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ACCESSION NO: 0411417 SUBFILE: CRIS

PROJ NO: 1265-21660-003-01R AGENCY: ARS 1265

PROJ TYPE: USDA INHOUSE PROJ STATUS: TERMINATED

START: 01 OCT 2006 TERM: 30 SEP 2010 FY: 2010

INVESTIGATOR: MILLNER P D

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:

Agricultural Research Service

BLDG 003 BARC W RM 331

BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND 20705-2351

FOOD RESIDUAL COMPOSTING IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS FOR ENERGY

PRODUCTION

OBJECTIVES: The proposed project seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of a local composting

project where food cafeteria residuals are composted using an in-vessel composting unit and a

static aerated pile system. This will allow for comparison of composting efficiency between the two

methods, allow for comparison of by-products generated and ease of capture of by-products from

both methods, and compare the most likely scenarios for urban composters, such as organic

grocery stores, and close-in farmers and nurseries. The former possibly using composting vessels

and the latter possibly using one and/or the other.

APPROACH: A concurrent in-vessel/static pile composting study in the Washington, D.C.

Metropolitan Area on federal cafeteria- and commercial facility-generated food residuals will be

conducted for 6-months to generate the following data and outcomes: data on the logistics of

composting in densely populated areas and associated costs; assessment and comparison of the

heat and gas by-product generation from the in-vessel compost unit and static aerated pile and

potential for use in heating other agriculturally related operations; high-quality compost for use in

local landscape and organic grower applications such as USDA-ARS?s National Arboretum in

downtown Washington, D.C.; and demonstration of composting in densely populated areas and

development of educational materials based on the demonstration. It is anticipated this would aid

potential composters in alleviating NIMBY concerns and could help to streamline the permitting

process.

PROGRESS: 2006/10 TO 2010/09

Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The proposed project seeks to demonstrate the

feasibility of a local composting project where food cafeteria residuals are composted using an

in-vessel composting unit and a static aerated pile system. This will allow for comparison of

composting efficiency between the two methods, allow for comparison of by-products generated

and ease of capture of by- products from both methods, and compare the most likely scenarios for

urban composters, such as organic grocery stores, and close-in farmers and nurseries. The former

possibly using composting vessels and the latter possibly using one and/or the other. Approach

(from AD-416) A concurrent in-vessel/static pile composting study in the Washington, D. C.

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Metropolitan Area on federal cafeteria- and commercial facility- generated food residuals will be

conducted for 6-months to generate the following data and outcomes: data on the logistics of

composting in densely populated areas and associated costs; assessment and comparison of the

heat and gas by-product generation from the in-vessel compost unit and static aerated pile and

potential for use in heating other agriculturally related operations; high-quality compost for use in

local landscape and organic grower applications such as USDA-ARS?s National Arboretum in

downtown Washington, D.C.; and demonstration of composting in densely populated areas and

development of educational materials based on the demonstration. It is anticipated this would aid

potential composters in alleviating NIMBY concerns and could help to streamline the permitting

process. This project on food composting and excess heat capture from an in-vessel process was

completed in Dec. 2010. The project identified hurdles involved with food waste collection,

transport, tip fee competition, and the need for sorting of metal, glass, plastic contaminants. One of

the results of this research showed that a small, mechanically aerated in- vessel system

constructed of metal (accommodating 600 lbs total compostable mix per day) and that used

ambient air to supply the aeration system, was not sufficiently insulated to retain heat produced by

the compost in both zones of the compost chamber during the coldest winter days. This contrasted

with static piles and forced-aeration compost piles prepared with the same feedstocks. Waste heat

capture from exhaust air of in-vessel compost systems also needs to be used on-site to optimize its

value for alternative purposes.

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2006/10 TO 2010/09

No publications reported this period.

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