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The PROP Organics Committee is offering our Certified Compost Professional Certification (CCPC), in coordination with the PROP Certification Committee.

Individuals will be able to receive a Certified Compost Professional Certification (CCPC) from the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania in less than one year. PROP promotes education within professional standards for recycling, organics, and solid waste professionals in both the public and private sectors, as well as providing a career track for new professionals entering the field.

PROP will be offering the accelerated CCP program and Certification every other year, starting this year 2025. Individuals who complete the required Classes/Sessions/Events during the specified time frame below will be able to complete their 30-question test at the annual conference.  By passing the test, individuals can receive their Certificate in person at the Awards Banquet during the conference.

The CCP Certification program starts with the (March 4th, 2025) 1.5-hour virtual class and continues through the end of the year. Individuals will be able to attend Classes/Sessions/Events that will provide the correct number of credits needed to take the test and be certified. The test will be offered at the annual conference, and again before the end of this year.  Completion of all required courses and testing must be done within 3 - calendar years to achieve the Certified Compost Professional Certification.

If you are currently a Certified Recycling Professional, Senior Certified Recycling Professional or have taken the Recycling 101 – Practice & Theory class, you have already completed one of the requirements and do not need to take that class again. Recycling 101 is a requirement of the CCP certification.  If you need to attend Recycling 101, it is already scheduled for this October.  Individuals can then schedule to take the test and receive their CCP certification before the end of the year.

We have a designated Organics Track this year at the 2025 Recycling & Organics Conference in Mars, Pennsylvania to assist you in obtaining the required credits. Complete all the requirements and sit for the test during the conference to receive your certificate during the Awards Banquet Thursday evening July 24th at the conference.

Required Training:

1. Fundamentals of Composting (1.5 – Virtual Class) - March 4th, 2025, 10:30am – 12:00pm   {$75 member / $125 non-member}

Link to the Registration Form

  • Overview, introductions and goals of this course
  • Basics processes, Size reduction and Compost Math
  • What finished compost is used for / How it is used
  • Facility safety and problem solving, Bioaerosols and Fires

Possible Speakers: Bill Bedics - Rotochopper / Mark Rebelo - Abington Township / Becca Naber - Beaver County / Kyle Larkin - Casella Waste Systems Inc. / Terry Keene - Keene Environmental Consulting / Ashley Dobak - Barton & Loguidice / Brent Dieleman - SCS Engineers

 2. Recipe Development Feedstocks Composting Methods and Formulas - (4 hours - In Person Class) [April 24, 10:00am to 2:00pm]

{$225 member / $275 non-member}  
Class will be held at:  SpringHill Suites,1935 Waddle Rd, State College, PA 16803 {Lunch will be provided} [Class limited to 26 students]
  • We will go over different types of composting, Passive vs Active, Wind Rows, Closed Vessel, Vermicomposting, etc.
  • We will go over the formulas, then we will pull samples and pair up in teams of two which will come up with their blend of how they would mix the compost, do the math and then go over the pros and cons of each of the samples.
  • The class will then tour the State College compost facility

Link to the Registration Form

Possible Instructors: Bill Bedics - Rotochopper / Mimi Cooper - CCRRA / Jessica Shilladay - PA DEP / Mark Rebelo - Abington Township / Becca Naber - Beaver County / Kyle Larkin - Casella Waste Systems Inc. / Terry Keene - Keene Environmental Consulting / Ashley Dobak - Barton & Loguidice / Brent Dieleman - SCS Engineers
3. PA Timber Show – PSU AG Progress Days in PA Furnace (4 hrs. In-person | June 6-7, 2025) - {$205 member / $255 non-member}
  • Composting equipment selection, maintenance, and safety
  • The course is available 4 times over the course 2 days

Possible Instructors:[TBA]

 4. PROP Pre-conference Organics Track (6 hrs. In-person | July 22nd PROP Conference Mars PA) - {$ 275 member / $415 non-member}

  • Facility tour – Hermitage Wastewater Site (Food Waste) then travel to Beaver County Site for hands on and classroom. Plan to discuss site logistics and conduct in-field exercises on dry bulk density.
  • Demonstration on basic processes, windrow building, turning and screening, temperature monitoring.

Possible Instructors:[TBA]

5. PROP Organics Classes during the conference (Wednesday July 23rd / Thursday July 24th) - {cost included w/ conference registration}
Three (3) 1.5-hour classes totaling 4.5 hrs of training.

A. Siting the Compost Facility = Design and Layout – (1.5 hours) Wednesday July 23rd
  • Where to start to establish a program, what permitting is required, sitting parameters, engineering components.  Minimizing environmental impact.
  • How to blend engineering, economics, and politics to find the optimal site for your compost facility.  **** Be a good neighbor, setbacks and flood planes
  • Regulations / DEP Permits / Funding DEP Technical Assistance/ record keeping
B. Compost Business and Economics – (1.5 hours) Wednesday July 23rd
  • An examination of the costs associated with the composting processing beginning with the arrival of the feedstocks through the departure of the finished products.  Product sales, end users/ certified product and SAP # with ability to sell material to the Commonwealth of PA for PennDOT reclamation projects. (DEP personnel on the purchasing end)
 C. Odor Generation & Control – (1.5 hours) Thursday July 24th
  • This session will help you understand odor generation and control and have a chance to ask questions about any aspect of Composting/Organics Management to the panel of professionals and DEP representatives.
  • Surface water control

Exam (Thursday July 24, 2025 / 4:15pm – 5:15pm) 30 questions. - {$30}

Recognition of Inaugural Certified Compost Professional Class during the Awards Banquet

Certification 101: Practice & Theory – (14 hrs. In-person | October 21 & 22, 2025, Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority, Bellefonte PA.) - {$505 member / $675 non-member}   Link to the October 21 & 22, 2025 Registration Form
  • Individuals who are already CRP & SCRP don’t need to take this.  Anyone who has already taken 101 also does not need to take this.

 

For more information, please call the PROP Office - 717-441-6049 or email [email protected] or [email protected]

 The Value of Professional Certification 

 

 Download the 2025 Certification Course Catalog