ABSTRACT
Composting is a form of recycling Like other recycling efforts, the composting of yard trimmings and municipal solid waste can help decrease the amount of solid waste that must be sent to a landfill or combustor, thereby reducing disposal costs. At the same time, composting yields a valuable product that can be used by farmers, landscapers, horticulturists, government agencies, and property owners as a soil amendment or mulch. The compost product improves the condition of soil, reduces erosion, and helps suppress plant diseases.
The purpose of this manual is to aid decision-makers in planning, siting, designing, and operating composting facilities. It also will be useful to managers and operators of existing facilities, as well as to citizens, regulators, consultants, and vendors interested in the composting process. The manual discusses several approaches to composting and outlines the circumstances in which each method should be considered.
As detailed in the manual, a composting operation should be designed according to the needs and resources of the community. For example, a municipal composting effort can entail simply collecting yard trimmings on a seasonal basis and using a simple “windrow and turn” technology to produce the compost, or it can mean siting and designing a large facility that is capable of handling several tons of mixed municipal solid waste a day.
When considering any type of composting effort, however, decision-makers must plan ahead to avoid potential obstacles that could hinder the operation. The most common challenges are siting the facility, ensuring that the facility is properly designed, mitigating and managing odors, controlling bioaerosols, and investing adequate capital to cover unforeseen costs. This manual helps decision-makers understand and prepare for these challenges so that they can develop a successful composting program in their community.
