What is Commercial Composting and Why Is It So Important?

Commercial compost production is at the forefront of sustainable waste management, transforming organic waste into valuable soil amendments. Whether you&#;re considering starting a compost production facility or a seasoned compost producer, it&#;s essential to understand what the process entails, its benefits to both business and the environment, and the various equipment options available for the most effective operations.

In today&#;s world, where planet health matters more than ever, commercial compost production is becoming an essential move for many businesses. Commercial composting is not only crucial for mitigating climate change impacts but also offers substantial financial benefits for businesses. Composting businesses can attract eco-conscious consumers, gain a competitive edge, and gain a robust market share. This approach not only helps elevate standards in waste industry leadership but also opens up lucrative opportunities in the growing green economy.

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An Overview of the Commercial Composting Process

The commercial composting process typically involves four key stages:

1. Collection and Preparation: Organic waste materials are collected and often pre-processed to remove contaminants and reduce particle size for enhanced microbial activity.
2. Active Composting: Various &#;recipes&#; of the prepared waste are then mixed and subjected to conditions that encourage aerobic decomposition by microorganisms. This phase is characterized by high temperatures that reduce pathogens and weed seeds.
3. Curing: Following active composting, the material undergoes a curing phase where microbial activity slows, and the compost stabilizes.
4. Screening and Packaging: The finished compost is screened to remove any remaining impurities or inorganic contaminants, including plastics, and then packaged or prepared for sale or use.

Ingredients For Commercial Compost Production

There are three ingredients needed to create compost: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK). Together, these elements are essential for the microbial activity that accelerates the decomposition of organic matter. Raw organic materials used in commercial composting are known as feedstocks, and they typically include varieties of food waste and scraps, yard waste and trimmings, manure, and agricultural residues. These materials are rich in carbon and nitrogen, the fundamental elements for microbial activity.

The ideal ingredient mix usually varies from compost producer to compost producer. However, successful &#;recipes&#; consist of an optimal balance of carbon-rich materials, such as leaves and woody materials, with nitrogen-rich materials, like food scraps and grass clippings, to optimize the composting process.

A waste hauler drops off organic waste at a commercial compost facility as raw feedstock for compost production.

Types of Commercial Composting Approaches

Commercial composting is typically categorized into three primary production methods, each with its unique process. Understanding these methods is crucial for businesses aiming to select the most efficient and effective composting approach for their needs.

Static Pile Composting

Static pile composting entails placing organic waste in large piles, where it remains stationary throughout the decomposition process. This method is often utilized for materials that decompose slowly or when space constraints exist. In order to ensure adequate oxygenation, piles are equipped with a series of ventilation pipes in the floor beneath the piles. These pipes allow air to flow into the pile, eliminating the need for frequent turning. This approach can be cost-effective due to minimal labor and equipment needed but also requires constant careful monitoring to maintain optimal conditions for composting.

In-Vessel Composting

In-vessel composting represents the most controlled commercial composting method, with organic waste decomposing inside a closed container. This method allows for precise control over temperature, moisture, and aeration, ensuring rapid decomposition of the waste material. In-vessel systems can vary in size, from small drums to large industrial-scale reactors, accommodating different volumes of waste. This approach is ideal for urban areas or environments where space is limited, as it minimizes odors and pest attraction. In-vessel composting involves higher initial capital and operational costs but does provide quick turnaround times from waste to usable compost.

Windrow Composting

Windrow composting is the process of piling organic waste into long, narrow-rowed piles. This method is favored for its adaptability to various types of organic materials and scalability. The windrows are regularly turned to introduce oxygen to the pile, which is crucial for aerobic decomposition. The turning process also helps to evenly distribute heat, moisture, and microorganisms throughout the pile. Windrow composting is particularly effective for handling large volumes of organic waste and is commonly used in agricultural and municipal operations. It requires a space footprint large enough to house the windrows and the use of specialized machinery equipment called windrow turners to perform the periodic turning.

Each composting approach has its advantages and ideal use scenarios, dependent on the specific requirements and constraints of the composting operation. By carefully evaluating the types and volumes of organic waste, along with space, labor, and capital investment considerations, businesses can select the most appropriate commercial composting method to optimize their sustainability efforts and financial return.

The Benefits of Commercial Composting

For businesses venturing into organic waste recycling, commercial composting presents a unique opportunity to achieve significant environmental and economic benefits. This process not only supports sustainable waste management by diverting organic waste from landfills, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but it also transforms waste into a valuable product that can generate revenue.

