PAylOAd WeIghINg & MeASurINg SySteMS Walz Scale – pg 5
SOIl AMeNdMeNt Green Solutions LLC – pg 15
trOMMel BruSheS Power Brushes Inc – pg 14
WeAr PArtS ArmorHog – pg 14
Resource Recycling Inc. Promises
‘The Yard You’ve Been Waiting For’
By P.J. Heller
Micah Hollinger remembers his grandfather saying how he survived his first few years in business “on love and turnips.”
“That’s kind of been our motto,” says Hollinger, chief executive officer of Resource Recycling Inc., in Lima, Ohio. “We can make it on love and turnips, if nothing else.”
Love, in this case, is his dedication and passion for the mulch and soil business. Turnips symbolize basic sustenance or living on very little or just enough to get by.
While that may have been true when Hollinger first got into the mulch business nearly two decades ago, today his company offers some two dozen different products –mulches, soils, compost, stones and sand, either in bulk or bags – and employs 61 people.
Looking ahead, he says he’d like to be running four to six bagging lines – up from the two bagging production lines for private label and retail applications currently in use. He’d also like to double his bulk sales.
“We’d like to get to 1 million cubic yards of mulch and 200,000 yards of compost,” he says.
That’s not too bad for someone who started the business with only his wife, Melissa, and one other person. When asked about their business plans back then, he would tell people, “We just want to stay in business until the next year.”
Hollinger admits he knew nothing about the mulch, soil and compost business when he first started.
“I didn’t know anything about it, not the first thing,” he says. “It was kind of trial and error mostly. I’ve probably made triple the amount of mistakes as most people in my industry, but we’ve learned from them and kept going.”
In his first year in business, he had another company producing mulch for him on his property. He subsequently rented a facility in Chillicothe, Ohio, for bulk mulch and discovered it had a bagging line, so he began offering bagged mulch. As the business grew over the years, he purchased grinders, a coloring machine and other equipment. In 2019, he ordered his first bagging equipment. That purchase came just as the pandemic was beginning, and Hollinger said he “pretty much freaked out.”
“Everything was shutting down,” he recalls. “Like, what are we going to do?”
Luckily, several major companies contacted Hollinger asking if he could co‑package for them. The business grew steadily from there.
Hollinger also started shipping products in his own Resource Mulch branded bags to big box stores such as Menards and Rural King. His products can also be found in garden
Resource Recycling Promises
centers as well as being available to homeowners and landscapers from a store on the Resource Recycling site.
“Best garden soil, compost and mulch I’ve ever used,” wrote one customer in a Google review.
“This is an excellent place to get your mulch, topsoil, or compost that you need for your outdoor projects,” wrote another. “All of their products are top notch, and the staff is extremely helpful.”
The success of the business led to adding a second bagging line in 2022. The company runs two shifts and produces about 5 ½ million to 6 million bags a year. All equipment in the yard is powered by electricity, rather than diesel, to better control costs. Bagging lines are all automated robots to cut down on labor. There are about 20 different conveyors to move product rather than requiring loaders.
“I like people, but if we can use a machine rather than a person to move mulch there’s less room for an error or accident,” Hollinger says.
Resource Recycling distributes its bagged and bulk materials in a 150 mile radius of Lima.
Hollinger describes growing up on a farm, always wearing hand me down clothes and not having much money.
The one thing he did have, though, was a keen interest in machinery.
“I just always liked machinery,” he recalls. “I started running equipment when I was probably 12 years old. I always liked running equipment and so that’s the main reason I kind of got into some of this. It just had cool equipment. It was fun.”
He also saw it as a seasonal business, much like farming. That would allow him to spend time with his three daughters and two sons during the summer. His teenage daughters now help out in the business.
That sense of family also runs through the business, although he admits it gets harder to maintain as the staff grows. Many of his employees have been with him for years.
“We pay somebody to come in and cook lunch for us a couple of days a week,” Hollinger says. “I’m a big believer in getting people together to break bread, and employees get along a lot better when they eat a meal together. At the end of the day, we’re all a team.”
The company’s mulch season runs 24
hours a day from September to July. Resource Recycling (also known as Resource Mulch or Re:Source) produces between 400,000 and 500,000 yards of mulch each year on its 70 acre site in Lima, he estimates.
Mulch accounts for about 85 percent of the business, with materials coming from sawmills, land clearing, and green waste collected from some 20 municipalities. Ice storms and tornadoes also generate material. The company offers free green waste and yard waste drop off for customers.
When the 70 acre site became too clogged, Hollinger in 2024 purchased 120 acres across the road for the composting facility. Not all of that acreage is being utilized yet, he notes.
Compost accounts for 15 percent of the business. Hollinger expects to produce 75,000 yards of compost this year and expects to double that amount in 2026.
Among the materials composted are eggshells.
“We work with a lot of the big chicken farms and take all their eggshells from liquid egg facilities and compost them,” Hollinger explains. Those eggshells previously would be sent to a local landfill.
