The U.S. Organic Waste Composting (OWC) Protocol provides a standardized approach for quantifying and monitoring the GHG reductions from projects that avoid methane emissions to the atmosphere through the diversion and composting of municipal food waste and food soiled paper waste that would otherwise have been sent to a landfill. This protocol builds largely on the Reserve’s protocol for organic waste digestion projects.
| Current Protocol Version(s) Available for Project Submittal | Adoption Date | Notes and Supporting Documents |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Organic Waste Composting Protocol Version 1.1 | July 29, 2013 |
**Currently under revision**
Errata and Clarifications to the U.S. Organic Waste Composting Protocol Version 1.1 (August 27, 2014) U.S. Organic Waste Composting Protocol Summary Effect of New Waste Diversion Mandates on Reserve Projects (Seattle, California) (January 14, 2015) |
Protocol Revision
The U.S. Organic Waste Composting Protocol is currently undergoing a program revision update. Program revisions are editorial and/or technical in nature and do not require a public comment period, nor do they require adoption by the Reserve’s Board. These revisions do not significantly change the policies or eligibility in the protocol but can change or revise quantification methodologies or monitoring requirements.
Stakeholders may submit revision suggestions to policy@climateactionreserve.org.
Project Listing Documents
The documents below are required during the project listing phase.
| Document | Description | Required Phase | Privilege |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Submittal Form | A proposal to undertake an organic waste composting project. | Project Submittal | Public |
| Project System Diagram | A project diagram is required during project submittal and must be updated after changes to the project system. | Project Submittal | Private |
Project Registration Documents
The documents and tools below are designed to help project developers organize their project data and facilitate verification. Use of the templates provided is optional; however, the documents are required for verification.
| Document | Description | Required Phase | Privilege |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Data Report | The purpose of this document is to assist project developers in identifying high areas of risk, highlight important aspects of the protocol, and facilitate verification. | Verification | Public |
| Monitoring Report Template | The purpose of this document is to assist OWC project developers in documenting conformance with the monitoring and Q/QC requirements. | Verification | Private |
Please contact the Reserve with questions or comments.