[USCC] Composting animal blood

[William (Bill) Carter]

Hi John,
 
I'm a TCEQ colleague in OCE, Water Quality Monitoring & Assessment (Bldg B, Rm 1038A, x6771). I follow the USCC list * it's a great place to pose questions like yours. 
 
Scott McCoy (Small Business & Environmental Assistance) and I have worked a lot with compost and may sometimes be able to help with questions like this. I don't have literature specifically on handling livestock blood as a feedstock. I haven't come across any data indicating risks with composting blood beyond those associated with composting biosolids, animal carcasses, and/or paunch manure. The exceptionally high CBOD of blood is an issue for wastewater treatment but not for composting. Blood doesn't seem to be one of the "specified risk materials" for BSE.
 
I inserted a few responses to your questions below.
 
Please let me know if I can be of further help.
 
            - Bill Carter
 
 
 
 
Bill Carter
Water Quality Monitoring & Assessment    MC 165
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX  78711-3087
Phone:  512-239-6771
Fax:  512-239-4410
wcarter at tceq.state.tx.us

>>> JDemaree at tceq.state.tx.us 12/20/2006 1:36 PM >>>

U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW
Wyndham Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007
The National forum for those involved in the development and expansion of the composting and organics recycling industry
CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION FORMS, WORKSHOP AGENDAS,
EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE USCC WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE USCC AT 631-737-4931 


As a regulator for the State of Texas I am wondering what are the
problems/dangers inherent in composting blood?  I believe that there are
concerns about the growth of pathogens, though good composting
techniques should put this in check.
The proposal is for animal blood from a slaughterhouse to be composted
with woodchips, animal manure, paunch manure and cotton burrs.

Should there be decontamination of windrow turning equipment?
It would be preferable, after equipment contact with blood or paunch manure and before use with composting material at later stages of processing. 
Should this be done on an impermeable pad?
The site should not allow rapid infiltration to ground water. More important, the site should contain, control, and treat or use any runoff.
How often should this compost be turned?
This is an issue primarily of odor control vs. release of aerosols from a fluid material like blood. If handled in open piles/windrows, the need to aerate and prevent release of anaerobic decomposition gasses needs to be weight against release of wind-borne aerosols containing untreated pathogens from frequent early flailing of the material. Some guides recommend mixing high-odor material like fish waste with bulking agents and leaving them in an odor-absorbing "envelope" (sublayer and cover) such as wood chips or maybe cotton gin trash, allowing the decomposition of odor and vector-attraction potential to occur in partially anaerobic conditions while effectively containing odors until the material becomes passively aerated. After a few week, when probing the material indicates reduced odor, the timed aerobic phase of turning the compost would begin. 
Any special requirements for pathogen testing?
Not to my knowledge.
Extra control for vectors such as flies?
Not significantly different from paunch manure. See note about turning above for one possible approach.
'Special' odor problems?
Not to my knowledge.
How do you add blood to a woodchip pile and not have some of it 'run'
right through?
Another writer noted the use of a bed of wood grinding fines; sawdust is also sometimes used as a pre-mix material to absorb free liquid before introduction to the windrow. Cotton gin trash is pretty absorbent but may be a little too porous to prevent leaching through.

I know that's quite a list of questions, but if you know of any other
concerns I would greatly appreciate the input!

Thanks in advance for any information.

Sincerely,




John Demaree, MS
Program Specialist II
TCEQ - MSW Permits Section
512 239-1268
_______________________________________________