More than one billion tons of agriculturally recyclable waste organic and inorganic by-products are generated each year in the United States. A large number of Federal and state guidances, policies and rules govern the processing, distribution, and agricultural use or disposal of organic and inorganic by-product materials. Important opportunities exist for tailor-making these by-products and wastes to enhance their benefits when used separately and/or together with conventional fertilizer and soil conditioning materials. This paper discusses the need for stewardship and the implementation of a strategy that makes use of by-products and wastes in a holistic and safe manner, minimizes nuisances, and optimizes the opportunities for sustained agricultural use.
