In this area, materials of sufficient salvage value are manually separated, removed, and stockpiled for sale to scrap dealers and recycling markets. After leaving the picking belt, the material enters a mixing drum where sewage sludge, water or other liquid organic wastes are added to provide bacteria, moisture and additional organic material for composting. Next, the mixture is ground to increase surface area and homogenize the flow for efficient bacterial action. The ground mixture moves by conveyor to the first of six rectangular cells. The cells also contain unique construction features.
Conveyors advance the ground refuse through the cells.
After processing in the first cell, the material reaches a temperature of approximately 145 degrees F and falls by gravity onto the reverse flow belt of the second cell. In the second cell, temperatures reach approximately 155 degrees F before the material tumbles into the third cell, where temperatures reach approximately 170 degrees F as thermophilic bacteria develop to take the place of the mesophilic bacteria which operate in the lower temperatures in the first two cells. After the natural decomposition process that takes place in the first three cells, the material again enters a grinder to further reduce particle size and open more pore space for the bacteria to attack. After this secondary grinding, the partialIy composted refuse moves by conveyor to the final three cells. When the material exits the final cell, it is ground for a third time to achieve final particle size.