PRESS RELEASE/NEWS ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

International Compost Awareness Week Celebrations Across The Country

May 1- 7, 2005

Be a part of the largest environmental education event for composting. The U.S. Composting Council officially invites you to join in celebrating International Compost Awareness Week. Across the United States, Canada and the UK, composting advocates will be encouraging everyone to Compost! This year's national poster theme, "The Possibilities Are Endless - Compost!" is a great way to get the message out. All types of composting from "do it yourself" composting in your backyard to large-scale, community-wide composting will be promoted during this week.Compost Awareness Week is a fun and educational week of events that offers an opportunity to learn more about the many benefits of composting while enjoying the backdrop of fun activities.

What's Up for ICAW 2005:

• National Poster Campaign
• Compost and Community Water Festivals
• Book Signings and Compost Discussions
• State Compost Awareness Week proclamations for states including Washington and Oregon
• Promotions with local dealers and landscape supply stores with Buy One - Get One Free offers
• Sponsorships of TV & radio talk shows involving compost
• Talks/informal lectures by well-know gardening experts
• Backyard composting bin promotions
• Compost Give Away Day
• Urban gardening programs

To find out what's going on in your area - visit www.compostingcouncil.org for a list of activities along with proclamations, press releases for states, counties and cities, and public service announcements for the week-long event.

National ICAW 2004 sponsors included: Barnes Nursery, Inc; BioBag; BioCycle; Cargill Dow LLC; Cick-fil-A; Composting News; Cortec Corp.; ERTH Products; Filtrexx International; MSW Management Magazine; Plastics Solutions;, Inc; SEC; STARBUCKS COFFEE; Synagro; US Environmental Protection Agency and W.L. Gore & Associates.

ICAW- International Compost Awareness Week (est. 1999) is a multi-media publicity and education initiative to showcase compost production and demonstrate compost use. For the past five years Compost Awareness Week has grown in both strength and numbers through it sponsors and compost advocates. Compost Awareness Week serves the important role of bringing the Compost! message to the attention of the public, businesses and other groups. Communities and government agencies, as well as members of the composting industry, utilize the week to promote their specific Compost! messages and programs.

For questions regarding this event, contact:

Teri Sorg-McManamon

610-967-4135, ext. 33

cell# 610-390-7930