[USCC] does composting remove chemicals, etc?

Wed Jun 25 10:44:19 CDT 2008

Ask your local municipality that is supplying biosolids for their analytical
results.  Better than wondering.  If you are receiving biosolids for land
application, ask for these before taking the product.  Then compare the
metals, pathogens, etc. against other products, and do not assume
non-biosolids have a non-detect for any of these without test results. 

In other words, ask, review, and compare as you would for any good
scientific investigation.  

Mike Archer
MJA Organics
414.897.6368
www.mjaorganics.com

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of PJ Binder
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 8:53 PM
To: 'Compost Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [USCC] does composting remove chemicals, etc?

Ok I see your point 
But with bio solids how do we know what is in it to start with and what it
ends up turning into?

PJ Binder Landscaping
po box 454
Broomall, PA 19008
pj.binder at verizon.net

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of john cossham
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 2:14 PM
To: Compost Discussion List
Subject: Re: [USCC] does composting remove chemicals, etc?

I may be accused of being pedantic, but EVERYTHING is made of 'chemicals' 
and therefore this thread is a bit meaningless to a chemist.  Some chemicals

are changed into others during composting, ie ammonia may be split into 
nitrogen and combine with O2 to make water vapour... and long-chain 
carbohydrates are degraded into sugars and fermented into carbon dioxide etc

etc, so when talking about 'chemicals' can you be more specific please?
Thanks!
John 'the composter' Cossham, York, UK

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lynda Brushett" <brushett at metrocast.net>
To: <compost at mailman.cloudnet.com>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 8:10 PM
Subject: [USCC] does composting remove chemicals, etc?

> Gary and others, If the manure goes through a digester, I understand 
> chemicals and pathogen are destroyed in the process,  meaning that  solids

> separated from the effluent are free of pathogens and  chemicals and in 
> turn produce a clean compost.   Is this not the  case?  Lynda
>
> On Jun 20, 2008, at 1:00 PM, compost-request at mailman.cloudnet.com wrote:
>> Today's Topics:
>>
>>    1. Does composting rid of chemicals in manure? (Will Brinton)
>>
>> From: Will Brinton <wfbr17 at woodsend.org>
>> Date: June 18, 2008 4:32:13 PM EDT
>> To: Compost Discussion List <compost at mailman.cloudnet.com>
>> Subject: [USCC] Does composting rid of chemicals in manure?
>> Reply-To: Compost Discussion List <compost at mailman.cloudnet.com>
>>
>>
>> Gary-
>>
>> did anyone reply to your concern?
>>
>> I just reviewed a research paper from the Institute of Hygiene and 
>> Public Health, Bonn, Germany. It concludes that many antibiotics in 
>> manure do survive in soil (after manure application) for up to 90  days, 
>> and are therefore "relatively stable". It is now well known    that these

>> could be uptaked by plants, and passed along the food  chain. Others are 
>> reported to have degraded rapidly. Composting  should be assumed to be 
>> similar to soil and possibly better  (i.e.composting is not necessarily 
>> faster in biodegradation).
>>
>> Interestingly, in the EU  annually about 15,000 tons of antibiotics  are 
>> administered to humans and animals, the non-metabolized  fraction of 
>> which will find its way via excretion into the  environment (mostly 
>> biosolids and released wastewater, and of  course manures). I am sure the

>> quantities used are probably higher  in the USA for animals, and I am not

>> sure for humans. Your concern  should be pursued until more information 
>> on composting is obtained.  See also the early forerunner paper (before 
>> use of antibiotics got  really intense):
>>
>> Vogtman, H.; W. Obrist, K. Hauser, H. P. P f i r t e r a n d F. 
>> Augstburger, 1978. Compost Science/Land Utilization. "Cornposting  and 
>> Plant Growth: Use o f c h i c k e n  M a n u r e  c o n t a i n  i n g  a

>> n t i b i o t i c s "
>> Will Brinton
>>
>> Gary Bright wrote:
>>> Today I was asked this question from a watch-dog agency in Michigan;
>>> "How do you treat the 168 chemicals in the manure and the growth 
>>> hormones
>>> and antibiotics" ?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> -- 
>> Woods End Laboratories
>> - Bioenergy &  Biocompost Testing -
>> Mt Vernon ME 04352
>> www.woodsend.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> Lynda Brushett, Ph. D.
> Cooperative Development Institute
> 603-664-5838
> www.cdi.coop
>
>
>
>
> 

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_______________________________________
Join us at the US Composting Council's 17th Annual Conference & Trade Show
January 26-29th, 2009 at the Westin Galleria in Houston, TX.
The National forum for those involved in the development and expansion of
the composting and organics recycling industry.
Conference Highlights, Registration forms, Exhibitor information and
Sponsorship Opportunities available at the USCC website:
www.compostingcouncil.org or call the USCC at 631.737.4931 
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Compost maillist - compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
_______________________________________
This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council (USCC).
(c) Copyright 2004 United States Composting Council - All rights reserved

Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the Foundation, or
the Board of Directors.

Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its website
at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm

Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses may have their
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For additional help in unsubcribing or to report bugs and problems, send a
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