1. Alternative Waste Management: Composting
General and Special Uses
Dr. Lynne Carpenter-Boggs
BIOAg Coordinator
WSU CSANR
Sustainable
BIOAg
Organic
Biologically-
Intensive

2. BIOAg BIOAg = Organic and/or bio-intensive, if it’s sustainable.
Organic agriculture: A legally defined and regulated practice that focuses on use of natural materials & non-use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
Biologically Intensive: using
renewable biological materials &
processes.
Sustainable: Producing high quantity and quality food & fiber with long-term economic, environmental, & social viability.
Organic
Sustainable
Biologically-
Intensive
BIOAg

3. Composting Advantages Reduces odors Volume reduction
Nutrient concentration
May result in a marketable product
Potential income by incorporating other waste streams
Reduced pathogens
Relatively simple
Disadvantages
Requires two handling systems – liquid and solid
Does NOT address excess nutrient problem
May not have an available market for product
Composting does not reduce the amount of nutrients that needs to be utilized. In order to address that problem, it must be moved off the production site. This is only feasible if there is a market for the product.

4. What is composting? Decomposition en masse
The transformation process is similar to that which occurs in every topsoil
Transformation of raw materials
biologically
chemically
physically
Bacterial and fungal activity
thermophilic = heat-loving organisms
Microaerobic = not fully aerobic, not anaerobic

5. Finished compost with humic matter
Composting is a biological process wherein organic raw materials or “feedstocks” are transformed by organism activities into a stabilized soil-like material called compost.
Heat
CO2
Raw materials
Organic matter
Oxygen
Water
Microbes
Finished compost with humic matter

6. Compost Temperature active phase curing phase Time Temperature
Tremendous microbial activity produces heat.
Thermophiles
At ~130 F, most plant and animal pathogens and weed seeds die.
130 F 
active phase
Temperature
curing phase
Time

7. Good compost builds rich topsoil
Complex humic acids (humus) form.
Composted material is darker, particles are smaller and softer, texture is fine like good topsoil.
Good compost is often unrecognizably different from its feedstocks.
No unpleasant odor, no undecomposed material, and stable in long-term storage.
Approx. ½ of C, volume, and mass have been lost but most nutrients were retained.

8. Create a Composting Environment
Factor OK range Optimum
C:N 20:1 – 50: :1
Moisture 40 – 65% 50 – 60%
Oxygen >5% >>5%
pH – – 8
Particle size 1/8 – ½” varies

9. Material C:N ratio Animal carcass 5:1 Soil humus 10:1 Young grasses
Narrow or low C:N
Animal carcass
5:1
Energy materials
Soil humus
10:1
Young grasses :1
Balanced materials
Manure :1
Wheat straw
80:1
Bulking materials
Tree leaves :1
Wood
400:1
Wide or high C:N

10. Passive composting pile
Temperature will rise, stabilize, slowly drop.
Minimal management
Inconsistent results.

11. Aerated Windrow Composting
Composting is an effective treatment method to deal with separated solids or poultry litter. It can be done on an open or roofed impermeable pad using a windrow procedure as shown here, or it may be done in a container (in vessel composting). Emphasize the point that composting is an aerobic process and sufficient oxygen must be supplied by one method or another to keep the microorganisms alive.
Composting stabilizes nutrients and reduces odors and pathogens. It results in an excellent soil conditioner. However, it is relatively low in nutrient concentration per unit volume and cannot be transported long distances economically. In order for this treatment process to be effective, there must be a viable market nearby or there must be a high potential to develop one.
Perforated
pipe
Blower
NRCS National Engineering Handbook Part 637 -Chapter 2 Composting

12. Compost Temperature – Passive or static system
130 F 
active phase
Temperature
curing phase
Time

13. Turned composting
Heavy equipment used to mix compost every days

14. Compost Temperature – Turned System
When compost no longer reheats after turning, curing begins.
Decomposition continues to slow, but never really ends.
130 F 
turn
turn
turn
Temperature
active
curing
Time

15. Composting Bins Speaker Notes:
Here is a composting bin that is typical among broiler and turkey operations.
A base layer of carbon material, or poultry litter is placed on the floor. Then dead birds are placed in the composter, and topped with additional litter or carbon material. Dead animals should not be piled on each other, or placed within 6 inches of the wall – to prevent seepage. As the bin fills up, additional “slats” or front retaining boards are put in place to maximize the use of space.
Once this PRIMARY bin is full, it is then “turned” or moved to the adjacent SECONDARY bin. The SECONDARY bin may or may not be moved to a THIRD bin. This all depends on the time between turns and the size of the composter.
Note the optional steel plates that were installed to protect the front columns from over zealous or non-attentive farm workers.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Settler, D Mortality Management. Lesson 51 - National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum. Midwest Plan Service and US EPA.
Suggested Learning Exercise:

16. 4-bin composter - Iowa Speaker Notes:
Over the past 20 years mortality composters have taken many shapes and sizes to meet the needs and desires of the producers.
This bin composter in Iowa doesn’t use a front retaining wall but has installed concrete bin dividers.
Required Course Materials:
Example CNMP
Supplemental Resources:
Settler, D Mortality Management. Lesson 51 - National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum. Midwest Plan Service and US EPA.
Suggested Learning Exercise:

17. Compost quality determines its best use
3 primary uses for compost:
potting soil (best quality required)
soil amendment, turf topdressing
mulch (esp. for compost with C:N>25)
The closer the plant contact (in space and time), the greater the quality and maturity must be. Lower quality composts may be used as mulch, or less mature compost may be incorporated in soil several months prior to planting.