Commercial composting offers multifaceted benefits:

• Environmental Impact: By diverting organic waste from landfills, composting significantly reduces methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Furthermore, compost used in agriculture and landscaping conserves water and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers by using a nutrient-rich soil amendment instead.
• Economic Advantages: Commercial composting can transform organic waste management from a cost center into a revenue stream through the sale of valuable, marketable compost products. It also saves money on landfill hauling and tipping fees while contributing to a circular economy.
• Soil and Plant Health: Compost improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and provides essential nutrients to plants, supporting sustainable agricultural and landscaping practices.

Equipment For Commercial Composting Operations

The scale and nature of commercial composting operations dictate the type of equipment required.

Key equipment categories include:

• Shredders and Grinders: High-speed grinders and low-speed shredders both reduce the size of organic waste, making it more suitable for composting and microbial activity, especially in windrow composting.
• Windrow Turners: These machines aerate compost piles, ensuring oxygen is distributed evenly throughout the material, heat is dissipated, and adequate aerobic conditions are maintained.
• Screening Equipment: Screeners, whether trommel or star screen, are used to separate unfinished compost or large particles from the finished product, ensuring quality and uniformity. Star screens are engineered to process compost, even with wet or moist material, efficiently.
• Separating Equipment: Windsifter separators are used to separate lightweight contaminants, like film plastics, from the finished compost, ensuring clean end products.
• Temperature and Moisture Sensors: Monitoring equipment is crucial for optimizing composting conditions and achieving high-quality compost.

Low-Speed Shredder High-Speed Grinder Windrow Turner Star Screen Windsifter Separator

Composting Times and Efficiency

The duration of the composting process can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the method used and the materials being composted. Windrow composting stands out for its efficiency and scalability, particularly when evaluating composting time. This method leverages natural aeration and microbial activity, accelerated through the mechanical turning of the piles, making it an effective strategy for reducing the overall composting duration. The frequent turning introduces oxygen, crucial for aerobic decomposition, ensuring a consistent and optimal environment for microbial activity. This windrow turning process not only speeds up the decomposition of organic material but also enhances the compost&#;s homogeneity and quality.

One of the notable advantages of windrow composting is its adaptability to handle large volumes of waste, contributing to its efficiency. The method&#;s scalability means it can efficiently process significant amounts of organic waste within a relatively short period, often spanning only a few months, depending on the materials&#; nature and environmental conditions at the composting facility. This efficiency is particularly beneficial for agricultural and municipal operations that generate vast amounts of organic waste and seek timely waste management solutions. Furthermore, the use of specialized machinery, such as windrow turners, streamlines the turning process, significantly contributing to the method&#;s overall effectiveness and efficiency in producing high-quality compost within shorter time frames.

Challenges and Solutions for Commercial Composters

Common challenges in commercial composting include odor management, pest control, and ensuring the composting process complies with regulatory standards. Commercial composters that utilize the windrow turning method have developed several effective strategies to mitigate common challenges.

Odor Management: One primary method to control odors in windrow composting is by maintaining an optimal balance of carbon to nitrogen (C:N ratio) within the compost material. This balance helps to minimize the production of malodorous compounds that occur when there is an excess of nitrogen. Furthermore, regular turning of the windrows with a turner ensures adequate aeration, thereby preventing anaerobic conditions that lead to foul odors. The covering of windrows with a layer of finished compost or other biofilter materials can also serve as an effective odor control measure by acting as a physical barrier that absorbs and filters volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Pest Control: Pest management in windrow composting operations relies on controlling the environmental conditions to make them less attractive to pests. The frequent turning of windrows disrupts the breeding cycles of flies and other insects while also ensuring that the compost reaches higher temperatures, which are lethal to many pests&#; eggs and larvae. Properly managing the moisture levels within the compost piles and ensuring that the outside layers are dry can further deter pests. Additionally, maintaining clean and tidy surroundings with minimal spillage and controlling access to the site helps minimize the attraction of rodents and other larger pests.

Compliance with Regulatory Standards: Compliance involves adhering to specific processes and practices that align with local and national regulations governing composting operations. This adherance includes implementing and maintaining a robust monitoring system for temperature, moisture, and aeration levels within the compost to ensure that it undergoes proper sanitization, effectively killing pathogens and weed seeds. Documenting the composting process meticulously, including inputs, process parameters, and product testing, ensures traceability and accountability.

