In-vessel Composting: Difference between revisions
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In-vessel composting is a means of treating food and garden waste in an enclosed environment which has accurate temperature control and monitoring<ref name="ivc">ttps://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/content/what-vessel-composting</ref>. IVC uses naturally occurring microbes which feed on organic material and require oxygen. IVC is a form of [[Aerobic Digestion]]. | In-vessel composting is a means of treating food and garden waste in an enclosed environment which has accurate temperature control and monitoring<ref name="ivc">ttps://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/content/what-vessel-composting</ref>. IVC uses naturally occurring microbes which feed on organic material and require oxygen. IVC is a form of [[Aerobic Digestion]]. | ||
==About== | |||
[[In-vessel Composting]] can occur in a variety of systems including: | [[In-vessel Composting]] can occur in a variety of systems including: | ||
Revision as of 13:17, 20 November 2019
In-vessel composting is a means of treating food and garden waste in an enclosed environment which has accurate temperature control and monitoring[1]. IVC uses naturally occurring microbes which feed on organic material and require oxygen. IVC is a form of Aerobic Digestion.
About
In-vessel Composting can occur in a variety of systems including:
- Containers
- Silos
- Agitated Bays
- Tunnels
- Rotating Drums
- Enclosed halls[1]
There are several differences between IVC and [Open Air Windrow Composting]:
- IVC can accept food waste as well as garden waste. The higher temperatures reached in IVC kills potentially harmful bacteria found in meat or other food waste which may have come in contact with meat[2].
- IVC occurs in a sealed unit rather than in the open. This means that materials can reach and consistently maintain high temperatures for the required minimum period of time and keeps the material away from outside influences such as weather and wildlife.[2]
Stages of an IVC[1]
Stage 1:
The food waste either collected separately or with garden waste is delivered to an enclosed reception area. Any contamination such as plastic bags, bits of metal etc are removed and the remaining material is shredded to a uniform size Homogeneous Waste. From there it is loaded into a first ‘barrier’ which will be a bay/tunnel etc depending on the system used. All the material delivered to a facility, plus the first barrier stage, is considered a ‘dirty area’ under ABPR. The regulations ensure that strict procedures are in place to prevent cross-contamination of ‘clean areas’ (where product is processed and stored) from ‘dirty areas’.
he composting process is kick-started by naturally occurring micro-organisms already in the waste. They break down the material, releasing the nutrients and in doing so they increase the temperature to the 60-70ºC needed to kill pathogens and weed seeds, and meet the regulations for processing ABP material.
Stage 2:
Stage two normally lasts between seven days and three weeks. The material is transferred to the second ‘barrier’, where the composting process continues. Processing in two stages ensures that all parts of the composting mass reaches the required temperature. The oxygen level, moisture and temperature are carefully monitored and controlled during both composting stages to ensure the material is fully sanitised.
Stage 3:
Once the sanitisation process is complete the compost is left to mature in an open windrow or an enclosed area for approximately 10-14 weeks to ensure stabilisation.
Screening
Screening usually takes place pre or post maturation, to produce a range of product grades suitable for various end uses such as soil conditioning[2].
The resulting product to come out of the process is compost. Provided it meets the required Quality Standard PAS100 the compost can be used by farmers as a soil conditioner.