[USCC] Composting shrimp and other seafood wastes

[Chaney, Rufus]

Dear Bill and Listserve participants:

 

Several groups have composted different seafood wastes including fish
processing and shellfish processing wastes. These wastes are often rich
in N and need C-rich structural materials in the feedstock mix such as
wood chips or straw. But it always composted easily due to the
availability of energy and nutrients.

 

I responded because when one is composting shellfish byproducts, one
needs to keep in mind that cadmium may be very high compared to most
agricultural composts. Although scallop wastes were readily composted in
Japan, the Cd present exceeded their limits. Shrimp, oyster, lobster,
crab, etc., byproducts and wastes are usually rich in Cd and may require
consideration or special permitting. If the Cd:Zn ratio if favorable (it
usually is due to simultaneous high Zn in these seafood materials), then
the shellfish wastes can be composted with manure and C feedstocks which
dilute the Cd and retain the N from the shellfish input.

 

If one anticipates this shellfish Cd issue, one can deal with it easily
and produce high quality composts for any use.

 

Regards,

 

Rufus Chaney

Beltsville, MD

 

Rufus L. Chaney, Ph.D.

USDA-Agricultural Research Service

Environmental Management & By-Product Utilization Lab

Bldg. 007, Room 013, BARC-West

Beltsville, MD  20705-2350

Phone: 301-504-8324

Fax: 301-504-5048

New email: Rufus.Chaney at ars.usda.gov