Here at XACT Systems, we are regularly asked about amendments for composting organic waste. Will I need them? What will I use? How much will I use? You get the picture.
The short answer is…it depends (not useful information). The long answer is that amendments are required when the C:N ratio of the waste itself is not close to the ideal ratio of 25:1. When this is the case, which amendment to use and how much is calculated using the C:N ratio of the amendment in conjunction with that of the waste. The website of Cornell University Composting website is an excellent resource in general and specifically has an index of a multitude of amendments and their typical characteristics (originally developed by the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Services ). Or save yourself some time, and let me send you this Table as a PDF.
Just as important from a business stand point, the amendment you most want to use is the one where it costs you nothing to obtain it, or better yet, one that you are being paid to dispose of for a 3rd party.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss your particular composting challenges and how the in-vessel rotating BioReactor by XACT can serve your purposes. XACT Systems is dedicated to helping you acheive a SUCCESSFUL trouble-free, neighborhood-friendly composting process.
Many thanks. D
Waste handling companies, landfills, and waste haulers looking for strategies to help them define their future success, need to look no further than XACT’s rotating drum composting technology. This progressive composting technology can help the solid waste industry adapt to and take advantage of the regulations requiring organics diversion from landfills that are popping up like dandelions all over the country. Some see these reg’s as the proverbial Black Cloud, but the in-vessel BioReactor is the Silver Lining. The BioReactor by XACT can allow you to capitalize BIG TIME by converting the solid organic waste into very good compost, in very short order, on very little land. Consider this opportunity and you will be able to define your companies future as S-U-C-C-E-S-S!
An in-vessel composting system from XACT requires so little land that the cost of land per se is hardly a factor when calculating the overall costs. Isn’t that good news in those regions of the country where land, taxes etc. etc. are high. Or, for those operations where there is just no more land available. Actually, it is just good PERIOD.
So, you want to compost organic waste in an in-vessel rotating drum composter. Great! While you are checking around for a vessel to purchase, there are 2 things you need to keep in mind in order to calculate the real capacity of any composting vessel:
1. Where is the waste being input in the vessel? Typically, conventional composting vessels must have the infeed in the center of one end of the vessel and you can only fill the vessel to this level. Logic will tell you that the vessel can only be filled to 50% of the total capacity.
The XACT Vessel is different because the infeed is in the top left quadrant of the end vessel and this is accomplished because the
Infeed is located at the top left of the end of the vessel.
end of the vessel itself does not turn as do conventional composting vessels. This means the vessel can be filled to 70% capacity. That is 20% more!
2. The formula to calculate the capacity of any vessel is:
pi x L x r x r
pi= 3.141
L= length of the vessel
r = radius (the measurement from the centre of the vessel to the side; take the diameter and divide by 2)
So let’s try an example using a vessel that is 8′ diameter x 40′ long and we want our answer to be in cubic yards:
3.141 x 40′ x 4′ x 4′ = 2010.24 cubic feet.
Take the measurements of the vessel
2010.24 cubic feet divided by 27 = 74.45 cubic yards
Now, take in to account whether the vessel is capable of being filled to 50% its capacity or 70%.
50% of 74.45 cubic yards = 37.22 cubic yards
70% of 74.45 cubic yards = 52.11 cubic yards.
The XACT 8′ x 40′ composting vessel will hold a 14.89 (52.11 – 37.22) more cubic yards than a conventional 8′ x 40′ composting vessel.
So, now you know! Please get in touch with us to help you get your project under way. Many thanks. Doreen
This in-vessel rotating drum composter is composting food waste, and interestingly enough, the amendment being used in horse manure. The operators of this facility know that in order to get good quality compost out, they need to put the right blend of feedstocks in. The constraints of the blend consists of: 1) a proper percentage of moisture and 2) the correct proportion of Carbon to Nitrogen. Because the food waste stream on its own did not meet these constraints, there would need to be an amendment added to the food waste. The horse manure was available and also needed to be disposed of, so this composting facility determined the right blend of these 2 waste streams, and are now indeed, producing very good compost. No less than a triple win!
In-Vessel Rotating Drum BioReactor
Check out the new website with the new video of the XACT BioReactor for making compost from waste. Please feel free to contact us and ask for the full length video to show your colleagues and/or boss. It could be the best move you make for the success of your company and you!