Community-Scale Composting Systems: A Comprehensive Practical Guide for Closing the Food System Loop and Solving Our Waste Crisis

by James Mcsweeney, Marguerite Manela (Foreword by)

Overview

Whether you’re an engineer, community organizer, permaculturalist, public sector waste manager, farmer, or just a dirt lover, Community-Scale Composting Systems is the definitive manual on composting.


Composting at scales large enough to capture and recycle the organic wastes of a given community, whether a school, neighborhood, or even a small city, is coming of age, propelled by a growing awareness not only of our food waste crisis, but also the need to restore natural fertility in our soils. In-depth yet accessible, Community-Scale Composting Systems is a technical resource for farmers, designers, service providers, organics recycling entrepreneurs, and advocates of all types, with a focus on developing the next generation of organics recycling infrastructure that can enable communities to close the food-soil loop in their local food systems.

The main scope of the book is dedicated to compost system options and design, from basic sizing and layout to advanced techniques such as aerated static pile composting. Management techniques and operational considerations are also covered, including testing, feedstock characteristics, compost recipe development, and system-specific best management practices.

Though focused on recycling systems that include food scraps—the fastest growing sector of community-scale composting—the book is informed by and relevant to other composting sectors and will be a vital resource for anyone invested in diverting organic materials away from landfilling and incineration.

Topics covered include:

• Community-scale models
• Estimating organics from individual generators and whole communities
• Food scrap collection
• Compost system sizing
• Aerated static pile (ASP) systems design
• In-vessel systems selection
• Integrating animals with composting
• Compatibility with compost heat recovery, vermicomposting, and other specialized methodologies
• Composting best management practices
• Nuisance management
• Mitigating persistent herbicides
• End uses, marketing, and sales
  
  “This book provides a good and detailed consideration of the broad range of possible approaches and challenges to community aspirations to feed the soil while mitigating wastefulness. If you are thinking of rescuing wasted food in your community, you would be well advised to start by reading this book.”—Karl Hammer, founder and president, Vermont Compost Company

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781603586542
Publisher:	Rizzoli
Publication date:	01/17/2019
Pages:	464
Product dimensions:	8.37(w) x 10.29(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

James McSweeney is a composting consultant and educator. Through his work at the Highfields Center for Composting and current consultancy, Compost Technical Services, James has worked with hundreds of composters, large and small, on everything from site planning, design, and management to compost heat recovery and livestock feeding systems. He coauthored Growing Local Fertility: A Guide to Community Composting and has been an ardent proponent and collaborator in the community composting movement in the United States. With a background in agroecology and permaculture, restoring ecological integrity to our local farm and food systems is at the heart of James’s work. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Amanda, and three kids.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction: Recycling Organics at the Community Scale 1

