Module 9

Biological Treatment I-Composting

FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF MSWM

Primary collection

Secondary
collection
 Lecture 26
Types of composting-I
 A Brief History of Composting
 Humans have been composting for thousands of years. In ancient Mesopotamia, Rome, and Greece, there is evidence of composted
manure use in agriculture.
 In North America, there is evidence of Native Americans and settlers using a mix of decaying fish and soil to create compost.
 Sir Albert Howard is known as the father of modern composting methods, developed in the 1930s and 1940s, which utilize plant
matter, straw, and forest waste in addition to manure. This method is based on a traditional Indian composting system known as
the Indore method and helps deliver a wide array of nutrients to the soil.
 Compost is used not only to add nutrients to the soil, but also as an amendment to improve soil structure and add beneficial life to
soil. Using compost in this way helps to combat the negative effects of over-farming and chemical fertilization and insecticide use.

Source: https://naturesfootprint.com/community/articles/worm-composting-101/
 Conventional pile composting Direct/Trench composting
Source: Source:
https://www.globalverticalgardening.co https://www.veggiegardener.com/
m/composting/7-factors-needed-for-a- use-direct-composting-in-your-
garden/
compost-pile

Pit composting
Source: https://www.mygov.in/task/new-india-championship-
activities-make-your-own-compost-pit/
Cont..

 The early composting methods were

being refined in India, China, Malaysia,
and in other countries.

 Mechanization was developed for the

use of composting as a method for the
treatment and sanitary disposal of
municipal solid waste. These efforts
resulted in several mechanical
innovations.

 Some of the main objectives of these

processes were to improve the
aesthetics of the composting process by Earthen
enclosing the material in some type of pots
structure and to reduce the amount of
time required to stabilize the
composting material.
 Cont..
 Several experimental studies were conducted on
composting in a silo-type digester using mechanical
mixing.

ViroBlend™ Technology produced

compost that is now used on NADA’s
own land or marketed and sold to other
farmers. This compost is an excellent
additive to supply nutrients and improve
soil fertility.

Marigol solar composters designed by Prudent Eco Systems,

Bengaluru
Source: https://savitahiremath.com/2015/02/27/community-
composting-method-7-marigold-composter-for-an-efficient-solar-
solution/
COMPOST SYSTEMS
 Type of composting

 Low-Tech

→ Agitated ( Windrow)

 Mid-Tech

→ Aerated static pile

 High -Tech (In-Vessel)

→ Rotary Drum composter

→ Box/Tunnel composting
 Agitated/windrow composting

 Large volumes of diverse wastes such as yard trimmings, grease, liquids, and animal byproducts (such as fish and
poultry wastes) can be composted through this method.

Turned and static windrows

Source: http://userspecial.com/windrow-composting-
Photograph of a typical windrow composting process/
operation
 Windrow systems
 Static pile
 Agitated pile

Static piles (windrow composting)

Compost windrowSource: https://www.compost-
turners are used to mix and stir compost material
Self propelled windrow straddling composting machine
Compost windrow turners are used to mix and stir compost material
insystems.com/en/loesungen/offen-befestigt
commercial agitated composting operations. in commercial agitated composting operations.
Source: http://compostwindrowturner.blogspot.com/2017/01/self- Source: http://compostwindrowturner.blogspot.com/2017/01/self-
propelled-compost-turner.html propelled-compost-turner.html
Calculation of Total Area of Windrow Pad A. Total Volume for Feedstock.
Total volume of feedstock (ft3 or m3)
= [retention time (days) × rate of feedstock
delivery (lb/day or kg/day)] / bulk density (lb/ft3
or kg/m3)
B. Area Occupied Solely by Windrows.
Volume of each windrow (ft3 or m3) = cross-
sectional area (ft2 or m2) × length of windrow (ft
or m)
Cross-sectional area of Fig (a) (ft2 or m2) = base
(ft or m) × height (ft or m)
Cross-sectional area of Fig (b) (ft2 or m2) = π/4
× b (ft or m) × h (ft or m)
Cross-sectional area of Fig (c) (ft2 or m2) = 1 ⁄2
Areas for various potential cross sections for compost piles (a + b) (ft or m) × h (ft or m)
Cross-sectional area of Fig (d) (ft2 or m2) = 1
⁄2b (ft or m) × h (ft or m)
 Determining the number of windrows:

Number of windrows = total volume of feedstock (ft3 or m3) / volume per windrow (ft3 or m3 per windrow)

 Determining the area solely occupied by windrows:

Total windrow area (ft2 or m2) = number of windrows × area per windrow (ft2 or m2 per windrow)

C. Maneuvering Area

Area of space (ft2 or m2) = windrow/length (ft or m) × width of space (ft or m)

D. Total Area of Pad

The total pad area is the sum of the area required for the windrows plus that needed for maneuvering the
material (e.g., constructing windrows, turning the composting mass, water trucks, force aeration equipment,
etc.).
Mechanical windrow composting system with tractor and turnerStructure of the compost turner
Source: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-32373-8_3
Source: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-32373-8_3
Aeration in windrow systems

 Turned windrow aeration

 Forced aeration (Static pile)

Windrow arrangement for forced aeration

Industrial compost
Changes heap with forced
in temperature and pH aeration
duringpipes
a typical static composting
Source: http://compostingnews.com/2018/04/11/bc-district-to-open-food-
operation
waste-composting-facility-in-2019/
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Typical-temperature-curves-for-static-
composting-and-aerated-composting_fig2_279715396
Typical temperature curves for static composting and aerated Variation of pH with time during a typical composting
composting operation (after Gray and Biddlestone 1971)
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Typical-temperature- Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Typical-temperature-
curves-for-static-composting-and-aerated- curves-for-static-composting-and-aerated-
composting_fig2_279715396 composting_fig2_279715396
 ENHANCED COMPOSTING FEATURES

Static pile aeration

Source: https://wasteadvantagemag.com/organic-
recycling-second-of-two-parts-the-15-benefits-of-
aerated-static-pile-composting/

Agitated aerated pile composting

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/332492384964447705/ Automated Forced Aeration /Agitation /Moisture Addition
Source: https://www.bdpindustries.com/products/aeration/
Community level composting

Composting can take place at many levels – backyard, block, neighborhood, schoolyard,
community, and regional – and in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Fig. community
composting.
Source: https://ilsr.org/composting/what-is-community-composting/
If leachate becomes a problem, then
add dry leaves, grass clippings, yard
trimmings, etc.

Source:
https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/l
iquid-worm-juice-superfood-for-my-
organic-garden/
Managing Compost Over Winter

 Managing winter compost heap is same as any other time (with layers
of browns and greens).

 The best compost piles layer green kitchen scraps, fresh garden waste,
etc. with browns that include straw, newspaper and dead leaves.

Composting in cold weather

Composting in desert

Source:
https://tucson.com/lifestyles/home-and-
garden/your-guide-to-composting-in-the-
Windrows covered and aerated
desert/article_0dc12619-7310-54b5-b35f-
Source: http://www.atzwanger.net/en/references/
e8cdaf9123f9.html
THANK YOU