1. Advancing Waste Diversion through Innovation
Joe Suleyman
New Hanover County
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

2. Food Waste
According to a 2016 Guardian report, Americans throw away 60 million tons of food a year. =
One half of all produce in the United States.
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

3. Our solution: In-Vessel Composting
8’ x 40’ enclosed system
Grinder/mixer
Temperature controlled
75 yd3 capacity, 3-5 day
residence time for PFRP
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

4. Why In-Vessel?
Space constraints – entire operation fits on a 80’ X 90’ pad
Enclosed system – no leachate to manage
Enclosed system – no odor complaints
Scalable – start out small and grow your capacity as
demand grows and resources become available
Computer controlled – turning, air injection, temperature
Compost achieves PFRP and VAR in as little as days
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

5. The process Permit application submitted January 2016
Lined up food waste – UNCW’s Wagoner Dining Hall
Issued RFPs. Received 4 bids
Submitted grant request to NC DEACS
Board of Commissioner approval for contract. Project cost,
including concrete pad, buildings, compost unit, and
electrical was $686K
6. Construction began July 2017
7. Installation and training November 8 – 15. Start-up 11/15
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

6. Construction Lot graded and compacted by our Department staff.
Concrete piers
being formed for
supporting the
composter unit
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

7. Construction Initial form work and 8” x 8” pilings set
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

8. Construction Initial concrete pour. Composter
piers are visible, electrical conduit
embedded and stubbed up.
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

9. Construction Composter building, mixing building, and
curing building all
framed up. The
mixing building is
where food waste
is received.
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

10. Construction Compost equipment arrived on two trailer loads. The main
composter unit weighs
44,000 lbs. Install
Start scheduled for 11/8
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

11. Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) & e-Waste
Last fiscal year, New Hanover County residents delivered 686,000 pounds of HHW and e-Waste to the county’s facility.
Residents loved the program, which is open six days a week, but the location was too far out of the way for many users.
Our solution……the HazWagon!
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

12. Isn’t she gorgeous??? Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

13. The basics: The HazWagon sets up one day per week in three different
locations: Wrightsville Beach, Ogden Park, and Carolina Beach.
These 3 locations, plus the main facility, offer convenient
locations for residents to access services.
The HazWagon accepts the same materials as the main facility,
and brings it back to the main facility for processing.
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017

14.
Department of Environmental Management
October 2017