Garick Board of Advisor Receives Prestigious Award From United States Composting Council

02/25/08

(OAKLAND, CA) Dr. Walter W. Carey, former Director of Environmental Operations, Regulatory/Policy for Nestlé USA, Inc, past President of New Milford Farms, Inc. and present member of the Advisory Board for Garick, received the Hi Kellogg Award for Outstanding Service to the Composting Industry from the United States Composting Council (USCC). Nominated for his significant contributions to the composting industry, Dr. Carey was chosen from a number of qualified candidates. He was given the award at the USCC 16th Annual Conference, held in Oakland, California, on Monday, February 11.

New Milford Farms, located in New Milford, Connecticut, is a composting facility that accepts both food and green wastes and composts them into reusable, beneficial soil products. Originally established to compost byproducts from Nestlé operations, Dr. Carey was responsible for pioneering the specific and successful composting of unusual waste streams such as spent coffee grounds and spent tea leaves at New Milford Farms. Although the composting of spent coffee grounds was problematic at first, due to the production of volatile fatty acids from coffee oil that lead to the production of objectionable odors, Dr. Carey worked diligently on developing a way to compost the coffee grounds into beautiful, useable organic compost. After many great years with Nestlé and New Milford Farms, Dr. Carey retired in January 2005.

Involved with the USCC for a number of years, Dr. Carey held a USCC Board of Directors position from 1995 – 2004. Over the years he has made considerable financial contributions on behalf of Nestlé from New Milford Farms to the USCC, helping tremendously through periods of transition. Actively involved in the development of the Professional Credentials Committee, he had an influence on the decisions regarding certain herbicides and their effects on the composting industry, and on the USCC’s position on the issue. For both his involvement in the USCC and his positive impact on the industry, Dr. Carey was selected as the recipient of this award.

Of his recognition, Dr. Carey said, “this is an unexpected, great honor. The industry needed a viable trade association, and I was proud to work with a great group of professionals to form and develop the United States Composting Council.”

Stu Buckner, Executive Director of the USCC, said, “early in my relationship with the USCC, I worked closely with Walt. I credit him with keeping the organization on track and guiding the association to help make it what it is today.”

In December 2006, Garick acquired New Milford Farms from Nestlé USA, Inc. to expand its operations into the Northeast United States. Shortly after the purchase, Dr. Carey joined Garick’s Advisory Board. With his knowledge of the composting industry, he is a great asset to the Garick team and they truly value what he brings to the company.