COMPOST
PROCESSING

Keep Contaminants Out Of Your Compost

To produce high quality compost, inorganic waste contaminants must be removed

What is Compost?

Compost is simply organic matter that has been naturally and biologically decomposed. The presence of contaminants such as plastic or glass can ruin the quality and, ultimately, the value of a batch of compost. Clean, quality compost does not contain contaminants or smelly odors and is used as fertilizer and soil enrichment.

What Materials Can Be Processed?

Compost can be produced from almost any organic material, including commercial and household food waste, green waste (yard clippings and debris, branches, and trimmings), agricultural waste, and animal waste, including manure and even carcasses.

Why Compost Commercially?

Composting helps divert organic waste from landfills, saving money on tipping fees while helping to minimize harmful methane gas production. Quality compost is a high-demand product with tremendous profit potential. Compost naturally returns valuable nutrients to the soil, helping to maximize the quality, water retention and regrowth fertility of the soil.

What is Komptech’s Process for Commercial Compost Production?

Our simple, four-step process maximizes finished compost quality and process efficiency.

1. STEP 1: SHRED FOR BETTER AIRFLOW — Low-speed shredding vs. high-speed grinding of green and organic waste is the first step in a successful composting process. Using a low-speed, high-torque shredder, like the Komptech Crambo, on the front end creates a product with greater surface area. This helps create better aeration and porosity in the windrow and makes the downstream removal of contaminants much easier and more effective.
2. STEP 2: MIX THE PERFECT WINDROW — Creating tall, peaked windrows is integral to a successful composting process. Komptech Topturn X turners are engineered to efficiently mix the row from the outside to the inside, leaving behind a windrow with a desired “chimney effect”. This provides the optimum porosity and pile structure to increase temperatures, reduce composting times, and minimize odors.
3. STEP 3: SCREEN FOR UNIFORMITY — Screening compost helps ensure a high-quality, uniform product. Screen with either a trommel screen or a star screen, depending on what the input material is. Trommel screens, like the Komptech Nemus 2700, are built for heavy, abrasive materials often found in topsoil. Star screens, such as the Komptech Multistar XL3, are built to process wet material and organics.
4. STEP 4: REMOVE CONTAMINANTS FOR QUALITY — The final step is the removal of contaminants. It becomes difficult to sell when glass, plastic, stones, and other materials that don’t decompose are found in compost. It’s best to utilize separation technology such as the Komptech Hurrikan S windsifter, which removes materials like film plastics, ferrous metals and stones, and other round contaminants.