These strategies highlight the proactive measures taken by commercial composters using the windrow turning method to address the challenges of odor management, pest control, and regulatory compliance. Through continuous improvement and adoption of best practices, commercial compost operations can successfully mitigate potential issues, ensuring efficient and sustainable production.

Summary

Commercial composting represents a powerful tool for businesses to contribute to environmental conservation while realizing economic benefits. By understanding the nuances of the composting process, the materials involved, and the equipment needed, organizations can effectively integrate composting into their operations. As the demand for sustainable practices continues to grow across North America, commercial composting is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping a more resilient and circular economy.

Ready to learn more about commercial composting? Click Here to speak with one of our organic waste recycling experts.

Industrial Composting vs Home Composting

Both forms of composting create a nutrient-rich compost, only they achieve it in different ways.

At the simplest level, home composting produces nutrient-rich compost in your backyard, using a vessel like a traditional compost bin, tumbler or vermicompost (worm farm). Home composting breaks down organic household waste like food scraps, grass clippings and leaves. This occurs over a period of months, sometimes years. Organic waste typically takes longer to break down in a home compost as the conditions aren&#;t as controlled as in an industrial facility (for example, the conditions and temperatures will not break down products like PLA bioplastic, which need an industrial facility to rapidly break down). What&#;s more, meat, fish and dairy aren&#;t always recommended in a home compost bin as they can attract pests and vermin.

That&#;s where we turn to industrial composting &#; a multi-step, closely monitored composting process with measured inputs of water, air, temperature, carbon and nitrogen-rich materials. There are many types of commercial composting, such as turned windrow, aerated static pile and in-vessel. Each of these facilities optimises the decomposition process by controlling conditions, like shredding material to the same size or controlling the temperature and oxygen levels. These measures ensure rapid biodegradation of the organic material to high-quality compost. Because of the controlled settings (industrial composting is able to sustain the temperature and stability of the compost more rigorously), you can generally compost a broader range of materials and products.

Different Compost Certifications To Look For

Now you know the difference between home and commercial composting, when do you use each method?

For starters, packaging must have certifications to ensure that it&#;s actually compostable. Simply labelling a product &#;compostable&#; does not specify how a product can be composted (it may only be able to decompose in a commercial facility or have components such as inks and glue that negatively impact the compost quality).

That&#;s why you should always look for compostable certifications to Australian and European standards. Not only that, you should look for the company&#;s unique certification licence number beneath, 

Learn more about why certifications matter.

For more information, please visit Anhui Tian jian.

Here are the key logos you should look for.

Home Compostable to AS Australian Standards

The Australian Bioplastics Association (ABA) launched the Home Compostable Verification Scheme throughout Australia and New Zealand. The Home Compostable logo means you can throw the packaging material into your backyard compost bin and it&#;ll biodegrade. 

To be certified compostable and carry the Home Compostable logo, suitable biopolymer materials must undergo a costly and stringent test regime outlined by AS - and be carried out by recognised independent and accredited laboratories. Learn more about this home composting certification on the ABA website.

Industrially Compostable to AS Australian Standards

The ABA launched the Industrially Compostable Standard - (which is also known as the &#;seedling logo&#; certification system) throughout Australia and New Zealand. The seedling logo clearly identifies packaging materials that can be sent to an industrial compost facility to rapidly biodegrade. 

To be certified compostable and carry the seedling logo, suitable biopolymer materials must undergo a costly and stringent test regime outlined by AS and be carried out by recognised, independent and accredited laboratories. For example, this logo is used in Australia for many bioplastic products (like bioplastic lining and bioplastic lids) that must be sent to an industrial composting facility to break down Learn more about this industrial composting certification on the ABA website.

DIN CERTCO European Standard &#; Home Compostable NF T 51-800

In Europe, the criteria for home compostability is set out by the European standard NF T 51-800. This Home Compostable logo means you can throw the packaging material into your backyard compost bin and it&#;ll biodegrade. 

Unlike Australia, in Europe, several certification bodies can issue the seedling logo and the OK Compost Home Compostable logo (like DIN CERTCO or TUV Austria). Read more about the NF T 51-800 certification on the European Bioplastics website.