18. Special-use compost: livestock bedding
Starting and ending materials have higher C:N
Some “high energy” feedstock necessary for producing high temperature
Larger particle sizes ok
Final product drier (25-40% moisture)
Compost as bedding may reduce mastitis

19. Specialized composting: livestock carcass disposal
Not rocket science, but must be done right
Some high carbon feedstock necessary for collecting moisture, odor, balancing the high-N carcass
Composting saves money and nutrients

20. Mortality is a Waste Management Issue
A carcass is a concentrated source of organic matter
it is a source of odors
it is a source of undesirable critters
it is a potential source of pathogens
it is a source of nutrients
Thus, the mortality problems are similar to manure problems
Speaker Notes:
Managing mortalities is vary similar to the issues we have been discussing related to manure and nutrient management. Mortalities, if improperly handled, are a source of odor, rodents and other critters, potential pathogens, and nutrients.
Required Course Materials:
Example CNMP
Supplemental Resources:
Settler, D Mortality Management. Lesson 51 - National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum. Midwest Plan Service and US EPA.
Suggested Learning Exercise:

21. Planning for the Impossible...
Natural disasters can and do happen
Flooding (IA, 1993 & NC, 2000)
Heat Waves (CA, 2005)
Snow (Blizzard of 1993)
millions of broilers and chicks lost to building collapse and loss of power for heating
Whole herds may be destroyed
Speaker Notes:
There are only two things in this nation that are inevitable…death and taxes. This holds true in the area of livestock production. Managing mortalities, be it one animal or the catastrophic loss of 20,000 broilers, it is not something that comes foremost in the planning process of any new or existing facility. But emergencies happen and diseases happen. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards or avian influenza have and will continue to inflict small and large losses to the animal industry. However, with prior emergency action planning we can hope to minimize these losses and with proper mortality management we can prevent the spread of diseases or impact to the environment.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Settler, D Mortality Management. Lesson 51 - National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum. Midwest Plan Service and US EPA.
Suggested Learning Exercise:

22. Responding to tragedy Speaker Notes:
When the flood waters receded producers and state regulators were left trying to deal with the tremendous loss of animals, the temperatures rose into the 90s and the threat of another hurricane loomed in the Caribbean. Thoughts quickly focused on how to quickly remove these carcasses from barns before diseases began to spread or leach into the groundwater.
Required Course Materials:
Example CNMP
Supplemental Resources:
Settler, D Mortality Management. Lesson 51 - National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum. Midwest Plan Service and US EPA.
Suggested Learning Exercise:
PRESENTER NOTES
Key Discussion Topics:
Discussion Question:
What provisions need to be taken ahead of time to prevent the severe loss of animal?
References:
LPES Lesson 50: page 8
LPES Lesson 51, Mortality Management

23. Passive Piles or Windrows
Place the carcass on >24” high-carbon base to absorb moisture & allow airflow
Speaker Notes:
Passive Composters are designed for larger animals where the carcasses will be placed and allowed to decompose and compost without turning the pile for mixing.
In this slide, the producer uses old round bales to provide structure to the system. First a 12- to 18-inch layer of carbon material (bark, wood chips) is placed on top of the ground. Then the carcass is placed in the center. Carcasses should not be placed within 1 foot of the edge of piles. Cover the carcass with 2 feet of carbon material and moisten.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Settler, D Mortality Management. Lesson 51 - National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum. Midwest Plan Service and US EPA.
Suggested Learning Exercise:

24. Cover the Carcass, Build the Pile
Minimum 24”
co-composting material around the carcass to help decompose, discourage critters, and allow airflow

25. WAIT -- Composting takes time
An active pile stays hot. This pile was F through December.
With carcasses, wait ~2-6 months before disturbing the pile

26. Typically only large bones are left identifiable after 2-6 months.
Re-compost these quickly.
Speaker Notes:
Composting and degradation of the carcass occurs fairly rapidly. After six weeks the only identifiable bones are typically skulls and hip bones. These bones that did not compost can either be discarded or recycled with a new carcass. Compost for mortality systems should be tilled into the ground within 12 hours of after application to reduce rodents and other vectors. Many producers have used simple screens to clean the compost before application.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Settler, D Mortality Management. Lesson 51 - National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum. Midwest Plan Service and US EPA.
Suggested Learning Exercise:

27. Allow 1-2 more composting periods
Temperature will rise again, but not as hot.

28. Special-use compost: organic agriculture
Moderate-to-high quality compost
Must follow special NOP regs:
Feedstock mix C:N must be 15 – 60:1
Temperature must reach 131 F at least 3 days
Turn or ensure that all parts of pile reach temp
Test for E. coli, Salmonella
Use a turned or aerated system, not passive
No biosolids, no prohibited materials used
If requirements not met, use as if it’s manure

29. Composting – It’s hot!