Aerobic Composting Technologies:

Process Options

Workshop: Composting of Organics

June 24, 2008

Charles W. Peterson, FEU

Technology Options

• Windrow
- Self propelled
- Towable straddle turner
- Power Take-Off (PTO)
• Aerated Static Pile
• In-vessel
- Enclosed aerated static pile
- Agitated bed
- Rotary drum
• Vermicomposting

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 Technology Tradeofffs

Windrow Aerated Static In-Vessel

Pile

Land Most Medium Least

Primary: 30-45 Primary: 21-30 Primary: 7-10
Time (days) Curing: 30 Curing: 30 Curing: 30

Process Least Medium Best

Environmental Least Medium Best

Cost Least Medium Most

Windrow
Self Propelled Straddle Turner
• Pile dimensions limited by size of turner
- Height: 2-3 m, Base: 4-5 m
• Equipment specs (motor) determine daily turning
capacity
• CAPEX: $200,000 - $350,000

Images: http://organic.tfrec.wsu.edu/compost/ImagesWeb/CompEquip.html
http://www.gemacosales.com/products/wildcat/selfpropelled_compost_turners.htm

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 Windrow
Elevating (Self Propelled / Towable) Turner
• Windrow height can be higher than straddle
turner

Images: http://organic.tfrec.wsu.edu/compost/ImagesWeb/CompEquip.html

Windrow: Towable Straddle Turner

• Less expensive then self propelled, more area

needed for maneuvering area between windrows
• CAPEX: $60,000 - $100,000

Images: http://organic.tfrec.wsu.edu/compost/ImagesWeb/CompEquip.html

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 Composting – Windrow
Power Take-Off (PTO)

• On-farm use - low daily throughput

• Single / double pass

Images: http://organic.tfrec.wsu.edu/compost/ImagesWeb/CompEquip.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/steved/Luebke/Luebke-compost2.html

Composting: Aerated Static Pile

• Forced aeration – air draw down through a pile or

upwards (in-vessel)
- Air treatment - odor removal (bio-filters)
• Process control – pile oxygen levels

Images: http://organic.tfrec.wsu.edu/compost/ImagesWeb/CompEquip.html (left image)

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 In-Vessel System: Enclosed Aerated Static
Pile - Gore Cover Systems

Images: http://www.gore.com/en_xx/products/fabrics/swt/gore_cover_composting_biological_yardwaste.html

In-Vessel System: Enclosed Aerated Static

Pile - NaturTech

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 In-Vessel System: Agitated Bed –
IPS (Siemens)

Images: http://www.water.siemens.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Product_Lines/Microfloc_Products/Brochures/IPS-GEN-BR-0108.pdf

In-Vessel System: Rotating Drums –

Andar Environmental

Images: http://www.andar.co.nz/Products/Environmental/Rotocom/system.asp

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 Vermicomposting
• Using earthworms to breakdown organic matter
into natural fertilizer/soil conditioner

Images: http://www.kvafsu.kar.nic.in/Deoni%20Farm.htm, http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/2004-fall-tour/2004-fall-tour-08.html,

http://torontoist.com/2007/07/square_feet_ver.php

Case Study: ECARU Facility

Cairo, Egypt
• Existing composting operation: 375 tpd
- ERPA expansion: 1,100 tpd

• Process: waste sorting / windrow

• Climatic condition: tropical / dry

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 Case Study: ECARU Facility
Cairo, Egypt - Sorting

Case Study: ECARU Facility

Cairo, Egypt - Sorting Schematic

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 Case Study: ECARU Facility
Cairo, Egypt - Composting

Case Study: Smart Facility

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• ERPA: 500 tpd (waste), 300 tpd organics

• Process: waste sorting / windrow

• Climatic condition: tropical / wet (about 3 m/yr)

• Front-end sorting similar to Cairo

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 Case Study: Smart Facility
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - Composting
• High precipitation – tarps over windrows to
minimzes leachate
• Care in est. composting area – 4 acres (original),
re-clculated to 15 acres

Case Study: Tashkent, Uzbekistan

• Projected throughput: 400 tpd to start

• Simple compost – wastepicking , but no sorting
• Proposal – aerobic landfill, only income carbon
revenue – low cost operation
• Market – landfill cover
• Project failed – climate: temperate / dry, low
emission factors

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 THANK YOU

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Charles Peterson, cpeterson@worldbank.org

Note: The Bank does not endorse any of the products shown in this presentation. They are shown only as examples of various composting technology options.

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