DIN CERTCO European Standard &#; Industrially Compostable EN

In Europe, the criteria for industrial compostability is set out by the European standard EN . To achieve this standard, the compostable plastics need to disintegrate after 12 weeks and completely biodegrade after six months. That means that 90 per cent or more of the plastic material will have been converted to CO2. The remaining part of the material is converted into water and biomass (valuable compost). Materials and products complying with this standard can be certified and labelled accordingly. 

Unlike Australia, in Europe, several certification bodies can issue the seedling logo and the OK Compost Home Compostable logo (like DIN CERTCO or TUV Austria). Read more about the EN certification on the European Bioplastics website.

Where To Dispose of Packaging With the Certified Compostable Logos

Industrially Compostable

• In Australia and New Zealand, some councils accept packaging in their Food Organic & Garden Waste (FOGO). 

• In the UK, some councils accept packaging in their Food Waste bins.

• Singapore and Hong Kong are yet to develop commercial composting infrastructure that can process compostable packaging. However, businesses can buy or lease an on-site composting unit to process both their food and packaging waste.

Home Compostable

• Your backyard compost

• Community gardens accepting packaging

• Meet your neighbours

  who are composting

Examples of Greenwashing &#; Incorrectly Used Compostable Logos

You can see in this example, a company has made their own &#;certified compostable logo.&#; This is greenwashing and not verified by the ABA.

You can see in this example, the company has used the seedling logo but doesn&#;t have a certification number beneath it. This makes it unclear for the consumer on how to correctly dispose of the product.

You can see in this example, the company has used the seedling logo and the certification number. However, there&#;s no company licence number beneath it. This makes it hard to know whether they&#;re actually certified.

What To Do if Packaging Doesn&#;t Have The Correct Compost Certification

If you come across one of the above examples, or a product that says &#;compostable&#; or &#;biodegradable&#; without a compost certification logo to back it up. What do you do?

Remember, products that mimic compostable packaging but aren&#;t properly certified can contaminate compost.

In industrial settings, it&#;s difficult for composters to differentiate and remove the non-compostables &#; which means they end up taking ALL packaging out &#; even certified compostable products made by companies committed to doing the right thing. 

In your home compost, you might dispose of these non-compostable greenwashing products and they won&#;t degrade properly, having negative effects on your compost bin. 

Here&#;s what to do next.

Compostable

A quick way to verify compostable claims is to search for the company on the &#;who is certified in Aus & NZ&#; list on the Australian Bioplastics Association website. You can also search the DIN CERTCO database in Europe. 

If a product or company claims to be &#;compostable&#; but is not on this list, the item should be sent to landfill. That&#;s because sending a product that isn&#;t properly certified to a compost facility could contaminate compost and give a bad name to all the compostable packaging companies doing the right thing.

Biodegradable

The term biodegradable is being used more often as many companies and brands try to up their green credentials &#; however, the term is often misleading and not to be trusted. 

In many countries, a product can&#;t be &#;certified&#; biodegradable. Everything &#;biodegrades&#; eventually &#; it could take days, weeks or hundreds of years. That&#;s why &#;biodegradable&#; is a contentious claim not trusted by the organic recycling industry. 

What&#;s more, some packaging on the market labelled as &#;biodegradable&#; (or sometimes &#;OXO-degradable&#;) is made from conventional plastic but contains additives to help break it down, leaving behind microplastics. Learn more about compostable vs biodegradable.

If an item claims to be &#;biodegradable&#; it should be sent to landfill to avoid contaminating compost.

Join Compost Connect

At BioPak, some of our products require industrial composting to break down. That&#;s why we created Compost Connect &#; a not-for-profit composting platform connecting foodservice businesses to industrial composters. 

It&#;s simple &#; business owners can: 

1. Type in their postcode on the website to find the closest compost partner

2. Request a quote to pick up their organic and certified packaging waste 

3. Schedule regular pick-up days, just like recycling and general waste

Compost Connect is also used to educate consumers on all things composting, while connecting individuals to businesses that compost. You can visit the map on the website to find cafes, restaurants and businesses that are composting. This service is currently available in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. 

While there&#;s limited access to large-scale composting facilities in Hong Kong and Singapore, Compost Connect helps educate businesses about on-site composting systems to reduce their waste sent to landfill, like a system from Green Eco Technologies.

Visit Compost Connect Today.

For more Commercial Food Waste Composting Equipmentinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

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