Post on 12-May-2015
Composting 101
By Brenda Platt Institute for Local Self-Reliance
www.ilsr.org
Presented to the National Park Service, National Capital Region Sustainability Advisory Group
November 9th, 2010, Washington, DC
Outline
What is composting Benefits of composting Composting systems State of composting in our region Model programs elsewhere Compostable biobased food service ware Thoughts for compost operations planning
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What is composting?
Composting is the aerobic, or oxygen-requiring, decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms under controlled conditions.
During composting, the microorganisms consume oxygen. Active composting generates heat, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
Composting reduces the volume and mass of the raw materials while transforming them into a valuable soil conditioner.
Source: Robert Rynk et al, On-Farm Composting Handbook, 1992.
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Recommended Conditions
Source: Greg Evanylo, Dept. of Crop and Environmental Science, Virginia Tech, Better Composting School 2010.
Variable Recommended Range Initial C:N 25:1 to 40:1 Moisture content 50% to 60% Oxygen concentration >>5% Temperature 131-149 deg F Initial bulk density <1,100 lbs/cubic yard Particle size 1/8 to 2 inches pH 5.5 to 8.0
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Composting involves numbers
Feedstock accounting Recipe development Collection and manipulation of physical, biological and chemical measurements Site size calculations Labor and financial numbers
Source: “Introduction Better Composting School,” R.E Graves, Penn State, October 2008
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Benefits of Composting
Creates a rich nutrient-filled material, humus, Increases the nutrient content in soils, Helps soils retain moisture, Reduces or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, Suppresses plant diseases and pests, Promotes higher yields of agricultural crops, Helps regenerate poor soils, Has the ability to cleanup (remediate) contaminated soil, and Can help prevent pollution and manage erosion problems.
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U.S. Municipal Waste Disposed
T e x t i le6 % G la s
7 %
M e ta l9 %
Y a rd t r im m i7 %
W o o8 %
O th e r m a te r2 %
P la s t ic1 8 %
F o o d s c ra1 9 %
P a p e r a n d p a p e r2 4 %
Sour
ce:
US
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169.2 million tons in 2007
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Composting = Local
Organics do not ship well
Composting is small-scale
Compost products are used locally
Jobs are local
Dollars circulate within local economies
Local = good for local economies
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Compost Applications
landscape and nursery agricultural and horticultural vegetable and flower gardens tree and shrub planting sod production and roadside projects wetlands creation soil remediation and land reclamation sports fields and golf courses sediment and erosion control
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Composting, lots of models
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Compost System Comparison
Source: Jactone Arogo Ogejo, Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Better Composting School 2010.
Method Cost Labor Management Rate of Composting
Passive/Static Low Low Low Low Windrow Low-Med Med-High Med Low-Med Aerated Static Pile
Low-Med Med Med Med
In-vessel Med-High Low High High
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Typical composting times for selected combinations of methods and materials
Source: Greg Evanylo, Dept. of Crop and Environmental Science, Virginia Tech, Better Composting School 2010.
Method Materials Composting Time Curing Time Passive Leaves 2-3 years NA Windrow Leaves, manure, +
amendments 2-6 months 1-4 months
Aerated Static Pile Sludge + wood chips
3-5 weeks 1-2 months
In-vessel rotating drum
Sludge + municipal solid waste
3-8 days 2 months
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Yard Debris Composting Is Well-Established in DC Region
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Metropolitan Washington
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Regional Composting Facilities Composting Facility Serves Annual
Throughput Total
Acreage Acreage
Used Arlington County Facility
[Arlington, VA] Arlington County, Fairfax County 5,212 3 3
City of Alexandria temp site [Alexandria, VA] Alexandria 4,480 2
City of College Park DPW [College Park, MD]
City of College Park, only fall leaves from: Berwyn Heights, Cottage City, Edmonston, Laurel, New Carrollton,
Riverdale Park, Univ. of MD
2,800 5 4.5
City of Takoma Park [Takoma Park, MD]
City of Takoma Park, Montgomery College 2,000 1
Loudoun Composting [Chantilly, VA] Loudoun County, Fairfax County 55,000 25 12
Prince George’s County Yard Waste Composting Facility (Western Branch)
[Upper Marlboro, MD]
Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County (10K tons) 66,000 200 47
MES Dickerson facility [Dickerson, MD] Montgomery County 77,000 118 49
POGO Organics [Olney, MD]
District of Columbia, City of Rockville (tree service contract) 35,757 125 10
