Composting

Yard and Municipal Solid Waste

United States Environmental Protection Agency

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781566762830
• eBook ISBN: 9781000160017
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Environmental Management
• Index: Technology & Engineering

This book aims to aid decision-makers in planning, siting, designing, and operating composting facilities. It is also useful to citizens, regulators, consultants, and vendors interested in the composting of yard trimmings and municipal solid waste.

Chapter One Planning

DOI: 10.1201/9781003075820-2

Communities that are considering incorporating composting into their solid waste management strategy need to conduct thorough planning to decide what type of program best fits the needs and characteristics of their locality. Because each community possesses its own set of financial, climactic, socio-economic, demographic, and land use characteristics, there is no formula dictating how to incorporate composting into an integrated waste management plan; these issues must be decided on a case-by-case basis for each community or region. This chapter describes some of the preliminary steps that a community should take before embarking on any composting program. Additional planning requirements are addressed throughout the guidebook.

Goal Setting

An important first step for public officials considering a composting program is to determine what they want the program to achieve. Typical goals of a composting program include:

1. ■ Reducing the flow of materials into landfills or combustors.
2. ■ Diverting certain types of materials from the MSW stream.
3. ■ Complying with state or local regulations or recovery goals.
4. ■ Providing a practical management option for a single community or a larger region.

Once a community has clearly defined the goals of its program, it will be easier to evaluate available technologies and determine the role that composting will play in the community’s overall management strategy. In addition to goal-setting, it is important to evaluate the economic and technical feasibility of composting in the context of other waste management techniques, such as landfilling and combustion, to determine which alternatives are most suitable for the community. The costs and benefits of each option as well as relevant political and public opinion considerations can be evaluated to ascertain which mix of solid waste management approaches will best serve the community.

Waste Characterization

A municipal composting program must be implemented with a full understanding of the MSW stream. Identifying and quantifying the components of the local MSW stream should be an integral part of preliminary planning for every program. One way to obtain this information is to conduct a waste stream characterization study. These studies range in price from $35,000 to $400,000, depending on the type and quality of information needed. A comprehensive waste characterization study involves analyzing the local MSW stream by separating and sampling waste. Sampling can take place at the local waste management facility or at a transfer station. If a large-scale MSW composting facility is being contemplated, a detailed waste stream characterization study is necessary to ensure proper design (this would not be necessary in advance of a large-scale yard trimmings composting program). Publications, including the Solid Waste Composition Study, 19901991: Part 1 published by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, are excellent references for more detailed information on conducting MSW stream assessments (this document is cited in the resources list at the end of this chapter). While a waste stream characterization study can provide information on the anticipated quantity of materials generated, it will not necessarily discern the amount of materials that will actually be collected or dropped off in the composting program since that will depend on factors such as the percent of homes or facilities that provide organic material for composting.

Although a comprehensive waste characterization study is the most accurate way to obtain data on the local MSW stream, the analysis involved can be very expensive and time consuming. Therefore, many communities might simply want to examine state or national MSW generation patterns, using these figures as a basis for determining local waste flow and characterization. Planners should, however, take into consideration any local factors that could influence the composition and amount of their MSW stream including:

1. ■ Season and climate – In certain parts of the country, the amount and type of yard trimmings generated will vary dramatically from season to season and as the climate changes. For example, an abundance of leaves are generated in autumn in many localities. Climate also can affect the composition and amount of the MSW stream. During warm seasons, for example, the quantity of beverage containers might be expected to rise. During the December holiday season, municipalities might expect a large amount of gift-wrapping paper or Christmas trees.
2. ■ Regional differences – Communities in Florida, for example, might discover that palm fronds constitute a large amount of their local MSW stream, while municipalities along the Maine seacoast must take into account large amounts of fish scraps generated in their region.
3. ■ Demographics – Population variations can have a significant impact on the MSW stream. These include temporary population changes (particularly in popular tourist or seasonal resort areas and college towns); the average age, income, and education of the population; age of neighborhoods; and population densities.
4. ■ State of the economy – The economic state of an area also can affect the composition of the MSW stream. For example, the increase in consumption that can be associated with good economic times might be reflected in an increase in packaging and other goods in the MSW stream.
5. ■ Local source reduction and recycling programs – Programs that aim to reduce or divert certain components of the MSW stream from disposal can affect the amount and type of materials that can be collected for composting.

