[USCC] Land required

[Matthew Cotton]

Nestor -

How much land you need depends on a number of factors. These include 
the method of composting (for example, windrow versus aerated static 
pile, etc) how and if you will turn the piles, the type of equipment 
you are using, and the intensity of management you propose. Assuming 
you are proposing a windrow facility, the size of the windrows and the 
retention time (how long from start to finish) are the two main 
variables. You will also want to account for additional space for 
receiving, processing, storage, equipment storage, parking, screening, 
etc.

There are a number of relatively simple calculations available to help 
you plan your site. Check out the On-Farm Composting Handbook, some of 
which is excerpted here:

http://www.css.cornell.edu/compost/OnFarmHandbook/onfarm_TOC.html

You may also want to review a recent article by Will Bakx and Jan Allen 
in the September 2006 issue of BioCycle Magazine "Increasing Feedstock 
Throughput On a Smaller Footprint". While this article primarily deals 
with aerated static pile composting, it discusses some of the variables 
you will want to consider.

Of course, the USCC membership includes a number of consultants who 
could hep you design and size your site (or review your calculations). 
Check out:

http://www.compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=21#Other

Hope this is useful. In over 20 years of working with and for the 
composting industry, I have yet to come across an operator who has too 
much space.

Matthew Cotton
Integrated Waste Management Consulting, LLC
19375 Lake City Road
Nevada City, CA  95959
(530) 265-4560
Fax (530) 265-4547
mattcotton at mindspring.com

Join us at the US Composting Council's 16th Annual Conference & Trade 
Show, February 8 - 12th, 2008 at the Oakland Marriott City Center, 
Oakland, California.  Check it out at www.compostingcouncil.org

On Feb 15, 2007, at 6:59 PM, Nestor Alvarado wrote:

> Participate in the Annual Compost Awareness Week May 6, 2007 to May 
> 12, 2007
>
> This year's theme is "The Possibilities are Endless ... Compost!"
>
> For more info, go to: http://compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=25
>
> Or Call the USCC at 631-737-4931
>
>
>
> Dear, Composter
>
> I need to figured out how much land is required to compost 155,125 
> tons of
> yard waste per year.
> I have an estimate but need to make sure is accurate.
> Thank You.
>