Prince William County (Balls Ford) facility
[Manassas, VA]
City of Manassas, Fairfax County, Prince William County 55,000 30 15
Recycled Green [Woodbine, MD] Howard County 20,000 30 12
The Reichs Ford Road Yard Trimmings [Frederick, MD] Frederick County 9,922 30 15
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Materials Collected Jurisdiction Materials Collected Set-Out Requirements Frequency of Collection
Arlington County Leaves, Wood/Branches, Garden Trimmings (only in spring and fall), Brush Paper bags, Compostable Bags Weekly
City of Alexandria Leaves n/a Seasonal (end October to January 1)
City of College Park Leaves, Grass Clippings, Wood/Branches (<5'), Garden Trimmings (<5'), Brush Paper bags, Durable containers Weekly
City of Falls Church Leaves, Grass Clippings, Garden Trimmings Brown compostable bags that are 30 gal size Weekly (Mondays)
City of Greenbelt Leaves, Grass Clippings, Garden Trimmings (<4'), Brush Paper bags, Durable containers Weekly (Fridays)
City of Manassas Leaves, Grass Clippings, Wood/Branches (<4' L, <3" D), Garden Trimmings Paper bags, Durable containers Weekly (Mondays)
City of Takoma Park Leaves, Grass Clippings, Wood/Branches (<4’ L, 3” D), Garden Trimmings, Brush Paper bags, Durable containers Weekly
District of Columbia Leaves Rake leaves to curb Seasonal (end-Novemeber to mid-January)
Fairfax County Leaves, Grass Clippings, Wood/Branches (<4‘ L, 6” D), Brush Paper or plastic bags, Durable containers Weekly/Hauler-dependent
Frederick County Leaves, Grass Clippings, Wood/Branches (<8' L, 6" D), Brush N/A, since self-haul to facility N/A
Howard County Leaves, Grass Clippings, Wood/Branches (<4’ L, 4” D), Garden Trimmings , Brush, Pallets, Manure Paper or plastic bags, Durable containers Weekly
Loudoun County Leaves, Grass Clippings, Garden Trimmings (<3'), Brush Paper bags, Durable containers Hauler-dependent
Montgomery County Leaves, Grass Clippings, Wood/Branches (<4' L, <4" D), Garden Trimmings, Brush
Paper bags, Durable containers w/ county "Yard Trim" labels Weekly
Prince George's County
Leaves, Grass Clippings, Wood/Branches (4' L, 3" D), Brush, Thatch
Heavy-duty paper or plastic bags, Durable containers Weekly
Prince William County Leaves, Grass Clippings, Garden Trimmings, Brush, Stumps Paper or plastic bags, Durable containers Hauler-dependent Inst
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Green the Capitol Initiative
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Whole Foods
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Green Cycle Industries
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Cedar Grove Composting
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Compostable Food Service
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Meets ASTM 6400
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Peninsula Compost, Wilmington
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Scope of your operations?
What are your goals? Composting only NPS generated material? What types and quantities of materials? Collection service? Processing on-site? Decentralized or a regional site? Deliver to a non-NPS site? Process into value-added product? Sales and marketing or product? Income generating? Delivery and application of compost? Use only on NPS properties? Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Issues to consider
Know your feedstocks: what, quantity, source Can you make a recipe to produce good compost? Cost/income Regulations Siting issues (availability, neighbors, traffic, dust, noise, water, stormwater management, size, security, zoning, permits, set backs, accessibility, utilities) Compost needs to be cured = space Managing the compost process = trained operators
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Managing the compost process
Good management can make or break the operation Minimize odors and other environmental impacts Make best use of materials, equipment, and labor available Good operator who understands the compost process and knows how to troubleshoot Temperature is the primary yardstick of the composting process Pathogens/aspergillus fumigatas
Source: Jactone Arogo Ogejo, Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Better Composting School 2010.
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Equipment considerations
Types of materials to be processed Quantity of material Processing methods Surface Capacity and space optimization Available money (or ability to acquire) Anticipated growth
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Equipment
Moving materials Aerating/turning Grinders Mixing Watering Screening
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Collection Bins & Signage?
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Outreach Costs
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Compost Regulations
MD Dept. of Agriculture regulates product MD Dept. of the Environment regulates process, including air and water pollution Local jurisdictions regulate zoning, site prep, buildings, noise, odor
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Contact
Brenda Platt Institute for Local Self-Reliance
bplatt@ilsr.org www.ilsr.org
202-898-1610 ext 230
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