[USCC] calculating compost volume from weight of feedstock

Tue Nov 25 14:34:52 CST 2008

ALL ANALYSIS ARE SITE SPECIFIC !!

As a general rule begin with a 50% reduction in volumn and weight !
This is a middle of the road figure for setting up an operation.
The volumn reduction can run to 70% on some feedstocks but weight reduction 
is generally 50%.
In green waste the water usage is a factor of expense both in cost and 
application.
As a general rule an equal amount of water by weight to the material weight 
is required.
These observations are based on 25 years of consulting.

Bill Newland

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cary Oshins" <cary.oshins at compostingcouncil.org>
To: "'Compost Discussion List'" <compost at mailman.cloudnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 6:45 AM
Subject: Re: [USCC] calculating compost volume from weight of feedstock

>A couple a points:
>
> First, cubic yards of material with different bulk densities are not
> actually additive.  For example, 3 yards of ground brush plus 1 yard of
> grass clippings does not yield 4 yds of mix.  This is because the smaller
> particles fill in the pores between the particles of brush. 80% is a good
> estimate for the volume of many feedstock mixes, so in the above example, 
> 3
> + 1 = 3.2! However, it will vary with your feedstocks.
>
> Second, the amount of volume reduction also varies greatly with feedstock,
> but is certainly more than the 10-30% mentioned.  I have heard composters
> explain how they need 40 yards of food waste to get 1 yard of finished
> compost.  At the other extreme, high lignin feedstocks will lose much less
> bulk, more in that 30% range. So, depending on the mix, 50-70% loss 
> because
> of decomposition is typical.
>
> An internet search for "compost recipe calculator" will yield a half-dozen
> examples.  They vary considerably in detail and ease-of-use. We are
> exploring a "calculator page" for a new website. If anyone has
> recommendations, suggestions or experience with any of these I'd be
> interested in hearing from you.
>
> Cary
>
>
>
> ____________________________________
> Cary Oshins
> Assistant Director of Programs
> <http://www.compostingcouncil.org/> US Composting Council
>
> 1010 North 13th St.
>
> Allentown, PA 18102
>
> phone: 484-547-1521
>
> fax: 484-274-6779
>
> <mailto:cary at compostingcouncil.org> cary.oshins at compostingcouncil.org
> USCC Main Office:
>
> 1 Comac Loop, Suite 14B1
> Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
> phone: 631-737-4931
> fax: 631-737-4939
>
>
> Join us at the US Composting Council's 17th Annual Conference & Trade 
> Show,
> January 26-29, 2009 at the Westin Galleria, Houston, TX
> Register at  <http://www.compostingcouncil.org/> www.compostingcouncil.org
> Help support your industry. Become a member today!!!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
> [mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of Glass, Steve J.
> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 5:44 PM
> To: Compost Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [USCC] calculating compost volume from weight of feedstock
>
>
>
> Susan -
>
>
>
> The first tab in the attached spreadsheet includes bulk densities for a 
> wide
> range of common composting feedstocks, adapted by the NM Organics 
> Recycling
> Organization from some data published by Cornell University.
>
> Dividing the weight (in pounds) of a feedstock by its bulk density (in
> pounds per cubic yard) yields an estimate of the volume (in cubic yards.
>
>
>
> The other tabs in the spreadsheet contain compost mixture calculators
> developed by Cornell and by NMORO.  The NMORO mixture calculator predicts
> the initial volume of the proposed compost mixture.  During the composting
> process, one can expect to lose 10-30% of the initial volume, so the final
> volume can be estimated.
>
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
>
> Steve Glass
>
> NMORO
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
>
> [mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of
> McLaughlin.Susan at epamail.epa.gov
>
> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 3:17 PM
>
> To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
>
> Subject: [USCC] calculating compost volume from weight of feedstock
>
>
>
> Hi.  I received an inquiry asking how someone can, using as inputs the
> WEIGHT of certain types of organic wastes, calculate in cubic YARDAGE the
> amount of compost that would result for those different types of waste.
>
>
>
> Can you help?  Are there generalizations, tools, or research out there 
> that
> I can lead him to?
>
>
>
> Thank you!
>
>
>
> Susan McLaughlin
>
> Office of Solid Waste
>
> US EPA
>
>
>
> _______________________________________
>
> Join us as the US Composting Council's 17th Annual Conference & Trade 
> Show,
> January 26-29, 2009 at the Westin Galleria, Houston, TX. The Largest
> Conference & Exhibition in North America for the Composting, Wood Waste, &
> Organics Recycling Industry. The Most Comprehensive Program of 11 Training
> Courses, 100+ Educational & Technical Presentations, and Facility Tours &
> "Live" Equipment Demonstrations from
>
> 20+ Manufacturers.
>
> Conference Highlights & Program, 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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>
>
>
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>
> _______________________________________
> Join us as the US Composting Council's 17th Annual Conference & Trade 
> Show, January 26-29, 2009 at the Westin Galleria, Houston, TX. The Largest 
> Conference & Exhibition in North America for the Composting, Wood Waste, & 
> Organics Recycling Industry. The Most Comprehensive Program of 11 Training 
> Courses, 100+ Educational & Technical Presentations, and Facility Tours & 
> "Live" Equipment Demonstrations from 20+ Manufacturers.
> Conference Highlights & Program, 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 
> posting privileges suspended. For discussion list policies and information 
> regarding subscribing, unsubscribing, digest or other options, go to: 
> http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
>
> For additional help in unsubcribing or to report bugs and problems, send a 
> message to the List Manager at compostlistmanager at compostingcouncil.org

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