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10Tons ComposterTo understand the impact of industrial composting, we should probably understand what the industrial composting process looks like.
We start off, as is probably best, at the start: Organic materials are consumed by you, lovely reader, and chucked in the compost bin, before being collected by the lovely people with hi-vis jackets and a big truck with the tippy back and transported to an industrial composting facility where it is roughly sorted by size and whether it is considered “carbon rich” or “nitrogen rich”.
Carbon-rich organics include wood chips, paper products, leaves, yard trimmings, and green waste and wood products. Nitrogen-rich organic waste is stuff like food waste. Fun fact, garden waste like leaves and grass trimmings is considered both depending on its decomposition stage, when plant matter is green it’s generally higher in nitrogen however when it rots a bit the nitrogen and moisture leak out and are considered carbon waste. Cool huh?
The two waste types are separated into sludges before being mixed in the proper ratios and deposited into one of three industrial composting facilities: In Vessel, Windrow, and Aerated Static Pile.
Windrow Composting
The Windrow Composting process involves placing mixed slurry into long piles (windrows) approx 4-8ft high and 14-18ft across. The shape and size allow the core of the windrow to remain at a fairly constant temperature and moisture level, ensuring the ideal environmental conditions for composting. The long rows are turned, mixed, and aerated periodically to allow organic matter to compost throughout the entire row. This is a great disposal method for large volumes of waste like yard trimmings, fish and poultry waste, and manure.
Aerated Static Pile Composting
The Aerated Static Pile composting process is similar to that of Windrow composting, however, bulking agents like wood chips or shredded newspaper are added to the mix to create gaps in the compost mix. This loosely layered pile creates holes for air to penetrate the pile, forcing an even composting environment. Piles may also be placed over air pipes, allowing a greater degree of control over the airflow within the compost piles.
In Vessel composting
The In-Vessel composting process is perhaps the most high-tech way of making compost. It involves loading organic materials into a vessel, in most cases a big steel silo, or into a concrete-lined trench as it allows complete control over temperature, moisture content, and airflow. The mulch is removed, mixed again, and placed back into the vessel to repeat the process before being sieved and stored for 4-8 weeks to fully mature. By using this method of composting, facilities can achieve different grades of compost depending on the required end materials or end uses.
Why are commercial composting facilities so important?
The world runs on compost. It’s a fact. If you’ve ever eaten anything, you’ve relied on compost at some point. Even if you were to eat an entirely carnivorous diet, munching only on wild boar and deer that you’ve hunted yourself, the natural process of life and death in both plant and animal species ensures nutrients return to the soil for the next generation of plant life to grow, which feeds animal life and the cycle continues.
You only have to stroll through the woods in the winter to smell the cycle at work, and so by taking this cycle and applying it to the biological waste that we as humans produce, it can go a long way towards reducing the environmental impact we have on local ecosystems. It would be great if everyone was able to produce their compost at home, but you try keeping a box of rotting eggshells, coffee grounds, and dog poo in a studio flat long enough for it to turn into something useful. Let me know how that turns out.
To keep up with growing demands for food, there is simply no alternative to industrial composting and fertiliser production facilities, both to help grow crops but also recondition soil back to it’s more useful state.
What are the advantages of industrial composting?
1. Large-Scale Waste Management
Capacity: Industrial composting facilities can process large volumes of organic waste, making them an effective solution for handling food waste from businesses, municipalities, or agricultural operations.
Efficient Waste Reduction: This process significantly reduces the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills, which helps in mitigating landfill overflow and the associated environmental problems.
2. Environmental Benefits
Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By diverting organic waste from landfills, industrial composting helps reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that is generated when organic waste decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen) in landfills.
Soil Health Improvement: The compost produced is rich in nutrients and organic matter, which can be used to enhance soil fertility, improve soil structure, and boost agricultural productivity. Healthy soil also stores carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation.
Reduces Landfill Dependency: Industrial composting reduces the burden on landfills, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for new landfill space.
3. Cost-Effective Waste Disposal
Lower Disposal Costs: In many cases, industrial composting is more cost-effective than sending organic waste to landfills or incinerators, especially when factoring in the costs of transportation, tipping fees, and landfill management.
Revenue Generation: The high-quality compost produced can be sold to farms, landscapers, and garden centers, generating revenue for the composting facility.
4. Sustainability and Circular Economy
Resource Recovery: Industrial composting is a key component of the circular economy. Instead of treating organic waste as a disposal problem, it turns waste into a valuable resource—compost—that can be returned to the soil, thus closing the loop.
Biodegradable Plastics: Some industrial composting facilities can process biodegradable plastics that are certified to break down in composting environments, contributing to reduced plastic pollution.
5. Control and Efficiency
Optimized Conditions: Industrial composting operations can create optimal conditions (temperature, moisture, oxygen levels) for rapid and efficient decomposition of organic materials, often achieving composting times of weeks instead of months.
Reduced Contamination: In a controlled industrial composting facility, contamination with non-compostable materials (e.g., metals, glass, certain plastics) can be more easily screened out before processing, ensuring a higher-quality end product.
6. Scalability
Adaptable to Various Needs: Industrial composting systems can be scaled to meet the demands of different sectors. Large cities, for example, can set up municipal composting systems to handle food scraps from households and businesses. Agricultural operations can compost crop residues on-site, and food processing facilities can compost waste from production.
Flexible Feedstock Handling: Industrial composting can handle a wide variety of organic materials, including food waste, yard waste, agricultural byproducts, manure, and some industrial organic wastes, making it highly versatile.
7. Employment Opportunities
Job Creation: The establishment and operation of industrial composting facilities create job opportunities in areas such as waste management, facility operation, maintenance, quality control, and logistics.
8. Reduced Odor and Pest Control
Odor Management: Modern industrial composting facilities are equipped with systems to control odors and manage airflow, preventing the smell from becoming an issue.
Pest Management: Industrial composting is often conducted in enclosed systems or with active pest control measures to prevent flies, rodents, or other pests from becoming a problem, which is common in small-scale or backyard composting.
9. Support for Agriculture
Soil Amendment: The finished compost is a highly effective soil amendment that can improve soil fertility, increase moisture retention, and suppress plant diseases, benefiting both commercial agriculture and landscaping operations.
Reduced Need for Synthetic Fertilizers: Compost from industrial composting facilities provides an alternative to chemical fertilizers, reducing the environmental impact of synthetic fertilizer use, which can cause water pollution and soil degradation.
10. Compliance and Waste Diversion
Regulatory Compliance: Many cities and countries are introducing stricter regulations around organic waste diversion, and industrial composting can help businesses and municipalities comply with these laws.
Zero-Waste Goals: Many organizations and communities are setting “zero-waste” goals, and industrial composting is an essential part of achieving these targets by diverting organic materials from landfills.
Overall, industrial composting is a highly effective, sustainable, and scalable solution for managing organic waste. It benefits the environment by reducing landfill dependency, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and creating valuable compost for soil enhancement. It’s also a cost-effective and efficient way to address the growing waste management challenges of large communities, industries, and agricultural operations.