“We do at least 50 tons a day, six days a week,” he says, noting that figure also includes waste feed, litter, as well as tomato waste from canning facilities and other food products. Byproducts from a turkey and pig farm that can’t be used for anything else are also composted.
There is no shortage of eggshells.
Ohio is one of the largest poultry producing states. In February 2025, it surpassed Iowa to become the state with the most commercial egg layers (39.9 million vs 39.4 million in Iowa), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The decline in Iowa’s numbers was attributed to outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Ohio also saw significant losses due to HPAI, with more than 24 million layers depopulated (destroyed).
“We do a lot of mortality composting with avian bird flu,” Hollinger says. “We go out on farms and compost it and screen it and then we haul all the reject material back to our main compost facility.”
Composting has been used successfully
‘The Yard You’ve Been Waiting For’
Continued from page 1
for nearly two decades throughout the United States to control outbreaks of low pathogenicity avian influenza and highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to the USDA. An HPAI outbreak in 2014–2015 claimed approximately 50.5 million birds in 21 states; composting was used for 85 percent of the poultry carcasses, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A 2022–2023 HPAI outbreak affected more than 60 million birds.
“Composting can be effective with most bird types and poultry house designs,” the USDA says.
While Resource Recycling takes in food scraps from production factories, it does not depackage food waste.
Hollinger says a lot of credit for the success of the business goes to his wife for supporting him. She also works at the business.
“I’m not a very smart guy,” Hollinger says. “I didn’t graduate high school or go to college but I’m not afraid to take a chance either . . . and my wife stood beside me and said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
He cites the time he was “taking a gamble” by spending $1 million on his first bagging line and not knowing if he had the work for it.
Continued on page 11
www.SoilandMulchProducerNews.com
Contributing Editors / Writers P.J. Heller • Robert LaGasse
Sandy Woodthorpe
Production & Layout Christine Mantush Advertising Sales Rick Downing
Subscription information, call 440 257 6453. Soil & Mulch Producer News is published bimonthly by Downing & Associates. Reproductions or transmission in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited.
Printed on Post-Consumer Recycled Paper Publisher / editor Rick Downing
U.S. Wood Biomass Energy Use Projected to Rise Through 2026, EIA Says
The use of wood biomass for energy is expected to grow over the next two years, even as overall renewable electricity generation continues to expand, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Short-Term Energy Outlook released on September 9, reports biomassmagazine.com.
Renewables as a whole are projected to supply about 25% of U.S. electricity in 2025, up from 23% in 2024, and to reach 26% in 2026. While solar and wind are driving much of that growth, the EIA expects woody biomass consumption to play a slightly larger role in industrial energy use, even as its contribution to electricity generation remains steady.
In 2024, biomass provided just over 2% of renewable electricity generation in the U.S., producing about 20.5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity. That figure is expected to dip slightly—to 20.3 billion kWh in 2025 and 20.1 billion kWh in 2026 reflecting stable generation capacity but modest shifts in sector demand.
At the end of 2024, the electric power sector maintained 2.7 gigawatts (GW) of waste biomass capacity and 2.2 GW of wood biomass capacity, levels the EIA expects will hold steady through 2026. The industrial and commercial sectors, which use biomass primarily for heat and combined heat and power, had 5.3 GW of wood biomass capacity and 1.3 GW of waste biomass capacity in 2024. Industrial wood biomass capacity is expected to dip slightly to 5.2 GW this year and remain at that level through 2026.
The industrial sector is where wood biomass use is projected to grow most strongly. After consuming 1.219 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of wood biomass in 2024, industrial users are forecast to increase consumption to 1.262 quads in 2025 and 1.354 quads in 2026—a nearly 11% rise over two years.
In contrast, the electric power and commercial sectors are expected to see little change or small declines. Total waste biomass consumption across all sectors is projected to ease slightly from 0.379 quads in 2024 to 0.372 quads in 2026, while wood biomass use will increase from 1.811 quads to 1.945 quads over the same period.
Overall, the EIA’s forecast suggests that woody biomass will remain a steady, if small, part of the U.S. renewable energy mix, with growth driven mainly by industrial users rather than power producers.
U.S. Economy Surges in Second Quarter, Outpacing Expectations
The U.S. economy picked up steam this spring, growing at a faster pace than many experts predicted, reports theepochtimes.com. Government data released recently shows that the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP)—a key measure of overall economic activity—expanded at an annual rate of 3.8% between April and June.
That’s a big turnaround from the first quarter when the economy actually shrank slightly, and it’s also stronger than the 3.3% growth that most forecasters had expected.
A big part of the rebound came from stronger consumer spending. Americans spent more freely on goods and services than initially estimated, pushing consumer activity up by 2.5% in the quarter. At the same time, imports dropped sharply, which also boosted the GDP figures.
Government spending, however, dipped slightly, mainly due to a decline in federal expenditures. On the other hand, industries producing goods and services saw solid gains, especially in manufacturing.
