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Course Details
Course Name: NJ Compost Operator Certification Course
Course Code: ER0303CA26
Date: September 18 & 19, 2025 (Participants must attend both days of the class.)
Time for Day 1: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Time for Day 2: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Location for Day 1: Ralph Geiger Turfgrass Education Center, 20 Indyk-Engel Way, New Brunswick , NJ 08901 (directions & map to building). IMPORTANT: Parking is only available in the gravel lot behind the Office of Continuing Professional Education’s building (close to Ryders Lane). Here is the map top the parking lot: https://goo.gl/maps/KXA9A8RVFmKZUEz79
Location for Day 2: In person site visit to compost facility in Hamilton Township, NJ (registrants will receive directions to exact location)
Format: In-person; Classroom course on Day 1 and in-person site visit on Day 2
Registration Fee: $325 per person
Multi Person Discount Fee: $300 per person (Save when you sign up with a colleague!)
Registration closes: September 10, 2025 at 3:00 pm
Paying with a check, money order, or purchase order?
Payments should be made out to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Checks and money orders should be mailed to: Office of Continuing Professional Education, Attn: Registration Dept., 102 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Purchase Orders can be mailed to the address above or electronically sent to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.
Course Overview
N.J.A.C. 7:26A – 1.4(a)(14)(xiv) states that all operators of composting facilities in New Jersey must “attend a composting course…..approved by the Department.” The NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education, in conjunction with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and in cooperation with the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, has developed this course which meets the requirements of the regulations and will help you to improve your facility’s operation.
NOTE: This course includes a walking tour of an active compost site; appropriate clothing and footwear is required.
- Day 1 will be a classroom session running from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm (with a lunch break)
- Day 2 will be an in-person visit to the Hamilton Township (Mercer County) compost facility that will begin at 9:30 am and run until approximately 11:30 am
- You must attend both days of the class in order to receive a Certificate of Completion
Featured Topics
- NJDEP Regulatory Requirements
- The Scientific Principles of Composting, or “Why Compost Happens”
- How to Avoid the “Murphy’s Law” of Composting and What to Do When the Law Strikes (Health and Odor Issues)
Who Should Attend?
If you are looking to become a certified operator of a New Jersey composting facility, this class is for you. It is also a great opportunity to earn recertification credits toward your NJ CRP, NJ CPWM, NJ PE, or NJ HO/REHS license. Past participants have included:
- CEHA Inspectors
- Compost Site Managers
- Clean Communities Coordinators
- Environmental Health Specialists
- Environmental Scientists
- Farm Managers
- Machine/Heavy Equipment Operators
- Project Engineers
- Public Health Professionals
- Public Works Professionals
- Recycling Coordinators
- Recycling Facility Managers
- Solid Waste Coordinators
- Water Pollution Control Professional
Meet Your Instructor
Wayne DeFeo, DeFeo Associates
Wayne DeFeo is the founder of DeFeo Associates, a full service environmental consulting firm. He is an NJDEP Certified Compost Facility Operator, member of the US Composting Council, and brings more than 25 years of experience in the recycling/solid waste field to the classroom. Past students describe him as “funny and engaging” and “very informative” with “great energy and passion for the subject.”
Student Reviews
“Very useful information and the instructor kept things going at a good pace.”
– Edwyn Acosta, City of Summit
DPW Employee“This information is beneficial to everyone that has the interest to preserve the environment.”
– Juan Kivelier Sosa, City of Paterson
Certified Recycling Professional“Great information, excellent instructor[!]”
– Wyatt Ozdemir, Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority
Compost OperationsContinuing Education Credits
The NJ Compost Operator Certification Course is approved for 0.8 Rutgers CEUs (8 contact hours), as well as the following credits from professional organizations.
New Jersey
NJ Certified Public Works Managers (CPWM): 4 Management and 4 Government
NJ Certified Recycling Professionals (CRP): 8 Classroom Recertification Credits
NJ Health Officers and Registered Environmental Health Specialists (HO/REHS): Rutgers University, NJAES, Office of Continuing Professional Education has been approved by the New Jersey Department of Health as a provider of NJ Public Health Continuing Education Contact Hours (CEs). CE credits are pending.
NJ Professional Engineers (PE): 8 Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Credits
Meals
Coffee and tea will be served, no breakfast provided. Lunch will be available for pre-registered attendees only.
NOTE: If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please alert us at least one (1) week in advance of the course start date so that we can make reasonable accommodations. We cannot guarantee accommodations for special requests made after that time.
Course Requirements and Policies
COVID-19 Policies for Face-to-Face Classes
Please visit our policies page for the latest information.
Email Requirement
A unique email address is required for each registrant to register and access our courses.
- If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.
- If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:
- Your full name
- The shared email address that needs to be changed
- Your unique email address
- A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions
Pre-registration/Walk-Ins
Pre-registration is required. We’re sorry, but we cannot guarantee a seat, materials, or meals for walk-in registrants.
Location Changes
Location is subject to change; registrants will be notified in the event of a change.
Cancellations and Substitutions
A $75 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted. View our cancellation policy.
Attention U.S. Veterans
This course is approved by the New Jersey State Approving Agency for Veterans Training for educational benefits through the GI Bill®. Learn more.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about the NJ Compost Operator Certification Course, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Program Coordinator: Pamela Springard-Mayer
848-932-7463
pspring@rutgers.edu
Administrative Assistant: Claudine Oleskin
848-932-7204
coleskin@njaes.rutgers.edu
For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.
