Although many erosion and sediment control techniques and products exist, many are used inappropriately or not installed properly, and therefore do not function optimally. Other techniques and products are extremely functional, yet very expensive. For instance, it is common for contractors who perform hydroseeding or straw blowing in conjunction with seeding to cheat and use less than the prescribed quantities of materials required to obtain optimum results. It is common for lower rates of seed, hydroseeding mulch, and straw to be applied on the affected area than specified by the customer or specifying agency. Also, on extreme slopes and areas of heavy water flow, these two techniques are not the most effective. The use of silt fencing is a common practice on roadsides and construction sites to block the movement of sediment into catch basins drop inlet openings, or culvert inlets. However, they are often not installed properly. A properly installed silt fence, which is a tightly woven fabric attached to posts, requires the base of the filter fabric to be placed into a trench and backfilled to secure it in place. By burying the base of the filter fabric, no sediment can travel under the silt fencing. Unfortunately the base of the filter fabric is often not buried because of the labor-intensive nature of the process. The bottom line is that the use of compost and other organic type mulch materials can be more functional, less expensive, and/or better for the environment than current erosion and sediment control techniques.