McNerney Bill Would Enlarge Composting at Vineyards

Tri-Valley State Sen. Jerry McNerney has introduced legislation that would allow farmers and winegrape growers throughout the state to compost large amounts of agricultural waste onsite, instead of having to ship it to composting facilities hundreds of miles away.

The legislation, SB 279, is in response to a ban that just took effect prohibiting nearly all green waste burning in the San Joaquin Valley because of pollution. Should it pass, farmers throughout California, including vineyards in South Livermore, can take part in the composting plan, McNerney said.

“It’s a win-win,” McNerney told The Independent. “We don’t want a lot of burning because of the air quality issues. If we use ag waste to create compost, then you enrich the soil. So, you’re saving these agricultural entities money from having to pay people to take their material away, and now they can use that to enrich their own soils.”

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