Compost operators face a range of challenges in their quest to manage organic waste efficiently, sustainably, and in line with regulations. Covered Aerated Static Pile technology is the best solution in nearly every situation with the ability to address these challenges.
By Scott Woods
Composting has become a vital part of the future of organic waste management. Even with many improvements in the process, composting still has a fair share of challenges. As a compost operator you are likely well aware of these hurdles, including managing moisture levels, separating stormwater and leachate, dealing with emissions, combating odors, and a faster, more cost-effective process—all while minimizing your facility’s physical footprint. These are all issues that thousands of compost operations face using traditional windrow methods and simple aerated static pile (ASP) systems. As an alternative, Covered Aerated Static Pile (CASP) technology offers more practical solutions to these common composting challenges.
The Real-Life Challenges in Composting
Before we delve into the CASP technology, let’s take a closer look at the everyday challenges that compost operators face.
#1: Moisture Management: The Goldilocks Dilemma
Effective composting requires maintaining the right moisture levels. Too much water can lead to a soggy mess, while too little can slow down decomposition. Achieving, and maintaining, the perfect balance can be quite a task with traditional composting methods.
#2: Separation of Stormwater and Leachate:
Environmental Responsibility
Composting facilities generate leachate, a liquid byproduct of decomposition. Properly separating this leachate from stormwater is essential to prevent environmental contamination and remain compliant with regulations.
#3: VOC and GHG Management: Environmental Impact
Composting can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and climate change. Controlling/reducing these emissions is crucial for environmental responsibility and compliance.
#4: Odor Management: Neighborly Relations
Unpleasant odors can be a major headache for compost operators and their neighbors. Effective odor control is essential for maintaining a positive relationship with the community and ensuring a pleasant working environment.
#5: Treatment Time: Efficiency Matters
Composting processes can be time-consuming, impacting overall operational efficiency. Operators need methods capable of speeding up the decomposition process without compromising quality.
#6: Lowest Total Cost of Ownership: Financial Sustainability
Running composting facilities should make financial sense without compromising environmental goals. Reducing operational costs while maintaining economic and environmental sustainability is a constant.
#7: Lower Footprint Requirements for Facilities: Space Efficiency
With urbanization and limited available land, compost operators face pressure to reduce their facility’s physical footprint while maintaining or increasing processing capacity. As more local regulations require that organic waste is diverted from landfills, there will be more input material to process. Decreasing the processing time enables the facility to increase the throughput without expanding the facility footprint.
Introducing CASP Technology
When compared to traditional windrow operations or other ASP solutions, CASP composting systems offer the best solution to address all of the challenges above. At the top of the list of what a CASP system addresses are the primary environmental concerns of air and water pollution—including methane mitigation. CASP is a forced air composting method using either positive (pushing) or negative (pulling) air movement that assists in composting, also drastically reducing the time to create a high-quality finished product. Positive CASP systems are ideal for all types of feedstocks, including food waste, green waste, biosolids, and source-separated organics.
Effective Moisture Management: Precision Control
CASP systems use covers (custom buildings or membrane technology) and controlled positive aeration to maintain precise oxygen, temperature, and moisture levels throughout the composting process. This encapsulated process eliminates issues like over-saturation or drying, ensuring optimal conditions for decomposition.
Effective Separation of Stormwater and Leachate: Environmental Compliance
Some CASP technology incorporates a leachate collection and containment system, facilitating the clear separation of stormwater from leachate using membrane covers or buildings. The combination of leachate management and separation of stormwater prevents environmental contamination and ensures compliance with environmental regulations.
VOC and GHG Management: Emission Control
By design, CASP systems are equipped to capture some VOCs and GHGs effectively. These compounds are captured in the composting process and broken down by microorganisms. Tested CASP technology within ASTM standards have proven a reduction of VOCs by more than 95 percent compared to windrow composting. This significant reduction of emissions minimizes the environmental impact of composting operations and helps operators meet stringent regulations in California, New York, and elsewhere.