Inflation showed signs of easing during the second quarter. The government’s broadest measure of prices rose just over 2%, down from 3.6% earlier in the year. A key inflation measure tracked by the Federal Reserve, known as the PCE price index, also slowed to 2.1%.
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Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Takes Emergency Action to Protect America’s Roads, Restrict
Non-Domiciled CDLs
New rule closes dangerous loopholes, holds states accountable, and launches immediate enforcement action against California for gross negligence
WAShINgtON, d.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy recently announced an emergency action to drastically restrict who is eligible for a non domiciled commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) and commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The rule, effective immediately, comes in response to an ongoing nationwide audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and a recent series of horrific, fatal crashes caused by non‑domiciled drivers.
The audit has uncovered both a catastrophic pattern of states issuing licenses illegally to foreign drivers, as well as the fact that even if the current regulatory framework is followed, it can fail. The confluence of these two factors has created an imminent hazard on America’s roadways that must be fixed.
Moving forward, non citizens will not be eligible for a non domiciled CDL unless they meet a much stricter set of rules, including an employment based visa and undergoing a mandatory federal immigration status check using the SAVE system.
FMCSA’s nationwide audit non domiciled CDLs uncovered systemic non compliance across several states, the worst and most egregious in California. Due to weak oversight, insufficient training, and programming errors, the agency found a large number of non domiciled CDLs were issued to:
• Drivers who were ineligible
• Drivers whose licenses were valid long after their lawful presence in the U.S. expired FMCSA’s findings are in addition to at least five fatal crashes occurring since January involving non domiciled CDL holders – all prompting Secretary Duffy’s urgent action to combat the direct threat to national security and the hazard to public safety. Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington were also identified as states with licensing patterns not consistent with federal regulations.
U.S. Economy Surges
Continued from page 4
That’s welcome news for households that have been squeezed by higher prices since the pandemic, though core inflation (which excludes food and energy) remains somewhat elevated at 2.6%.
The job market continues to show mixed signals. Fewer people filed for unemployment benefits in late September, bringing new claims down to a two month low. But hiring has slowed in recent months, which led the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates earlier this month in an effort to support growth.
The next big test will come with the September jobs report, due in early October, which is expected to show modest employment gains.
Another bright spot came from durable goods orders—things like cars, airplanes, and machinery that are meant to last for years. Orders rose nearly 3% in August, driven by a jump in aircraft demand.
Looking ahead, the Federal Reserve will be closely watching the next inflation report to see if the recent slowdown in price increases holds. Economists expect inflation to tick up slightly but remain far below the levels seen in 2022 and 2023.
For now, the U.S. economy is showing resilience. Stronger spending, easing inflation, and steady (if cautious) job growth suggest that, despite challenges, the recovery still has momentum.
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Growing Number of States Move to Restrict Geoengineering Activities
Across the United States, a growing number of state legislatures are considering or passing laws that restrict or ban geoengineering — the large scale manipulation of Earth’s climate systems through methods such as cloud seeding or solar radiation modification. Supporters of these measures argue they are needed to protect natural weather patterns and public health, while critics warn they could impede research and water management technologies. A recent article on statecapitallobbyist.com summarizes legislation introduced in several states:
Florida: A Comprehensive Ban
I
n April 2025, Florida lawmakers approved Senate Bill 56, one of the most sweeping geoengineering bans in the country. The measure, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, prohibits activities like cloud seeding and solar radiation modification and repeals older weather modification statutes.
Unauthorized geoengineering is now classified as a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $100,000. The law also requires airport monitoring to prevent such activities. Taking effect July 1, 2025, the legislation passed the state House by an 82–28 vote and made Florida the first state to criminalize geoengineering outright.
Montana: Restriction With Exceptions
Montana took a more targeted approach with Senate Bill 473, passed in March 2025. The bill bans large scale interventions like stratospheric aerosol injection and solar radiation management but allows cloud seeding for water resource purposes. The legislation, introduced by Senators Brad Phalen and Daniel Loge, aligns with existing state environmental laws and awaits final approval from the governor.
New Jersey: Focus on Hazardous Substances
In February 2025, Senator Michael Testa introduced Senate Bill 4161 in New Jersey, seeking to prohibit the release of hazardous chemicals for geoengineering purposes. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection would enforce the ban and conduct public monitoring. Proposed penalties range from $10,000 for a first offense to $50,000 for repeated violations, with each day treated as a separate infraction. The bill remains under legislative review.
North Carolina: Clean Skies Initiative
North Carolina’s house Bill 362, introduced in March 2025, proposes banning atmospheric modification methods such as aerosol injection and cloud seeding. The measure tasks the Environmental Management Commission with creating enforcement rules. Although penalties have yet to be specified, the proposal underscores mounting public concern over geo engineering’s potential effects on health, agriculture, and ecosystems.
