Compost peat

No. 289. Compost peat.

The Commission rendered an opinion to a company which sought permission to use the term "compost peat" as descriptive of organic, decomposed municipal refuse.

ADVISORY OPINION DIGESTS 1669 Ruling that it had no objection to use of the word "compost" since the end product is the result of decomposed organic matter nevertheless the Commission reached a different conclusion with respect to the use of the word "peat.

In rejecting use of the word "peat" to describe the end product in question, the opinion stated: The Commission believes that the purchasing public would generally understand "peat" to be a natural product, that iS one that is formed naturally where vegetable matter has decomposed over a long period of time under particular conditions. Peat moss is a common form of such natural product. The organic material produced in your decomposition process would not be peat" as that term is so generally understood , and the Commission believes that to describe it as "peat" would be misleading. Accordingly, you are advised that the Commission would find your proposed use of the term objectionable.

Under the facts presented to it, the requesting party proposes to contract with various cities to handle their municipal refuse. All non organic material wil be removed from such refuse and sold to various users therof. The remaining organic material consisting of vegetable matter emanating from food and garden sources grasses , leaves, trees , wood cellulose and other plants will then be processed under very high moisture conditions during the decomposition stage. Thereafter, the material will be held in large pits for seven days and then removed to storage sites for further decomposition. (File No. 6937010, released Sept. 6, 1968.