Superior Odor Management: Containment
The covered environment of CASP technology keeps odors in check. Unpleasant smells are contained within the system, preventing complaints from nearby communities, and enhancing working conditions. Odor-causing gases stay locked inside the CASP system, breaking down into their elemental parts by the active microorganisms, reducing impact to you and your neighbors.
Accelerated Treatment Time: Efficiency Boost
CASP technology accelerates the composting process, reducing treatment times compared to traditional methods. This not only increases operational efficiency, but also allows compost operators to process more organic waste in less time on the same footprint. Do not let others fool you; nature takes time to break down organic matter and cannot be done effectively in extremely short cycles. When composting in a monitored CASP system with a high level of process control, the compost can be moved to a finishing pile in as little as six weeks.
Lowest Total Cost of Ownership: Cost Efficiency
CASP technology offers a competitive total cost of ownership. Efficiency gains in moisture management, reduced treatment times, and minimized emissions contribute to long-term cost savings.
Instead of investing in expensive buildings and biofilters that require regular maintenance and still break down over a relatively short amount of time, membrane cover technology provides the advantages of physical buildings with the flexibility and breathability of a microporous membrane.
Lower Footprint Requirements for Facilities: Space Optimization
CASP systems are designed to maximize processing capacity within a smaller physical footprint. This aligns with the trend toward more sustainable, compact composting facilities that can fit into urban and suburban environments. For example, with the right CASP technology, facilities should be able to process more than 30,000 tons of material on a 1-acre lot.
What You Should Look for in CASP Technology for Your Facility
Whether you are looking to build a new facility, or retrofit an existing location, there are a few options when it comes to CASP technology, including buildings and membranes, offering a varying level of performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Selection of composting technology often comes down to price point and long-term effectiveness. As an operator, it is important to select a technology that has a proven track record while maintaining a lower lifetime cost and offers several (if not all) of these benefits:
• Proven Performance: Look for a successful history in composting facilities worldwide, demonstrating reliability and effectiveness in all climates.
• Advanced Materials: Make sure the cover is constructed using advanced materials known for their durability and resistance to wear and tear. This ensures a long lifespan with minimal maintenance requirements.
• Customization: Every facility is unique, so make sure the CASP system can be tailored to suit the specific needs of each composting operation, ensuring an optimal fit and performance.
• Environmental Benefits: Make sure the CASP system has been tested to ASTM standards to reduce emissions, energy consumption, and environmental impact, otherwise the vendor may be testing only within favorable standards for their product, effectively greenwashing their product.
• Support and Expertise: Ensure the vendor provides comprehensive support and expertise to help compost operators seamlessly integrate the CASP technology into their facility and systems, maximizing the benefits of the technology.
Compost operators face a range of challenges in their quest to manage organic waste efficiently, sustainably, and in line with regulations. CASP technology is the best solution in nearly every situation with the ability to address these challenges. | WA
Scott Woods is the CEO of Sustainable Generation and a contributing writer for Waste Advantage Magazine. Sustainable Generation is an Advanced CompostingTM Technology company and the authorized supplier of GORE® Cover technology in North America. The SG GORE® Cover technology recently was selected for use in the largest food waste composting operation on the East Coast. With more than 20 years in the market, and many studies proving the effectiveness of the technology, the GORE® Cover is well known as the market leader in membrane technology. By creating innovative CASP technology, Sustainable Generation’s Advanced CompostingTM Technology with GORE® Cover offers compost operators a comprehensive solution that gives them a significant step toward enhancing their operations, reducing environmental impact, and contributing to a more sustainable future. Scott can be reached at [email protected]. For more information, visit www.sustainable-generation.com or www.gorecover.com.
Reference
www.sustainable-generation.com/blog-post/20-yrs-of-reducing-odors-
emissions-in-california