ABSTRACT
Proper design of a composting facility is imperative for cost-effectiveness, good operations, and environmental control. The design determines the capital investment and future operational costs. Some of the capital costs impacted by the design are listed below, along with various pieces of equipment. It is obvious that the extent of capital improvements, as well as the equipment needed, will vary with the feedstock to be composted and the system selected. A homogeneous feedstock such as biosolids will require less equipment than municipal solid waste (MSW). In the case of biosolids using wood chips, front-end loaders (FELs), hoppers, conveyors, mixers, agitators or windrow equipment, blowers, and screens may be all that is needed. If, on the other hand, yard waste is used at the facility, grinding equipment is also needed. MSW composting would also require ferrous metal removals, countercurrent equipment to remove nonferrous metals, plastic removal equipment, and other re—ning equipment. The following list indicates some of the site capital costs, as well as the equipment that may be needed:
• Site improvements • Roads • Structures such as buildings and sheds • Fences • Grading • Drainage • Utilities such as electricity and water conveyance • Ponds or storm water containments • Aesthetic requirements • Odor control facilities • Vehicle wash areas
• Equipment • Front-end loaders • Screens • Trucks • Windrow equipment or other turning equipment • Sprayers • Water conveyance vehicles • Mixers • Scales • Air classi—ers
• Ferrous metal removers • Countercurrent equipment • Grinders • Hoppers • Conveyors • Dust removal equipment
In Chapter 3, various process ¢ows were illustrated. Once the process ¢ow is determined, a more detailed designation of the material movement, equipment needed to be determined for speci—c operations, and evaluation of the materials handling can be made. The material ¢ow for biosolids and MSW will be illustrated below.