Pennsylvania: Clean Air Preservation Act
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 508, introduced in March 2025 by Senators Doug Mastriano and Camera Bartolotta. Known as the Clean Air Preservation Act, the bill would prohibit polluting geoengineering practices and empower state law enforcement agencies to issue cease and desist orders. Violations could result in felony charges, fines of at least $500,000, and prison sentences of two years or more. The bill is under review in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
Rhode Island: Citizen-Supported Oversight
In Rhode Island, house Bill 5217, introduced in January 2025, seeks to ban weather modification techniques, including cloud seeding
Continued on next page
and aerosol injection. Enforcement would fall under the Department of Environmental Management, with penalties of up to $500,000 and two years’ imprisonment per violation. The proposal encourages citizen participation in reporting suspected violations and remains under committee consideration.
Texas: Limiting Government Authority
Texas legislators are debating Senate Bill 1154, introduced in February 2025, which would prohibit state and local governments from engaging in geoengineering or weather modification projects. The measure amends the state Agriculture Code to restrict the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation from overseeing such programs. Private and emergency operations would be exempt. The bill continues to move through the legislative process.
Vermont: Expanding Clean-Air Protections
Vermont’s house Bill 217, introduced in January 2025, aims to ban geoengineering and related atmospheric interventions. Enforcement would be handled by state and local law enforcement, with violators facing fines of up to $50,000 and two years’ imprisonment per day of violation. The bill also includes provisions on regulating radiofrequency emissions and encourages public involvement in enforcement.
While geoengineering research has long been explored as a potential tool for mitigating climate change, these state initiatives reflect growing skepticism about intentional climate intervention. Most of the proposed laws emphasize environmental protection, chemical safety, and the preservation of natural weather systems.
As more states consider similar measures, the debate over whether to restrict, regulate, or enable geoengineering is likely to intensify — shaping not just state environmental policy, but potentially national climate governance in the years ahead. Continued from
INDUSTRy NEWS
Britton Industries Expands Bagging Operations with Third High-Tech Line, Boosting Capacity and Efficiency
Britton Industries recently announced the launch of its third fully automated bagging line, a major milestone in our commitment to innovation and service excellence. This state of the art addition increases our annual production capacity from 6–8 million bags to an impressive 9 million, with throughput now reaching up to 27 bags‑per‑minute.
Our expanded capabilities allow us to efficiently process and package a wide range of landscape materials—including mulches, soils, composts, and sand—for both co packed and Britton branded products. We are proud partners for several national brands supplying bagged landscape materials to big box retailers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Our Britton bags are offered for sale in garden centers, hardware stores, and farm supply outlets across the region.
With over 45,000 square feet of production space and 50 acres dedicated to inventory, Britton is especially well positioned to provide end to end co packing solutions. Our facility can store up to 15 million bags and provides reliable freight services within a 150 mile radius of Morrisville, PA. We uphold strict quality control and regulatory compliance standards, ensuring every product is packed with precision and care.
Sean Martini, Director of Bagging Operations, leverages over 30 years of expertise in the landscape materials industry. “Our new bagging line represents a leap forward in automation and efficiency,” says Martini. “We’re dialing in our manufacturing capabilities to deliver high quality products at more affordable rates.”
Turning Waste into Energy: How Activated Carbon Supercharges Methane Production
In the ongoing effort to turn waste into clean energy, scientists are finding new ways to make the process more efficient. A recent article on bioengineer.org reports on one promising breakthrough that involves using activated carbon—a material known for its ability to trap and store molecules—to boost methane production during anaerobic digestion, a process that transforms organic waste into renewable energy.
A new study published in Waste Biomass Valor by researchers Xu, Yang, and Wang explores how adding activated carbon to the mix can enhance both energy output and the microbial life that drives the digestion process.
Anaerobic digestion happens in oxygen free environments, where bacteria and other microorganisms break down organic materials like food scraps or farm waste. The end result includes biogas, a renewable fuel rich in methane, and digestate, a nutrient filled byproduct that can be used as fertilizer.
While the process is already efficient, researchers have long looked for ways to make it even better. That’s where activated carbon comes in.
Activated carbon is widely used in filters and purifiers because of its porous structure, which offers a large surface area for chemical reactions and microbial growth. The study’s researchers theorized that this same quality could help microorganisms involved in anaerobic digestion thrive speeding up the breakdown of organic matter and increasing methane output.
To test the idea, they conducted a series of lab experiments, co‑digesting organic wastes like kitchen leftovers and agricultural residues with different amounts of activated carbon.
The results were striking: digesters with activated carbon produced significantly more methane than those without it. The improvement was linked to better availability of nutrients for microbes and the activation of specific microbial species that specialize in breaking down complex organic compounds.
Using advanced DNA analysis, the researchers also found that the microbial communities inside the digesters became more diverse. This diversity matters systems with a broader range of microorganisms tend to be more stable and better able to handle changes in the waste material being processed.
Boosting methane production has major environmental and economic benefits. Capturing more methane from organic waste means less of it escapes into the atmosphere—a key step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And because methane can be used as a clean burning fuel, it provides a renewable energy source that can reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Beyond the lab, the findings suggest that adding activated carbon could help municipal waste facilities and biogas plants operate more efficiently. By improving methane yields, facilities could increase energy output and potentially generate additional revenue, all while reducing the environmental impact of waste.
