Lenz Enterprises, Inc. COMPOST FACILITY OVERVIEW AND CONTAMINATION CHALLENGES

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1 Lenz Enterprises, Inc. COMPOST FACILITY OVERVIEW AND CONTAMINATION CHALLENGES

2 Lenz Enterprises Quality Products and Services Family-owned and operated earth materials and services company Serving the region since 1976 Commercial composting since 2008 Solid reputation for providing prompt, skilled service, and for stocking a full range of quality products from gravel to topsoil to mulch

3 Lenz Enterprises Compost Facility Overview Situated on 150+ acres in Snohomish County Permitted for 75,000 tons per year Composting process: Phase I Composting - Aerated Static Pile Phase II Composting Mass Bed Phase III - Curing

4 Lenz Compost Facility Overview Feedstock Receiving Area Contaminant Removal ZONE CY ZONE CY ZONE CY ZONE CY ZONE CY ZONE CY ZONE CY ZONE CY Aerated Static Pile Pathogen and Vector Attraction Control Primary stabilization of compost Computer controlled reversing air flow Grinding/Mixing Turned Mass Bed Composting Secondary Stabilization of Compost Mechanically Turned to Aerate and Homogenize Curing Final stabilization of compost Initial Screening Secondary screening Compost Sales Overs

5 View of Compost Site from North

6 ASP Bays with Positive and Negative Aeration and Biofilter cover

7 Tipping Building and ASP Biofiltration

8 Mass Bed Extended Stabilization

9 Mass Bed Compost Turner

10 Compost Screening

11 Finished Product Curing and Storage

12 Testing and Quality Assurance Process QA Identify and quantify points of variability to maintain highest compost quality Maintain aerobic conditions Identify and mitigate process interruptions Site QA Established QA protocols facilitate effective communication between: Management Operations personnel Analytical laboratory Permitting agencies

13 Contaminant Mitigation Contamination is a common issue with many types of feedstocks. Lenz Enterprises has been working with local jurisdictions, private companies, and educational organizations to create effective educational and outreach tools. While education and outreach can be effective, composters need to assume that contamination will continue to be an issue in the years to come and act accordingly. Here s what we are doing

14 First, what is a contaminant? Seems like a silly questions but Merriam Webster something that contaminates. to make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements. In reality: It depends Typical compost contaminants include: Plastic film prevalent but mechanical removal is possible Rigid plastics less prevalent and mechanical removal is difficult Metal less prevalent but mechanical removal is possible Glass less prevalent and mechanical removal is difficult Rocks, et al. - less prevalent and mechanical removal is difficult

15 Other contaminant issues Differentiation of compostable vs. non-compostable manufactured items This is and will likely become more of an issue as compostable materials (service-ware, bags, etc.) expand in the marketplace. Current mechanical separation cannot distinguish Each product is unique and has a different time of disintegration in the composting process The future balance Little research has been conducted to determine what the balance of food scraps and compostable products will be in the future. As the volume of food waste is reduced prior to the composting process and the volume of compostable products are increased we may get to a feedstock imbalance.

16 Contaminant Mitigation Education and Outreach: Lenz works with multiple public and private organizations to promote proper recycling. Lenz works with the Organics Contamination Reduction Workgroup (OCRW) consisting of more than 90 municipalities, composters, regulators, and representatives of various commercial businesses whose mission is to collaborate to eliminate contamination in organic feedstocks while expanding end products and markets.

17 Contaminant Mitigation Continued Research and Understanding: Lenz continually researches the demographics of feedstock generators and compares generator profiles with feedstock characteristics. Knowing if a specific load has the potential for a higher concentration of contamination than others allows for a stronger response at the tipping building including: More intense oversight of the load as it is tipped Stronger response by compost personnel for contaminant removal Immediate response if a load is too contaminated Segregation/evaluation of the load if necessary

18 Contaminant Mitigation Pre-Composting: Feedstock contaminant character and concentration evaluation Mechanical screening to remove contaminants Picking station, to remove contaminants Magnets to remove metal Continuous evaluation of contaminant removal system to identify potential improvements

19 Contaminant Mitigation In-situ composting: Hand-picking of contaminants in all phases Good house-keeping. Keeping the site clean and free of solid waste mitigates re-contamination Research and development of new and innovative methods and practices to remove contamination

20 Contaminant Mitigation Post - composting: Screening of finished compost with a Komptech Star Screen using airlift separation Hurrikan wind sifters to remove plastic film Secondary screening with Trommel screens Hand-picking at key points of the process Re-screening

21 Lenz Enterprises