COMPOSTING PROCEDURES

 

Click here to download a tri-fold brochure of this document (Word 7.0 file)

 

Composting is an age old practice of waste management whereby the organic components of the waste streams are biologically decomposed under controlled conditions to a stabilized state in which they can be safely handled, stored or applied to land as a soil amendment.

Composting can occur in the presence of oxygen referred to as aerobic composting, or in the absence of oxygen referred to as anaerobic composting. Most modern compost systems are aerobic for important reasons.

Aerobic composting is:

 Free from objectionable odor

 Makes pathogens and weed seeds inactive

 Relatively inexpensive

 Little technological input

 

There are three methods of aerobic composting with the windrow method being the most cost effective.

Methods of Aerobic Composting

 Vessel

 Static Pile

 Windrow

 

Raw Materials

 

 

The raw materials for composting can be split into two categories: Carbon sources and Nitrogen sources.

Characteristics of Nitrogen Sources

Characteristics of Carbon Sources

 Wet

 Dryer

  High bulk density

 Low bulk density

  Decompose quickly

 Decompose slowly

  Not very rigid

 Somewhat rigid

  High in nitrogen

 Low in nitrogen

Examples of Nitrogen Sources

Examples of Carbon Sources

 Livestock manure

 Corn stalks

  Grass

 Sawdust

  Food waste

 Leaves

 Wood chips

 

 

Types of Compost

 Fresh Compost: has undergone partial decomposition, but it is not stabilized and continues to breakdown.

Mature Compost: generally suitable as an organic soil conditioner, but is only partially stabilized and may temporarily arrest plant growth if it comes in direct contact with the roots.

Cured Compost: highly stabilized product, excellent organic soil conditioner.

Class A: includes cured compost, suitable for lawn and garden application, referred to as designer compost.

Class B: includes fresh and mature compost, used as an agronomic soil amendment.

 

Key Factors to Composting

 

 Moisture Content

 Temperature

 Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio

 Nutrient Balance

 Aeration

 pH

 Substrate

 

Moisture Content

Not less than 45%

Not more than 70%

 

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio

Between 25:1 and 30:1

 

Aeration

To speed up composting it is important to maintain aerobic conditions and proper temperatures within each windrow

Windrows should be turned to accomplish this

 

Windrow Turning Frequency

First 3-5 Days Turn Daily

Next 3-4 Weeks Turn 2-3 Times/Week

Week 5 to End Turn Once/Week

 

 

The Illinois EPA, Bureau of Land and Bureau of Water regulate composting and in some instances permits are required.

Compost Siting Regulations

 

Permits are not required if:

 The site is located on the farm on which the compost is applied.

 Appropriate setbacks are followed.

 1/4 mile from the nearest nonfarm residence

 1/2 mile from the nearest populated area

 The site is protected from flooding

 The site does not discharge runoff

 The site is 200 ft from the nearest potable water

 The site is operated by the farmer who is not a partner or employee of a waste hauler or generator

 

Permits are required:

 For livestock operations larger than 1000 head, a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit is needed

 If compost is sold, a siting permit is needed

 If livestock waste is combined with landscape waste and exceeds greater than 10% of the total volume, an EPA organic waste-composting permit is required

 

 

Analysis of Raw Materials

ITEM

%DM

%C

%N

Wood chips

83

35.8

1.3

Grass

58

44.0

3.8

Leaves

78

48.0

1.4

Solid manure

49

25.8

1.4

Liquid manure

0.5

 

Analysis of Mature Compost

ITEM

Rating

pH

7.6

DM

64

Ash

67.3

N

1.8

C

18.1

C:N

11.0

 

 

Solid Livestock Waste

1.59 lbs. manure: 1 lb. landscape waste

652.0 lbs. manure: 1 cu. yd. landscape waste

1.96 tons of raw material to make 1 ton compost

 

 

Swine Slurry - Grass

.20 lbs. liquid manure: 1 lb. grass

135.59 lbs. liquid manure: 1 cu. yd. grass

1.82 tons raw material to make 1 ton of compost

 

Compost Process

Number of turns – 11

Days between turns – 5.2

Days from first to last turn – 53

Days to compost – 75

 

 

Swine Slurry - Wood Chips

3.19 lbs. liquid manure: 1 lb. wood chips

1592.59 lbs. liquid manure: 1cu. yd. wood chips

5.78 tons of raw material to make 1 ton of compost

 

Compost Process

Number of turns – 16

Days between turns – 2.2

Days from first to last turn – 33

Days to compost – 151

 

 

[Back to LUW homepage] Page updated on May 18, 2004