The researchers see their work as just the beginning. Future studies may explore other materials that can enhance anaerobic digestion or test how activated carbon performs in large scale, real world systems.
If these advances prove successful, they could reshape how we think about waste turning yesterday’s leftovers into tomorrow’s clean energy.
Lumber Prices Stabilize as Autumn Arrives
As September gave way to autumn, North American softwood lumber prices for construction framing have largely leveled off, reports hbsdealer.com. After a summer marked by price corrections, September ended with a slight increase, bringing current lumber costs close to the levels seen at the start of the year and roughly matching prices from the same period in 2023 and 2024. This pattern reflects a historical trend of seasonal price swings, with increases during peak construction periods and slowdowns as winter approaches.
Industry observers note that, over the past two years, questions about new highs and lows in lumber pricing appear to have been answered. This year, the typical annual price cycle fluctuated by approximately $160 per thousand board feet (mfbm), providing a measure of stability for operators.
While the market showed modest improvement, the uptick in prices is attributed primarily to limited supply rather than stronger demand. For the week ending October 3, 2025, the price of Western Spruce Pine Fir 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) stood at $436 per mfbm—up $6, or 1%, from the previous week’s $430. Compared to a month ago, when prices were $425, this represents an $11 increase. Year over year, prices are up $20, or 5%, from $410.
Market Conditions and Key Takeaways:
• In the U.S., Western SPF traders navigated uncertainty after announcements of additional tariffs, with sporadic sales and inconsistent pricing affecting sentiment.
• Canadian Western SPF supply remained limited due to months of production curtailments aimed at balancing weak demand.
• Sawmill order books in the Eastern U.S. extended into mid or late October as supply shortages became evident.
• Southern Yellow Pine saw healthy inquiry levels, but actual sales were limited.
• Wide dimension lumber prices were firmer, influenced by wetter conditions in the U.S. South that restricted access to larger logs.
The Madison’s Lumber Prices Index, a key benchmark, reached $485 per mfbm for the week ending October 3, up $9 (2%) from the previous week and $14 (3%) from a month earlier.
Even as construction activity traditionally slows in early autumn, lumber prices experienced a slight increase at the start of October. While some attributed this to the potential rise in U.S. tariffs on Canadian lumber, the primary driver appears to be reduced manufacturing volumes, which have tightened supply. Lean inventories in the field made sourcing specific lumber types challenging, allowing sellers with stock on hand to raise prices modestly.
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Resource Recycling Promises
‘The Yard You’ve Been Waiting For’
“Having a spouse who says, ‘We’ve got this...for better or worse, we’ll make it (makes all the difference),’” he says.
It was also Melissa Hollinger who encouraged selling packaged products.
“It helped set us apart from others who just do bulk,” Hollinger says.
Melissa Hollinger also convinced her spouse to support A21, a global non profit that works to fight human trafficking. Every Resource branded bag contains the slogan, “Buy a bag, change a life,” with a portion of every sale going to A21.
That helping concept is part of Hollinger’s philosophy for the business.
“What we’re really focused on is solving problems for a bigger industry, whether it’s ag or whatever,” he says. “We’re really focused on solving problems for other people, whether that’s related to yard waste or food waste. What can we do to solve the problems and alleviate some of their pain points? And what can we make out of that that’s got value for somebody else.”
Photos courtesy of Resource Mulch.
News From The Mulch & Soil Council
By RoBeRt LaGasse, executive DiRectoR
Transportation Committee Report
The Diesel After Treatment Subcommittee of the MSC Transportation Committee recently met to review the results from an industry‑wide survey assessing the operational and financial impacts of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) and after‑treatment systems.
MSC Member Survey Report: Diesel After Treatment Issues
1. Scope of the Problem
• 86 % of respondents reported experiencing issues with diesel after treatment systems, including diesel particulate filters (DPFs), selective catalytic reduction (SCR/DEF) and diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs).
• The most common impacts included higher operating costs, unplanned downtime, added repair expenses and reduced reliability — each cited by approximately 70 85 % of companies.
• Trucks were identified as the equipment most affected, followed by loaders, grinders and other heavy machinery.
2. estimated Annual Costs
Respondents provided spending ranges rather than precise figures. Using midpoint values and excluding “Not sure” responses yields the following rough annual averages:
Cost Category
DEF Fluid Repairs, Maintenance, Parts & Downtime
Distribution Snapshot
39% spend <$25k; 25% spend $25–50k
43% spend<$100k; 39% spend $100–250k
Average total cost per operation: approximately $200,000 annually spent on compliance and repairs related to after treatment systems.
3. Operational effects
• unplanned shutdowns are common: 39% experience them very frequently (>10 times per year) and 21% frequently (4–10 times per year) .
• Severity: 29 % call the issue a major issue and 7% a severe threat to their business .
