COMPOSTING METHODS

Monica Ozores-Hampton, Ph.D.

University of Florida/IFAS
Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

General Group of Composting Methods

I. Windrow: turning equipment II. Passive aerated windrows III. Aerated static pile IV. In-vessel composting
Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

I. Windrow Composting
Consists of of placing the mixture of raw materials in a long narrow piles or windrows which are agitated or turned on a regular basis.

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Passive air movement in a composting windrow or pile

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Why Turning the Windrow

Rebuilds the porosity Releases trapped heat, water, and gasses. Exchanges the material at the windrows surface with material from the interior (more weeds seeds, pathogens, and fly larvae are destroy by high interior temperature)
Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Turning Equipment
Front end loader Tractor-assisted turners (pushed or pulled).

Tractor at least 80 horsepower to the PTO and travel at 1 mile per hour).

Totally self-driven
Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Tractor assisted windrow Turner

Self -driven

II. Passive aerated windrows

Eliminates the need for turning by supplying air to the composting materials through perforated pipes embedded in each windrow (hot gases rise upward out of the windrow). No turning or agitation of the materials occurs once the pile is formed.
Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

III. Aerated static pile

Takes the piped aeration system a step further, using a blower to supply air to the composting materials. No turning or agitation of the materials occurs once the pile is formed.

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

IV. In-Vessel Composting

Confine the composting materials within a building, container, or vessel. Rely on a variety of forced aeration and mechanical turning techniques to speed up the process. Bin composting, rectangular agitated beds, silos, rotating drums
Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Commercial Composting

Compost Facilities in Florida

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Palm Beach Solid Waste Authority

Overview of the yard-trimming-biosolids composting facility in Palm Beach, FL. Enclosure of composting process prevents objectionable odors.

In-vessel composting methods rely on a variety of forced aeration and mechanical turning techniques to speed up the composting process (21 days).

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Palm Beach Solid Waste Authority

The screened material is windowed for at least 2-8 weeks before going to market.
Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Composting Facilities in Florida: Walt Disney

Food waste and wood chips composting. In-vessel

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Composting Facilities in Florida: Walt Disney

Food waste and wood chips composting. In-vessel

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Composting Facilities in Florida: Sumter County Solid Waste Facility

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) or house hold garbage

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Composting Facilities in Florida: Sumter County Solid Waste Facility

Municipal Solid Waste and Biosolids, Windrow composting

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Composting Facilities in Florida: Walt Disney

Biosolids, food waste, animal manure, yard waste and wood chips . Static piles
Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved

Yard Waste Facilities in Florida: Immokalee

Yard Trimming waste . Windrow composting

Copyright 2003 by Monica Ozores-Hampton. All rights reserved