For more accurate estimates, information from communities with similar demographic characteristics and sources of discards can be extrapolated to fit the local scene. Local collection services and facility operators also can be consulted. These individuals might have written records of the amount and type of discards collected on a yearly or even a monthly basis.

Operational Plans

An operational plan should be drafted to assist local officials and community members in understanding the proposed composting program and their roles in that program. An operational plan can be used as the basis for community discussion about the proposed program and for developing strong political support and consensus. The operational plan will be the community’s road map for implementing and operating a successful composting program. Therefore, the more detailed the plan, the more useful it will likely be. The operational plan can be revised throughout the planning process as necessary to reflect major changes or alterations.

The operational plan should stipulate the chosen composting technology (e.g., turned windrows, aerated static piles, in-vessel systems, etc.); the equipment needed; proposed site design; and, the pollution, nuisance, and odor control methods that will be employed. In addition, it should specify the personnel that will be required to operate the program as well as the type and extent of training they will require. The plan also should contain procedures for marketing or otherwise distributing the compost product.

When developing a plan, it is important to remember that all of the elements of a composting program (e.g., buying equipment, siting a facility, marketing the finished product, etc.) are interrelated. For this reason, all elements of a composting program should be chosen with other elements in mind. For example, composting site design can be influenced by a variety of factors. Site design might be influenced by the type of material that the site will process. A site which processes large quantities of a readily putrescible material and has close neighbors can require an enclosed design. Site design might also be influenced by compost markets. A site with screening capabilities and flexible retention time could be needed to meet the demands of end users. In addition, site design might be influenced by long-term considerations. A site with the potential to expand can be more appropriate for the community that expects its materials stream to grow in volume. As this example makes clear, decision-makers should accommodate the interrelated nature of the elements of a composting program throughout the planning process.

Community Involvement

Throughout the planning process, officials should work closely with collectors, haulers, processors, the recycling industry, local utilities, private citizens, and others to develop a safe, efficient, and cost-effective program. Providing these groups with a forum to express their concerns and ideas about composting will build a sense of ownership in the project as a whole. In addition, cooperation will enhance the understanding of the concerned groups about the compromises needed to make the program work; as a result, objections to siting or collection programs, for example, should be lessened. These groups also can provide invaluable information on vital aspects of a composting operation (see Chapter 10 for more information on community involvement).

Facility Ownership and Management

One of the basic decisions that must be addressed in the early planning stages is composting facility ownership and management. There are essentially four options for site ownership and operations, as shown in Table 1-1. These are municipal facilities, merchant facilities, privatized facilities, and contract services.

The option chosen for ownership and management of the composting facility will depend on many factors such as feedstock supply, land size and location, personnel resources, experience, costs, liability, financing methods, and political concerns. Composting facilities can be located on municipally or privately owned land, for example. When a community has available land and resources, it might consider owning and operating the facility itself. If the municipality has the land but not the resources for operation, it could contract out to an independent management firm. Communities might also consider encouraging the development of a privately owned and operated facility that works on a long-term contract, with the municipality guaranteeing tipping fees and feedstock. This facility might be owned and operated by a landfill owner or a refuse hauler that could serve the needs of all the communities it services. For larger facilities, in particular, municipalities should consider regional approaches to ownership and management. For example, one town might supply the site with others providing equipment and staffing. Such approaches offer both large and small communities advantages in financing, management, marketing, and environmental protection. Regional approaches also can help communities accomplish together what they cannot attain alone.

Table 1-1 A comparison of facility ownership options.

Facility Type	Owner	Operator	Arrangement	Advantages	Disadvantages
Municipal	Municipality	Municipality	Municipality appoints a site manager, staffs the facility, and provides its own equipment.	Municipalit...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Chapter Overview
• Acknowledgments
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter One - Planning
• Chapter Two - Basic Composting Principles
• Chapter Three - Collection Methods
• Chapter Four - Processing Methods, Technologies, and Odor Control
• Chapter Five - Facility Siting and Design
• Chapter Six - The Composting Process: Environmental, Health, and Safety Concerns
• Chapter Seven - State Legislation and Incentives
• Chapter Eight - Potential End Users
• Chapter Nine - Product Quality and Marketing
• Chapter Ten - Community Involvement
• Chapter Eleven - Economics
• Appendix A - Additional EPA Sources of Information on Composting
• Appendix B - Composting Equipment
• Appendix C - Glossary of Compost Terms