MC_Prez_2
- 1. Master Composter Class 2: July 22, 2015
- 2. Agenda • Compost Operations: Small-large • Compost methods: Hot vs. cold • Compost structures
- 4. Compost Operations • Large Scale • Non-profit • Small start-up • Commercial • Small scale • Backyard • Schools • Apartments • Corporate companies
- 5. Compost Operations Small-scale Benefits of small-scale composting • Food scraps, food soiled paper products, tree and grass clippings, brush, etc. all compromise over 60% of our waste stream. • Collecting these recyclables at home or for diversion to a municipal composting program, conserves energy and natural resources, saves landfill space and reduces air and water pollution. • Bigger picture – taking ecologically sound responsibility
- 6. Compost Operations Small-scale Schools, facilities, prisons, corporate • Mid-sized compost systems — with capacity ranging from approximately 5,000 to 10,000 lbs/day of food scraps —are appropriate for small institutions including schools, hospitals, nursing homes and commercial establishments. • Diversion – Zero Wasteline stream incorporated into wasteline stream • EcoSafe Zero Waste Solutions
- 7. Compost Operations Large-scale Benefits of large-scale • Municipal officials have realized that composting is an effective strategy for managing waste (up to 70 percent may be organic) • States have banned certain organic materials such as cardboard and yard waste from landfills • Backyard composting has been readily accepted • Composting has been heavily promoted in the agricultural sector • More markets for compost have opened up
- 8. Compost Operations Large-scale Static Piles Pros: • Low management • Simple and inexpensive Cons: • Overheat – spontaneous combustion • Anaerobic – release odors • Takes up space – aesthetics • Longer to decompose
- 9. Compost Operations Large-scale Aerated (turned) Windrow Composting Pros: • Most common for rapid composting of yard wastes • Use of front end loader or Scarab turner Cons: • Labor intensive • Daily on-site activity
- 10. Compost Operations Large-scale Aerated Static Pile Composting (ASP) • Used by facilities that manage large volumes of livestock manure, yard debris, food scrap waste and other challenging feedstock materials • Forced aeration composting systems for carefully constructed and blended piles of organic residuals • They provide adequate oxygen and control of pile temperature by adjusting the amount and direction of airflow
- 12. Compost Operations Large-scale Aerated Static Pile Composting (ASP) Pros: • Getting started quickly at minimal expense • Defining the actual volume of materials that need to be composted on a monthly or annual basis • Simplest and least cost approach to composting large volumes of organic waste materials Cons: • Media dries as energy is released as water vapor • Compost process slows as moisture is lost • Settling can reduce pile porosity and limit airflow • Surface precipitation can create veins of saturation • Odors can develop in saturated areas
- 13. Compost Operations Large-scale Reverse AeratedWindrow
- 14. Compost Operations Large-scale In-VesselComposting (IVC) • IVC is like a home compost bin on a massive scale Pros: • Reduces waste and carbon emissions • Minimizes the use of commercial peat-based compost, the extraction of which is detrimental to the environment • Produces an affordable soil conditioner, from an otherwise waste material • Reduces the volume of waste to landfill, saving millions of pounds in potential landfill tax. • Material can be composted on a commercial scale and in one go • A dry process – less liquid to leach out • Highly automated – facility can operate continuously and with minimal staff • Minimizes the risk of cross-contamination • Natural process with little input or disturbance - reduces costs and odors
- 16. Compost Operations Large-scale The five key stages of IVC, all of which occur in an enclosed building: 1. Pre-preparation - on arrival, the waste is inspected and the materials that cannot be composted are removed. 2. Shredding - the material to be composted is then shredded in a bio-chopper to prepare it for processing. 3. Composting - the shredded waste is placed in large vessels known as silos, where temperature and oxygen levels are carefully monitored to provide a perfect environment for micro-organisms to thrive. 4. Maturation - the composted material is left to mature for a period of between two and three weeks to make it suitable for use. 5. Screening and storage - following maturation, the product is checked to ensure it is of a high-quality, ready for dispatch.
- 18. Compost Methods
- 19. Composting Methods General Rules • C:N = 30:1 • Oxygen and water important • No meats, dairy • Piles need to be 3’x3’x3’ in order to heat up to a healthy temp
- 20. Composting Methods Outside Hot • California Method • City People’s Method • CompostTumblers • Raised Bins • Movable Compost • Moulded Bins • Stacking Composters • Windrow and Piles • Biodynamic Composting Cold • Indore Method • Pit Composting • Mulch and Sheet Composting • Trench and Posthole Composting • Anaerobic Composting • Leaf Mould Composting • Green Cone Composting • Black Bag Composting • Hugelkulture Composting • Green Cone Composting
- 21. Composting Methods Outside Warm Composting California Method • Developed at the University of California in the 1950’s • One of the best rapid-return methods • Works in batches • Requires a structure 1. Build the structure at least 3’ x 3’ and 4’-6’ tall 2. Have all of your raw ingredients available 3. Materials should be less than 6-8” 4. Layer alternating browns and greens, 2-4” thick 5. Turn the pile so that the layers remain distinct 6. Turn on day 3, day 6, and day 9…should be ready by day 12!
