There are three main techniques utilized in industrial composting and each one requires different types of equipment. The three types are: aerated static pile composting, in-vessel composting and windrow composting.
Windrow composting is a completely open-air process, which requires large areas of outdoor space. The composting materials are places in long piles of around 5ft in height. The piles are called “windrows” and they require regular turning to ensure fast, complete fermentation. Regular turning means that all the composting materials get to spend time decomposing in the warmest part of the piles where the bacterial activity is at its highest. The open-air nature of windrow composting means it’s most suited for garden waste and backyard waste that does not produce strong odors. The type of industrial composting machine needed for windrow composting is a fully hydraulic compost turner.
In-vessel composting is carried out in an enclosed environment. The technique can process huge quantities of waste with smaller space requirements than the windrow method. Furthermore, it can be used to compost all types of organic waste including animal manure, food scraps, and bio-solids. The process involving feeding organic waste materials into a concrete-lined trench, drum, silo or industrial aerobic fermentation pot. The temperature, airflow, and moisture content can all be more easily controlled due to the contained environment of the decomposing waste. What’s more, to speed up the composting process, the waste can be mechanically mixed to increase aeration and encourage bacterial activity. The vessels used for in-vessel compositing vary in capacity depending on the needs of the industrial composting business.
The time it takes for in-vessel compositing varies from weeks to months depending on the nature of the waste materials. Sufficient time is needed to allow the compost to cool down after microbial activity has ceased. Temperature probes are used to ensure the temperature of the piles reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two consecutive days. This is necessary to guarantee that all dangerous bacteria are killed.
The aerated static pile composting process produces compost slowly. The process generally takes around three to six months. The method is ideal for composting homogenous mixes of organic waste and is commonly utilized by municipal waste processing facilities. To ensure the piles of waste are sufficiently aerated, layers of loosely packaged bulking agents, such as shredded paper and wood chips, are added.
Industrial composting is about more than just producing high-grade soil fertilizers for the agricultural sector; it also helps to deal with mounting waste disposal problems around the globe. It is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to process municipal waste like soiled paper, bioplastics, food scraps, yard trimmings, etc. With an industrial composting machine, it possible to process tens of thousands of tons of organic waste each year.
The cost of industrial composting machines varies depending on the method of composting being adopted by a business. If you are interested in investing in composting machinery, it’s important to determine the function, capacity and processing mechanisms required for your business.