• Strategic impact: 64% have altered or accelerated equipment purchasing plans in response.
4. differential Impacts by Company type Company Type
Primarily Mulch
Primarily Soil
Both Mulch & Soil
*Based on the industry fleet distribution .
**Calculated at ~ $5,300 per diesel unit ($200k ÷ 37.5 average units per fleet).
discussion and Potential Strategies: The committee explored possible paths forward. Chief among them is pursuing exemptions for equipment critical to fire protection, similar to existing allowances for first responders and military vehicles. This would target loaders and other rolling stock needed for urgent mulch pile fire suppression, where DEF related derates can hinder emergency response. Another potential avenue is exploring agricultural related exemptions under the “farm supply” classification in DOT rules, though no such carve out currently exists for DEF systems.
The group acknowledged potential political and industry opposition, notably from large fleet operators, OEMs, and dealers who benefit from the status quo. Members stressed the importance of coalition building, possibly with trucking and agricultural organizations, to strengthen lobbying efforts.
Next Steps: Committee leadership will consult with lobbying contacts to identify allies, assess opposition, and determine whether a limited fire protection exemption campaign is the most practical first step. Broader EPA engagement remains a longer term goal, contingent on assembling sufficient support across related industries.
The committee concluded that DEF related issues present a clear, quantifiable burden on the mulch and soil industry—one that demands coordinated advocacy to secure targeted regulatory relief while maintaining compliance with environmental objectives.
ed I tO r ’S NO te : Following the committee meeting, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced two actions by the Trump Administration to begin reducing the burden of diesel after treatment systems and Green House Gas (GHG) emissions regulations.
Industry Statistics Committee Report
The Statistics Committee convened to review the latest consumer market survey, assess trends in mulch and soil sales, and evaluate the overall buying power of the industry. The annual consumer survey, conducted by Technometrica from June 25–27, 2025, gathered responses from 1,421 adults nationwide, providing a margin of error of ±2.7%. This year’s findings reveal a notable shift in consumer behavior alongside a modest but concerning contraction in total market value for both mulch and soil.
While the number of U.S. households has increased from 124 million in 2023 to 134 million in 2025, ownership of yards or gardens has declined from 75% of households in 2023 to 69% in 2025, likely reflecting growth in apartment and multifamily living. Mulch purchasing has dropped from 49% of households with a yard or garden in 2023 to 41% in 2025, with consistent buyers making up 31% of gardening households.
Bagged mulch remains dominant at 73% of purchases, averaging 10 bags per household with a yard or garden, while bulk purchases represent 26% of households with a yard or garden at roughly 11 cubic yards each. These volumes equate to approximately 283 million bags and 9.6 million cubic yards in 2025, valued at $1.13 billion and $3.72 billion respectively— down from $1.30 billion and $4.04 billion in 2023.
Soil sales followed a similar pattern. Purchase incidence fell from 47% of households with a yard or garden in 2023 to 43% in 2025, with about 36% being stable, year over year buyers. Bagged soil dominates at 78% of sales, averaging seven bags per household with a yard or garden, while 22% purchase bulk at an average of 11 cubic yards. Potting soil leads product categories, followed by garden/landscape soil and topsoil, with common uses ranging from container planting to raised beds and general landscaping. Estimated 2025 sales totaled 216 million bags and 94 million cubic yards, representing $1.73 billion and $10.22 billion in market value—down roughly 14% from 2023.
News From MSC
Continued from page 12
Combined, the consumer lawn & garden mulch and soil markets are estimated at approximately $16.8 billion annually.
While core repeat purchase behavior remains steady, the reduction in total buyers and the decline in yard and garden ownership present structural challenges for long term industry growth. The committee emphasized the importance of tracking these trends, refining price inputs, and understanding shifts toward bulk purchasing to more accurately assess the industry’s buying power and future market opportunities.
EPA Issues DEF Fix to Reduce Sudden Power Loss
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, has announced new guidance to address widespread complaints from farmers, truckers, and equipment operators about sudden speed and power loss in
diesel engines caused by DEF system failures. Joined by Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, the EPA is urging engine and equipment manufacturers to update DEF software in existing vehicles to prevent unnecessary shutdowns while maintaining emissions compliance.
Key Points
• Problem: Current DEF systems can cause severe power reductions or complete shutdowns when DEF runs out or sensors fail, sometimes limiting speed to 5 mph within hours.
• Impact: Significant disruption for agriculture, trucking, and construction—resulting in millions in lost productivity.
• Solution: New EPA guidance allows manufacturers to reprogram existing equipment to prevent abrupt power loss, without requiring extra bureaucratic approvals.
EQUIPMENT & PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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• Future requirement: Starting with model year 2027, all new diesel trucks must be designed to avoid sudden power loss after DEF depletion.
• e conomic Benefit: Estimated $727 million annual savings for family farms, along with improved operational certainty.
• Collaboration: Developed with manufacturers to ensure quick rollout and avoid regulatory delays.
