report provides consumers with confidence and knowledge of what is in the compost and how it was produced.