Aerated Windrow Composting

Windrow Composting

windrow composting from the EPA

Windrow composting is a process for producing organic material aerobically. This process produces heat that destroys pathogens and produces a compost product for use as mulch, soil conditioner, and topsoil additive. The organic material is decomposed outdoors, helped only by watering and mechanical turning for air circulation. The windrow composting is simple and has a very low cost, and is used by farmers, cities, and waste processing companies. It is a slow large-scale method used to produce compost. It can be used to process yard waste, food, paper, and sewage sludge. This process of composting begins with gathering, processing, and storing feed stock materials. The steps are then followed by mixing and pile construction. The materials must be screened or hand picked for materials that will not decompose, and then chipped, ground, or shredded into uniform particles that will decompose quickly. Using the high-carbon, dry wood and paper waste should be mixed in equal proportion with high-nitrogen, grass clippings provide the moisture and food waste to provide balanced nutrition for the organisms of decomposition. These materials are mixed using a front-end loader or paddle-blade mixer to distribute the carbon and nitrogen evenly. The material is then formed into piles to decompose.

Oxygen levels and temperatures must be maintained to provide optimum conditions for the microorganisms. The temperature must be high enough to kill pathogens and weed seeds but not high enough to kill the microorganisms. The decomposition produces heat. Oxygen is a primary need for aerobic decomposition. A well-aerated and properly mixed compost pile will not have any unpleasant odors.

Compost is formed into long piles called windrows that are typically 1.5 to three feet high, three to six feet wide, and up to 100 feet or more in length. The land requirement for a windrow composting site depends on the volume of material processed. The materials handled and pile building can be accomplished with a front-end loader. The windrows can be aerated mechanically by turning with a front end loader.

After the composting period, the windrows are reconstructed into curing piles for additional aging and drying of the material. Curing compost stabilizes it to prevent odors or other nuisances from developing while the material is stored. After curing, the compost may be screened to improve the quality of the final compost product.

Benefits:

Compost reduces the amount of waste to be disposed.

Easy to use and operate.

Can handle a large volume of material.

Low operating costs.

Less equipment and maintenance needed than other methods.

Disadvantages:

Large amount of land for composting.

May attracts scavengers.

Odors may be produced.

Requires large adjacent areas due to odor and vectors.

Rainwater runoff maintenance.

Compost can become anaerobic under rainy conditions.

jim ellison enterprises
342 broken arrow
floresville, texas 78114
info@basic-info-4-organic-fertilizers.com