Overview of Biosolids Composting Science, Production and Use Albert Cox Kuldip Kumar Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Outline 1. Composting: What s it and What s Going on Inside 2. Uses and Benefits of Composts 3. Biosolids Composting in the U.S. 4. Rules and Guidelines for Biosolids Composting
Composting Nature s Lifecycle Everything returns to the Earth
What is Compost? Compost is the product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic material that has been sanitized through the generation of heat and stabilized to the point that it is beneficial to plant growth
Why Compost Food Waste? Food Waste Disposal Recycle Landfill Use space Release CO 2 Composting Soil amendment slow-release nutrients compared to chemical fertilizer Create mulch Improve soil structure, aeration, and workability Improve water-holding capacity
Compost Recipe Brown Layer (noodles) Green Layer (spinach) Water (sauce) Air Time Lasagna!!!
Kitchen scraps Ground eggshells Grass clippings Where do I Get Greens? All those nitrogen-rich stuff Used coffee grounds/filters and teabags Leaves and garden waste Pulverized bones Manure from herbivores (hamsters, horses, rabbits, chickens) Compostable packing materials (made from corn) Feathers and hair Old flower bouquets
And Where Do I Get the Browns? The Carbs: Carbon-rich stuff Fall leaves (shredded preferably) Spent plants Dry grass clippings Shredded paper/cardboard/newspapers Sawdust Pine needles Old potting soil Food-soiled paper napkins/towels Stale flour, cereals, spices Nutshells Vacuum bag contents Paper based egg cartons
Microbes Need Balanced Diet? Balanced diet C:N ratio Carb (C) and nitrogen (N) for best cooking temp C energy source N nutrient source Ideal C:N = 25 35:1
Ideal Cooking Conditions C:N 25-35:1 Moisture 45-60% (wt.) Particle size <1 inch Bulk density 1000 lbs/yd 3 (600 kg/m 3 ) ph 6.5-8.0 Temp. 130-140 F (54 60 C)
Of Course!!! Should I Stir While Cooking? Aerate Fresh air for microbes Refresh Remove odors from decomposition products. e.g. ammonia
Why and How Long Should I Cook? Break down Organic material Destroy pathogens Active Phase Curing Phase
Serving: Who Uses Composts Market Agronomic Horticultural Landscaping Turf Forestry Land reclamation Compost Use Soil amendment/fertilizer Seed starter, container mix, mulch, soil amendment, natural fertilizer Soil amendment, mulch Seed starter, topsoil, mulch, soil amendment, fertilizer Seed starter, topsoil, mulch, soil amendment Soil amendment, mulch
Why Compost Biosolids? Disposal Recycle Composting Soil amendment Landfill Use space Release CO 2 Low odor compared to biosolids Slow-release nutrients compared to chemical fertilizer Create mulch Improve soil structure, aeration, and workability Improve water-holding capacity
Benefits of Biosolids Composting USEPA Part 503 rule Class A process Valuable-added product for local community Contains nutrients Reduce cost of hauling to farming community
Types of Feedstock High Carbon Sources (available in many communities) Yard wastes Fall leaves Sawdust Wood chips, brush, bark Cardboard and waste paper Hay, corn stalks, straw
Biosolids Composting in USEPA Regions U. S. EPA Region States No of Facilities 1 New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) 33 2 NY, NJ, PR 28 3 DE, Md, Pa, Va, W Va 22 4 FL, GA, KY, N & S Carolina, TN 35 5 IL, IN, MI, OH, WI 12 6 AK, NM, OK, TX 25 7 IA, KS, MO, NE 12 8 CO, MT, SD, UT 30 9 AZ, CA, HI, NV 17 10 None: AS, ID, OR, WA AL, LA, MN, MS, ND?, WY? TOTAL 30 250 Data from Beecher and Goldstein 2010
Biosolids Composted in Some States State Total biosolids (dry U. S. tons, 2004) Approx. % composted & trend since 2004 Maine 32,200 13% increasing Vermont 9,000 4% decreasing Alaska 17,000 9% steady Washington 110,600 11% increasing California 788,700 22% decreasing Ohio 354,000 7% steady New York 353,300 4% decreasing Data from Beecher and Goldstein 2010
Biosolids Compost Methods in the U.S. System Type No. Aerated static pile 108 Windrow 83 In-Vessel 46 Aerated windrow 4 Static pile 4 Enclosed aerated static pile 1 Vermicomposting 1 Data from Beecher and Goldstein 2010
Biosolids Compost Methods Aerated static pile Aerated Windrow
Biosolids Composting in the U.S. SoilPro Rancho Cucamonga, California Dillo Dirt Austin, Texas http://www.ierca.org/ http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/dillo.htm
Uses of Biosolids Composts
Biosolids Compost Rules & Guidelines Federal USEPA Part 503 Biosolids Rule Class A pathogen standard Aerated static pile or in-vessel: 55 C for at least 3 days Windrow: 55 C for at least 15 days with 5 turns Illinois IL Environ. Protection Act Part 830 Standards for Compost Operations Part 391 Design Criteria for Sludge Application on Land Other US Composting Council
Illinois Biosolids & Compost Rules IL Environ. Protection Act Definition Pollution Control Waste (Sec 3.335) includes wastewater treatment plant sludges (biosolids) Part 830 Standards for Compost Operations Siting Onsite composting of landscape waste biosolids could be used Off-site Composting No biosolids could not be used Part 391 Design Criteria for Sludge Application on Land Governs use of all composts containing biosolids
MWRD Composting Initiative Compost Production by Modification of Current Biosolids Drying Operations Goal 1. Value-added, low odor potential product 2. Diversify range of products 3. Diversify the range of markets
Go Forth and Compost! On your wastewater treatment plant site Choose your method Make $ from materials on hand to save money and reuse/recycle Share what you ve learned Enrich your community and the planet!
Questions? Albert Cox MWRDGC Monitoring and Research Department 708.588.4063 coxa@mwrd.org