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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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.

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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.

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

EPA

, 200

7 da

ta

(http

://w

ww.

epa.

gov/

epao

swer

/non

-hw

/mun

cpl/m

sw99

.htm

)

169.2 million tons in 2007

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Composting, lots of models

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Yard Debris Composting Is Well-Established in DC Region

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Metropolitan Washington

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

itute

for L

ocal

Sel

f-R

elia

nce

Green the Capitol Initiative

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Whole Foods

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Green Cycle Industries

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Cedar Grove Composting

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Compostable Food Service

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Meets ASTM 6400

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Peninsula Compost, Wilmington

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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.

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Equipment

Moving materials Aerating/turning Grinders Mixing Watering Screening

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Collection Bins & Signage?

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Outreach Costs

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Contact

Brenda Platt Institute for Local Self-Reliance

bplatt@ilsr.org www.ilsr.org

202-898-1610 ext 230

Institute for Local Self-Reliance