Administrator Zeldin emphasized this reform as a direct response to small business concerns, calling it a “common sense solution” that preserves both productivity and environmental protection. The change is supported by leaders across the administration, including the USDA and Congress, as a major win for American producers.
EPA Proposal to Repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding
On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a landmark proposal to rescind its 2009 Endangerment Finding, the legal determination that greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide and methane endanger public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act. This finding has, for more than fifteen years, provided the foundation for sweeping federal regulation of emissions from motor vehicles, power plants, and other sectors. If finalized, the repeal would eliminate all current GHG emissions standards for light , medium , and heavy duty vehicles and engines, including requirements first introduced in 2010 and 2011, along with off cycle credit provisions like the start stop systems on most new cars.
The EPA argues that new scientific analyses, particularly the Department of Energy’s 2025 Climate Work Group report—undercut the assumptions underlying the 2009 decision. That report concludes that CO 2 ‑ driven warming may have less economic harm than previously believed, that U.S. mitigation efforts would have negligible direct global climate effects, and that aggressive regulatory strategies may be misdirected. In light of these findings, the EPA asserts that the Clean Air Act was never intended to treat naturally occurring, globally mixed gases like CO2 as pollutants in the same sense as localized air toxins, and that recent Supreme Court precedents constrain the agency’s ability to engage in such expansive rulemaking without explicit congressional authorization.
From the Administration’s policy standpoint, the repeal is framed as a major deregulatory achievement: restoring statutory limits on the agency’s authority, reducing
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regulatory burdens that can raise costs for consumers, and reversing policies viewed as a “de facto” electric vehicle mandate. Economic projections cited by supporters suggest potential savings of over $50 billion annually from avoiding compliance costs, with renewed market freedom to produce and purchase a wider range of vehicles, including more affordable internal combustion models.
An important, though less publicized, implication concerns diesel after-treatment systems — such as diesel particulate filters (DPFs), selective catalytic reduction (SCR) units, and related NOx reduction technologies—required on many heavy duty vehicles in part to meet GHG related efficiency and emission credit programs. While the repeal does not remove regulations for criteria pollutants (e.g., NOx, PM) or fuel economy testing, it could indirectly reduce incentives for manufacturers to retain certain GHG linked after treatment optimizations. This may open pathways for regulatory petitions to modify or remove some after treatment components where their primary benefit is tied to GHG compliance rather than criteria pollutant control. However, because Nox and PM limits remain intact under other parts of the Clean Air Act, wholesale removal of diesel after treatment systems without alternative compliance technology would remain prohibited unless future rulemaking also changes those pollutant standards.
OBBBA Opens New Tax Benefits
Mulch and soil manufacturers face capital intensive demands: trucks, bulldozers, front loaders, production lines, storage yards, and ongoing facility upgrades. Fortunately, sweeping tax reforms in 2025 have reshaped how manufacturers can expense these investments—providing unprecedented opportunities to lower taxable income, improve cash flow, and reinvest in business growth.
Key Tax Provisions Manufacturers Should Know:
1. 100% Bonus depreciation restored
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA) permanently reinstated 100% bonus depreciation for qualified property acquired and placed in service after January 19, 2025.
This means that most new and used tangible personal property— such as trucks, loaders, forklifts, processing equipment, and yard improvements—can be deducted in full in the year they are put into use. Instead of depreciating over 5, 7, or even 20 years, manufacturers can now expense the full cost immediately.
Why it matters:
• A $400,000 fleet of new trucks purchased in late 2025 could fully reduce taxable income that same year.
• Cash freed up from reduced tax liability can be reinvested into operations, hiring, or facility upgrades.
2. expanded Section 179 expensing
OBBBA also raised the Section 179 deduction limit to $2.5 million with a new phaseout threshold of $4 million.
Section 179 is especially valuable for small and mid sized mulch and soil producers because:
• It covers many of the same assets as bonus depreciation.
• It can be applied in states that don’t conform to federal bonus depreciation rules.
• It allows more flexibility in electing which assets to expense.
3. qualified Production Property (qPP) Incentives
A major win for manufacturers: OBBBA introduced temporary full expensing for qualified Production Property (qPP) — certain building and facility investments typically excluded from bonus depreciation. Eligible projects must:
• Be used for production (not sales offices or R&D).
• Begin construction after January 19, 2025, and before January 1, 2029.
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News From MSC
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• Be placed in service before January 1, 2031. Why it matters for mulch & soil manufacturers: This provision opens the door to immediately expense the cost of building or upgrading production facilities such as blending plants, storage warehouses, or bagging lines—projects previously tied to 39 year depreciation schedules.
4. Strategic Planning: Section 179 vs. Bonus depreciation
While Section 179 is generally applied first, manufacturers can use both in tandem.For example:
• Use Section 179 for smaller purchases or in states that don’t conform to bonus depreciation.
• Use bonus depreciation for large scale fleet and facility investments.
