NJ Compost Operator Certification Course

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Learn NJDEP regulatory requirements, scientific principles of composting, and practical strategies to improve your compost facility’s operation. Includes site visit!

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Course Status Notice – Not Scheduled

We do not have an offering of this course scheduled at this time. Please join our email list to be notified when the next offering is scheduled!

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Course Details

Course Name: NJ Compost Operator Certification Course
Course Code: ER0303CA27
Date of Most Recent Offering: September 15 & 16, 2026

Date: September 15 & 16, 2026 (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). PARKING: Parking is only available in the gravel lot behind the Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE) located at 102 Ryders Lane (do not park in the paved area around OCPE or the spaces adjacent to the Geiger Center as they require parking permits). Geiger visitor parking lot map: https://go.rutgers.edu/geiger-parking
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 13, 2026

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 (health and odor issues) and what to do if it happens in your facility

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

Headshot of instructor Wayne DeFeo

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

“Learned a lot from the class [including] proper composting practices. The professor was very knowledgeable.”

– Daniel Sullivan, Ocean County Solid Waste

Assistant Supervisor

“Very well taught and easy to understand. [Most useful was] learning about composting and the laws.”

– Matthew Hall, Borough of Shrewsbury

Director of Public Works

“Very Informative, especially for those that need the certification. The course is presented in a way that is easily understandable. Wayne did a fantastic job teaching the course.”

– Tom McNaughton, Pemberton Township

Director of Public Works

Continuing Education Credits

The most recent offering of the NJ Compost Operator Certification Course was approved for 0.8 Rutgers CEUs (8 contact hours) and the following credits from professional organizations. We will reapply for similar credits the next time the course runs, but we cannot guarantee credit approval for future offerings.

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.

State of New Jersey map iconNew 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

Course Requirements and Policies

Meals

No breakfast will be 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 two (2) weeks 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.

email iconEmail 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

Red checkmark in circle iconPre-registration/Walk-Ins

Pre-registration is required. We’re sorry, but we cannot guarantee a seat, materials, or meals for walk-in registrants.

Icon of map marker over folded mapLocation Changes

Location is subject to change; registrants will be notified in the event of a change.

x icon with circle around itCancellations and Substitutions

A $75 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted. View our cancellation policy.

Attention U.S. Veterans

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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.

Headshot of Rutgers Program Coordinator Pamela Springard-Mayer

Senior Program Coordinator: Pamela Springard-Mayer
848-932-7463
pam.mayer@rutgers.edu

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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.

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