In her “Letter To The BioCycle Community: COVID-19 And Organics Recycling,” BioCycle columnist and Senior Advisor Sally Brown explained that while “COVID-19 is new and scary … it is part of a family of viruses that we know plenty about. In other words, our existing knowledge of the behavior of coronaviruses in the environment can be applied here.” Brown’s letter walked us through the different steps and different roles of people involved in composting. “Wearing the lens of prior knowledge and common sense, you will hopefully see that this is not something we have to give up” and concluded with these wise words: “This is a time to be careful — to be vigilant about following health recommendations. It is not the time to stop composting.” Sally’s message resonated with our readers. Some notes written to Sally Brown …
Linda J. Brewer
Linda J. Brewer
Dept. of Horticulture, Oregon State University (OSU), Corvallis
The title of your BioCycle Connections contribution this morning really caught my eye. I’m the “expert” on OSU’s “Ask an Expert” for any question that comes in containing the words compost, soil, manure etc. I’ve been waiting for a member of the public to ask whether it’s safe to compost food waste. Your piece this morning answers the question — in spades. It addresses not only the science but also the underlying emotion – fear!
Chaz Miller
Chaz Miller
Montgomery County, MD
Your BioCycle column on COVID-19 and Organics Recycling is by far the best piece I have seen on the realities of the virus transmission. You have laid out cogently and quite well, what to be concerned about and what not to worry about. Or, perhaps, what is less worrisome. Congratulations on a job well done.
Carla Castagnero
Carla Castagnero
AgRecycle, Pittsburgh, PA
I just wanted to let you know how well written your piece on COVID-19 was in BioCycle. In this world where outrageous and contradictory facts are bombarding our lives by the minute, during this pandemic, it was a sincere pleasure to read sound science presented logically.
