Aerated (Turned) Windrow Composting

The organic waste is laid out in rows of long piles called windrows and
aerated by turning the pile periodically by either manual or mechanical means.
Windrow size is very important: Where the windrow is too large, anaerobic zones
occur near its centre. These release odours when the windrow is turned. On the
other hand, small windrows lose heat quickly and may not achieve temperatures
high enough to evaporate moisture and kill pathogens and weed seeds.
There are a number of specialised machines for turning windrows that reduce the
time and labour involved considerably, mix the materials thoroughly, and
produce a more uniform compost. Some of these machines attach to farm
tractors or front-end loaders, others are self-propelled. A few machines can also

load trucks and wagons from the windrow.

The frequency of turning depends on the rate of decomposition, the moisture

content and porosity of the materials, and the desired composting time. Because
the decomposition rate is greatest at the start of the process, the frequency of
turning decreases as the windrow ages. Easily degradable or high N mixes may
require daily turnings at the start of the process but even then it can be difficult
to control odour and leachate. As the process continues, the turning frequency
can be reduced to a single turning per week.
With ever tightening regulatory controls globally, consents for windrow systems
near built up environments are becoming harder to obtain and windrow

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composting is fast becoming recognised as fit for processing green (yard or

garden) waste only.
Liquid waste in the form of leachate is released during the composting process.
This can contaminate local ground and surface-water supplies and should be
collected and treated.
Windrow composting often requires large tracts of land, sturdy equipment, a
continual supply of labour to maintain and operate the facility, and patience to
experiment with various materials mixtures and turning frequencies.
With the windrow method, the active composting stage generally lasts three to
nine weeks depending upon the nature of the materials, the frequency of turning
and local climatic conditions. In dry arid climates or very wet (high rainfall)
periods maintaining the correct moisture content can be difficult.

Aerated Static Pile Composting

In aerated static pile composting the aerated bunkers can be enclosed in a
building, or can be outdoors, depending on the climate and the location. Organic
waste is mixed together in one large pile instead of rows. To aerate the pile,
layers of loosely piled bulking agents (e.g., wood chips, shredded newspaper) are
added so that air can pass from the bottom to the top of the pile. The piles also
can be placed over a network of pipes that deliver air into or draw air out of the
pile. Air blowers are activated by a timer or a temperature sensors. Some
aerated static piles are placed indoors with proper ventilation (e.g. tunnel
composting).
Aerated static piles are suitable for a relatively homogenous mix of organic waste
and work well for larger quantity generators of yard trimmings and compostable
municipal solid waste (e.g. food, paper) including local governments, landscapers
and farms. This method does not work well for composting animal by-products or
grease from food processing industries.
Since there is no physical turning, the static pile method requires careful
monitoring to ensure that the outside of the pile heats up as much as the core.
Air channelling is a common problem resulting in areas that get too hot or too
cold, too wet or too dry. Process air will need to be treated via a biofilter and
volumes may be very large. Very large buildings may also be needed to provide
complete enclosure of the composting process. Static pile composting generates
leachate, which will require treatment prior to disposal or agricultural use.
Build-up of moisture (leachate) in the pile will generally react with CO2 and
volatile acids lowering the pH of the material and slowing the composting
process. As material degrades it also has a tendency to slump or compact that
negatively influences airflow.
Static pile composting typically requires equipment such as blowers, pipes,
sensors, and fans, which can involve significant costs and technical assistance.
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However having a controlled supply of air enables construction of large piles,

which requires less land than windrow.

When the pile has been formed properly and where the air supply is sufficient
and the distribution uniform, the active composting period is completed in about
three to five weeks.

In-Vessel Composting
Organic materials are fed into a drum, silo, concrete-lined trench, or similar
equipment where the environmental conditions including temperature, moisture
and aeration are closely controlled. The apparatus usually has a mechanism to
turn or agitate the material for proper aeration. In-vessel composters vary in size
and capacity.
In-vessel composting can process large amounts of waste without taking up as
much space as the window method. In addition, it can accommodate virtually
any type of organic waste (e.g. meat, animal manure, small animal mortalities,
biosolids, food scraps). Some in-vessel composters can fit into a school or
restaurant kitchen while others such as a HotRot 3518 can be as large as a
school bus to accommodate large food processing plants and modular/ scalable
to process municipal waste.
In-vessel composting works aerobically so produces very little odour and minimal
leachate. In HotRot units the surplus moisture is removed in vapour and there is
no leachate.
In-vessel composters cost more up front to establish and generally require
technical assistance to operate properly, however this method uses much less
land and manual labour than other forms of composting.

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Conversion of organic material to compost can take as little as 8 days in HotRot

units due to its ability to support a much higher active microbial biomass.
However once the compost exits the vessel it still requires 2-4 weeks for the
microbial activity to stabilise and the pile to cool.

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