Community-Scale Composting 2

What is Compost? 4

Defining This Book's Focus 5

Making Waste Management Compatible with Our Food System 7

How To Use This Book 8

Whose Book Is This? 10

Chapter 1 Common Models in Community-Scale Composting 11

Model Components 12

10 Common Models 16

Chapter 2 Composting Methods and Technologies 35

Turned Windrows 36

Bin and Bay Systems 37

Aerated Static Pile Composting 38

Passively Aerated Static Pile 39

In-Vessel Composting 39

Vermicomposting 41

Static Pile 42

Food Scraps as Animal Feed, and Composting with Animals 42

Compost Heat Recovery 44

Anaerobic Digestion 45

Food Scrap Dehydrators 45

Pulping and Flushing Equipment 46

Community-Scale Food Scrap Collection 47

System Compatibility and Comparison 50

Chapter 3 The Composting Process 51

Managed versus Non-Managed Systems 51

Decomposers' Basic Needs: Food, Air, Water, and Warmth 52

Air 53

Temperature 56

The Phases of Composting 58

Chapter 4 Compost Recipe and Feedstocks 65

Compost Recipe and Feedstock Characteristics 65

Moisture Content 68

Bulk Density 73

Porosity 77

Other Key Factors in Compost Recipes and Feedstocks 79

Compost Recipe Development 83

Feedstocks 90

Avoiding and Managing Contamination 103

Chapter 5 Processing Capacity and Site Assessment 113

Compost Site Processing Capacity and System Scale 114

Compost Site Budgeting and Business Planning 120

Finding and Evaluating a Location 126

Choosing a Composting Method 127

Regulatory Assessment and Compliance 127

Chapter 6 Compost Site Infrastructure and Equipment 131

Compost Site Infrastructure Components 131

Food Scrap Receiving and Blending Areas, and Equipment 132

Drop-Off Areas for Leaves and Yard Debris 144

Feedstock Storage and Management 144

Active Composting Areas (Primary and Secondary) 149

Finishing, Curing, and Storing Compost 155

Finalizing Site Scale 159

Additional Infrastructure 159

Compost Site Equipment 159

Hacking Equipment, Infrastructure, and Functionality 164

Chapter 7 Bin and Bay Composting Systems 165

Common Applications for Small Bin Composting Systems 165

Common Applications for Larger Bay Composting Systems 167

Standard Bin and Bay System Design 167

Chapter 8 Turned Windrow Composting Systems 185

Common Applications for Turned Windrow Compost Systems 185

Meeting Temperature Requirements 187

Pile Turning Methods and Equipment 187

Windrows in Space and Time (Planning Your Turned Windrow Operation) 196

Chapter 9 Aerated Static Pile Composting Systems 203

Common Applications for ASP 204

ASP Benefits and Drawbacks 204

ASP System Strategy and Design 209

Designing Biofilters 251

Building the ASP and Biofilter Manifold 259

Testing ASP Design Performance 261

ASP Compost Pile Construction 263

Managing ASP Composting 268

Chapter 10 In-Vessel Composting Systems 273

Common Applications for In-Vessel Composters 273

Benefits, Challenges, and Considerations with In-Vessel 275

Common Styles of In-Vessel Composters 277

Self-Made In-Vessel Systems 281

Commercially Available In-Vessel Systems 286

Chapter 11 Composting with Animals 287

Common Applications for Composting with Animals 288

Safety and Regulation 291

Animal Feed as Highest Use 292

Nutritional Value of Food Scraps as Animal Feed 293

Systems for Composting with Animals 294

Sizing a System for Composting with Chickens 308

Chapter 12 Food Scrap Generation and Collection 315

Vertical Integration: Collection and Composting 315

Collection Service Area and Scale 316

Estimating Generation, Capture, Participation, and Diversion Rates 318

The Act of Collection 324

Other Collection Fundamentals 329

Collection Equipment 337

Generator Training and Education 347

Chapter 13 Compost Site Management 349

Compost Operator Training 349

Institutionalizing Composting and Compost Best Management Practices 350

Sourcing and Capturing Raw Materials 351

Compost Recipe Development 354

Food Scrap Receiving and Blending 354

Pile Formation 359

Compost Pile Monitoring and Management 360

Quality Control Standards 374

Chapter 14 Compost End Uses and Markets 381

Compost Applications and Benefits 382

Compost Marketing and Sales 391

Appendix A Compost Systems Overview, Capacity, and Requirement Tables 401

Appendix B Compost Pile Monitoring Logs 414

Resources 417

Notes 419

Index 429

Editorial Reviews

With Community-Scale Composting Systems, James McSweeney makes a powerful contribution to the growth of our organics recycling movement. Easy to read, the book is chock full of practical information folks can use to get started or to grow their operation. As a card-carrying member of what James calls the Cult of Compost, I highly recommend it.”—Cary Oshins, associate director, US Composting Council

“Community-Scale Composting Systems is far and away the best reference on composting at the community scale. Indeed, it is one of the best references about composting altogether. The book’s range is impressive, offering current and practical advice to practitioners of many applications of composting, from small, on-site systems to larger systems that border on commercial scale. Community-scale and on-site composting are often the most logical and most sustainable options for managing organic residuals, especially food waste. Mr. McSweeney comprehensively covers this important recycling niche within this useful and enjoyable book.”—Robert Rynk, professor, SUNY Cobleskill

“If agriculture is to transition away from a dependence on petroleum-based fertilizers to local fertility sources in a meaningful way, then we will need to relearn the art of using our neighbors’ leaves, grasses, manures, and other ‘wastes’ to fuel our farms. This book shows how to do just that on a community scale. It is the most urgent and important work I know of, and McSweeney explains it better than anyone.”—Ben Hartman, author of The Lean Farm and The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables

“Too often we hear that food waste cannot be diverted from landfills and incinerators due to lack of composting facilities. Community-Scale Composting Systems debunks that myth by providing a much-needed roadmap for how to compost successfully at a community scale. Micro-composting is now the fastest growing segment of the composting industry and will undoubtedly grow even faster with this resource.”—Brenda Platt, director, Composting for Community Initiative, Institute for Local Self-Reliance

“James has written an almost encyclopedic handbook to address the needs of small- to medium-sized community compost efforts. This book provides a good and detailed consideration of the broad range of possible approaches and challenges to community aspirations to feed the soil while mitigating wastefulness. If you are thinking of rescuing wasted food in your community, you would be well advised to start by reading this book.”—Karl Hammer, founder and president, Vermont Compost Company

“Community-Scale Composting Systems is a well-written and organized practical guide to the diverse systems used for food waste composting. It presents community collection program examples; methods for the design of small- to large-scale composting facilities; and the properties used to characterize feedstocks, the composting process, and finished composts. Detailed case studies are used to describe creative and successful circular food systems. It is essential reading for ‘rotstars’ committed to understanding and mastering the complexities of organics recycling.”—Frederick C. Michel, Jr., professor of biosystems engineering, The Ohio State University

“As composting is increasingly being adopted by neighborhoods, farms, community gardens, schools, businesses, and entrepreneurs, James McSweeney’s timely book provides comprehensive information to help them effectively recycle organic waste into soil amendments that can be used to grow more food. McSweeney’s in-depth guide provides the answers needed to design and manage successful composting operations.”—Rhonda Sherman, author of The Worm Farmer’s Handbook

“Community-Scale Composting Systems taps into James McSweeney’s experience as both a community composting practitioner and educator. His guidance and how-to tips are invaluable to newcomers and old-timers alike.”—Nora Goldstein, editor, BioCycle

From the Publisher