Practical Strategies for Mulch & Soil Companies
1. Front-load 2025 purchases. With immediate expensing restored, consider accelerating truck and equipment acquisitions before year end.
2. evaluate facility projects. If building a new production yard, timing matters—construction must begin between 2025–2028 to qualify as QPP.
3. Segment facility usage. Only production areas qualify under QPP; offices and non production spaces must be excluded.
4. u se cost segregation studies. For facility purchases or upgrades, a study can identify components (e.g., yard lighting, paving, ventilation) that qualify for accelerated expensing.
5. Model long-term impacts. While accelerated depreciation reduces taxes now, it may increase taxable income in future years—plan cash flow accordingly.
Political and regulatory landscape: While bonus depreciation and Section 179 expensing enjoy bipartisan support, other incentives are shifting. Clean energy credits (e.g., for solar or EV fleets) are being scaled back, but manufacturing-focused credits remain strong. Mulch and soil producers investing in domestic production capacity are squarely in the favored category for long term tax incentives.
Bottom line: For mulch and soil manufacturers, 2025 offers a rare chance to dramatically reduce tax burdens while modernizing facilities and fleets. By leveraging 100% bonus depreciation, expanded Section 179 limits, and new qualified Production Property expensing, companies can reinvest tax savings into competitive growth.
Action Step: This article is provided as helpful information and NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Work with your tax advisor now to align equipment purchases and facility projects with these new provisions. The right timing and structuring could unlock millions in tax savings—accelerating both profitability and expansion.
The Mulch & Soil Council began in 1972 and is the national association of producers of horticultural mulches, consumer potting soils and commercial growing media. Its mission is to define quality products and promote an open market and fair competition. For more information about MSC, visit www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org or call 806-832-1810.
Galivants Ferry Sawmill Invests $10 Million in New Horry County Facility
A$10 million sawmill project is underway in western Horry County, SC, signaling renewed momentum for South Carolina’s timber industry after a series of mill closures disrupted supply chains and local economies, reports The Post and Courier.
Galivants Ferry Sawmill, affiliated with SB Mulch and Johnson Land and Timber, is building the new facility. The operation is expected to employ 18 workers and provide new opportunities for businesses across the region.
Company representative Matthew Johnson said the project is designed to stabilize the market following the loss of several long standing mills. “The opening of our facility in Horry County will assist many area businesses that were impacted by the closing of several mills in our area,” Johnson said.
Once operational, the mill will supply railroad ties, pallet manufacturers, landscapers, wastewater treatment facilities, and industrial users of waste fiber. It will also support pulpwood markets, a critical segment of South Carolina’s $23 billion timber industry, according to the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for the sector. In the past year, the 87 year old International Paper mill in Georgetown closed, eliminating nearly 700 jobs. Additional sawmill shutdowns in Darlington and Estill cut another 290 positions. These closures drove down timber prices and disrupted production capacity across the state.
Industry leaders say the Galivants Ferry project will help fill the gap. “That’s their main goal,” said EDC President Sandy Davis, who confirmed the company received a property tax incentive to support the investment. “They want to provide resources and stability for businesses that were left without options.”
Local officials also highlighted the business impact. Horry County Council Chairman Johnny Gardner called the sawmill “a huge win” for the county’s economic development strategy.
Construction on the mill has been underway for nearly a year, with production expected to begin in the near future.
BPI Launches First-Ever Home Compostable Certification in North America
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), a nonprofit that sets standards for compostable products, is introducing a new certification to help consumers take sustainability into their own backyards, reports packagingdive.com.
For the first time in its 25 year history, BPI will certify products as home compostable meaning they can break down in the cooler conditions of a household compost pile, not just in large scale industrial facilities. The announcement came during the group’s annual summit in Atlanta, along with the debut of a new label that combines both home and commercial compostable certifications.
“This is about giving people more options,” said BPI Executive Director Rhodes Yepsen. “Not everyone has access to municipal composting, and we want to make sure compostable products are actually usable for individuals at home.”
The program officially launches December 1, when companies can begin applying for the certification. BPI also plans to roll out educational campaigns to help consumers understand the label and how to use certified products responsibly.
Europe has had home compostable certifications for years, but this marks a first for North America. While access to municipal composting is expanding in the United States through curbside pickup, drop off sites, and subscription services, many households are still left without options. A home friendly certification could help bridge that gap.
BPI designed the new label to be simple and recognizable, reducing confusion for consumers while also helping prevent greenwashing— the practice of companies making vague or misleading environmental claims. By combining home and commercial standards into one seal, the institute hopes to assure both consumers and municipalities that certified products are legitimate and acceptable in composting programs.
“Certification is about trust,” Yepsen said. “When you see this label, you know the product will perform as promised, whether it ends up in a backyard bin or a municipal composting facility.”
With packaging waste continuing to pile up in landfills, BPI sees this move as part of a larger effort to make composting a mainstream solution. The organization hopes the new certification encourages more businesses to design products with compostability in mind— helping both consumers and communities cut down on trash.
