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Municipal Scale Composting
Michael Simpson Resource Management & Conservation
Aerobic Composting is:
Just one of the waste management options
which utilizes the natural process of biological
composition to stabilize and reduce the volume
of organic wastes.
Compost is:
The end product resembling a dark humus-like
material which can be easily and safely
handled, stored and applied to the land as a
soil conditioner.
Food Waste:
34 Million Tons Generated
www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/msw99.htm
Current U.S. Composting Industry
• Food Waste — 225
• Yard Trimmings — 3,500
• Biosolids — 265
• Farm Composting — 600
• Universities, institutions — 500
• Schools — 500
• Vermicomposting — 100
N. Goldstein, Biocycle 2014
T. Siegler, DSM Environmental 2014
Residential Industrial/Commercial/Institutional
Estimated 98,721 Tons of Organics
Disposed in Vermont in 2012
Unpackeged
Vegetaitive
foodwate,
17%
Unpackaged
Protein
Foodwaste,
1%
Food waste
plastic
packaging,
24%
Food waste
other
packaging,
6%
Yard waste,
4% Recycled
Paper, 9%
Recycled
Metal and
Glass, 2%
Recycled
Plastics, 4%
Other
Wastes, 33%
T. Siegler, DSM Environmental 2016
Convenience Store Waste Composition (Delaware)
Primary consumers
Secondary consumers
Tertiary Consumers
Thermophilic Composting
Generic Graphic Representation of
Temperature Change within Windrows
Fungi
Bacteria
Actinomycetes
INPUTS
INPUT
End-Product
Bi-Products
Composting: A process of
aerobic decomposition
• Air – the process needs adequate oxygen for respiration
• Food – the organic materials provide energy for growth
and reproduction, which results in heat being generated
• Water – decomposers need a liquid medium to survive,
both for the external digestion of organic materials and
the assimilation of these nutrients into their bodies
The Challenge :
Oxygen-rich (Aerobic) Environment
Balancing Nutrients
The Challenge : Carbon-Based Streams
The Challenge : Appropriate Siting
Exclusionary Criteria MatrixFor Compost facilties Criteria
Name Size Wetlands Ground Water Public Private Surface Adjacent Adjacent Sensitive
of Site < 2 ft Wells Wells Water Facilities Ag-Land Habitat
WWTP south x x x - - - - - -
WWTP north - - - - - - - - -
McGuirk Stadium x x x - - - - - -
Wysocki - - - - - - - - -
Trailer Storage - - - - - - - - -
Governor's Drive - - - - - - - - -
Power Plant west - - - - - - - - -
Power Plant east - - - - - - - - -
Hadley farm - x x - - - - - -
Belchertown - - - - - - - - -
Deerfield - - - - - - - - -
Preferential Criteria Matrix
For Compost facilties
Criteria Total
Name Traffic Adjacent Visual Noise Odor Wetlands Floodplain
Safety Land Use Buffer Buffer Buffer Impact Impact
WWTP north 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 15
Wysocki 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 15
Trailer Storage 2 3 3 3 3 1 3 18
Governors Drive 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 18
Old Power Plant west 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 15
Old Power Plant east 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 19
Belchertown 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 17
Deerfield 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 17
Existing Compost Site 2 1 3 2 1 3 3 15
Note: This preferential assessment did not take into account cost impacts as a criterion for comparison.
Composting Methodology Drives:
Site Choice and Design
Windrow
Static Aerated Piles
In-Vessel
Source
Wind
Odor Screening Model:
•Local Meteorological Data and
•Odor Emission Rates From Existing Compost
Operations
Horizontal Dispersion
Vertical Dispersion
Source
The Challenge : Site design
Mixing
Active
Composting
Curing
Post
Processing
The Challenge : Manageable Throughput Rate
The Challenge : When is the Compost Ready (stabile)
A Unique Marketing Challenge
Composting Facility
Organics from MSW
Wholesale/Retail
Commodity
Wholesale Buyers Retail Buyers
Manufacturing
Point
Recyclables from MSW
Recycling Facility
Raw Material
Manufacturers of
Commodities
• Markets
– Green Industries
– Bulk Wholesalers
– Public Agencies
– Agriculture
– Land Restoration
• End Uses
– Soil Amendment
– Growing Media
Component
– Blended Topsoil
Component
– Mulch
– Emerging Uses
The Challenge : Who Will Buy the Compost
Middleboro Residents Say Smell From Recycling/Composting Center Is Making Them Sick
WBZ News May 9, 2016
The Challenge : How to Stay Open
• Odor – Cause of Closure of Most Compost Facilities
• Site Constraints– more material throughput then is
manageable by site size and compost methodology
chosen
• Poor Business Plan – Either undercapitalized and/or
product quality did not bring in projected revenue.
T. Siegler, DSM Environmental 2014
Estimated 98,721 Tons of Organics
Disposed in Vermont in 2012
As of July 1, 2016 : (Vermont Act 148)
If generated food residuals are > 26/tons per year
and
generator is within 20 miles of a certified organics
management facility
must
separate food residuals from other wastes and arrange for
the transfer of the food residuals to a location that manages
food residuals
July 1, 2020, …any person who generates any amount of food
residuals” …no matter the distance from a facility
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