- 22. Composting Methods Outside Warm/cold Composting Indore Method • Developed by Sir Albert Howard in India • Mostly cold process • Works in batches • No structure required 1. Start with a base of coarse brush at least 7’ x 7’ 2. Add a 6” layer of green vegetable scraps 3. Add a 2” layer of manure 4. Sprinkle soil 5. Repeat layering until 5’ tall 6. Turn every 6 weeks until harvest in about 4-5 months
- 23. Composting Methods Outside Warm/cold Composting Biodynamic Method • Developed by Rudolf Steiner • Very similar in structure to Indore method • Employs arguably mystic methodology • Works in batches • Does not require a structure • Requires “preparations” • Preparations are made by burying specific medicinal herbs at certain depths in contact with certain animal organs 1. Replicate Indore method 2. Mix in a small amount of the preparations 3. Turn the pile in 3-5 months
- 25. Composting Methods Outside Warm Composting The City People’s Method • Developed by Helga and Bill Olkoowski for city-friendly, odorless composting • 3-bin system 1. Start with bottom layer of sawdust 2. Alternate green and brown layers above 3. Sprinkle nitrogen source over each layer (urine, blood/alfalfa meal, etc.) 4. Turn the pile over into the next bin every 3 days 5. Harvest in about 2 weeks
- 26. Composting Methods Outside Warm Composting CompostTumblers • Above-ground, flipping compost barrel Pros Easy turning No vermin Little odor Holds in heat, moisture Cons Expensive Requires inoculants Makes in batches
- 27. Composting Methods Outside Warm Composting Raised Bin Method • Slightly raised bin with air slits at the bottom • Allows for natural air flow through pile • No turning required
- 28. Composting Methods Outside Cold Composting Posthole Composting • Bury food and yard waste in holes around the yard • Good for eliminating food waste, not so good as a soil amendment
- 29. Composting Methods Outside Cold Composting Hugelkulture • Permaculture-style method of permanent soil amending • Increases water retention • Very long-term benefits 1. Bury a trench about 2’ deep 2. Line the trench with compost 3. Fill with logs and branches 4. Layer with blood, alfalfa, or bone meal 5. Cover with fresh grass clippings 6. Cover with topsoil 7. Layer with smaller branches and mulch 8. Cover with hay, then topsoil
- 30. Composting Methods Outside Cold Composting Anaerobic Composting • Layered method (similar to Indore Method), but covered with air-tight polyethylene wrapping • Reduces Nitrogen gas-off • Takes longer
- 31. Composting Methods Outside Tea Fertilizers • Bacteria-dominant tea: • Molasses • Cane sugar • Fungal-dominant tea: • Kelp • Phosphate rock dust • Fish hydrolysate • Fruit pulp CompostTea • Soaking compost in water to extract nutrients and microbes • Compost’s “active ingredients” fill the volume of the container • Aerated (ACT) or Non-aerated teas (NCT) • Drench- or foliar application • General rules: • 24 hours to brew • Expires within another 24 hours • Need to fertilize to feed microbes
- 32. Composting Methods Indoor Vermicomposting • Use of worms to digest food scraps and produce high quality fertilizer • Red wigglers are best (Eisenia fetida) • Bedding important • Shredded paper • Coconut coir • Michigan Black Peat • Composted manure • Food cannot be too acidic • Cover worms to prevent escape • Keep moist, but not soggy • Many bin types available
- 33. Composting Methods Indoor Bokashi Bin • Anaerobic breakdown of food waste in sealed tub • Requires bran (dry mix of bran, molasses, and microorganisms) • Can compost all food scraps • Ready for next stage in about 2 weeks • Dump contents into compost pile or bury in soil (need to wait 6 weeks before planting)
- 34. Composting Methods Custom Compost Custom Compost • Special additives can help make your compost healthier, richer, and more tailored to your plants • Nitrogen retention • Rock Phosphate • Higher temps, faster decomp. • Blood/bone meal, alfalfa pellets • Bacterial-dominance • Molasses, maple syrup • Fungal-dominance • Soybean meal, powdered malt, oatmeal, oat bran, powdered baby oatmeal
- 35. Neil Kaufman Email: Neil.Kaufman1@gmail.com Phone: (210)995-8483 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.