ABSTRACT
Cranberry fruit receiving and cranberry processing operations produce a large amount of solid waste which is being disposed by landfilling in some locations. Because of the agricultural nature of the waste products, the opportunity of composting to produce a soil conditioner is attractive. This chapter presents results from a large static pile pilot composting study conducted on residues in the winter and spring of 1985. The wastes in this study characterized as vines, pulp, screenings, leaves, rice hulls and berries. These materials are organic in nature, low in available nutrients, and low in pH. The economic feasibility of cranberry receiving waste composting is attractive in some cases but is very site specific. The cranberry is a hardy fruit. Many whole undamaged berries which fall to the floor of the receiving facility are included in the waste material which is to be composted. In some areas direct land-farming of the cranberry receiving residues may be more economical.
