OGOGROW The Brand and the Composting Process Presented to the Composting Council of Canada, Oct.1, 2009 By: Gordon Light, Solid Waste Organics Supervisor glight@kelowna.ca
KELOWNA VERNON REGIONAL COMPOST FACILITY
TOPICS COVERED Wastewater Source Control Biosolids Quality Feedstocks Aerated Static Pile Compost Process Finishing and Testing Sales and Marketing
WASTE WATER SOURCE CONTROL
SOURCE CONTROL Bylaw 6618-90 Sanitary Sewer Regulation Bylaw: 1.1.4 This bylaw regulates the quantity and quality of discharged wastes and the degree of pre-treatment required Allowable levels of Contaminants (grab sample mg/l) Arsenic Boron Chromium Copper Iron Lead Bylaw 3480 Sewerage System User Bylaw: Mercury Molybdenum Sets out the rates charged for use of the City s sanitary sewer system Tin Zinc 200 200 16.0 8.0 40.0 4.0 0.2 4.0 20 12
BIOSOLIDS QUALITY 20% solid Maximum metals content No Foreign Matter C/N Ratio 7.4
REGIONAL vs OMRR MAXIMUM METALS Kel/Ver Regional Compost Copper Chromium Mercury Molybdenum Lead 600 200 5 7 50 Organic Matter Recycling Regulation Copper Chromium Mercury Molybdenum Lead 2200 1060 15 20 500
TIPPING BIOSOLIDS 27,000 tonnes annually 2 to 3 trucks from Kelowna 1 to 2 trucks from Vernon 22 m3 Kelowna load Sealed hatches Water tight tailgate
HOG FUEL 40-60% Moisture 100,000 m3/year Purchased from local sawmill $1.75/cu.yd. C/N Ratio 215
WHITE WOOD Provides structure to compost piles Lower C/N ration than Hog Fuel 20% moisture hard to add water 10,000 m3/year
SCREENED OVERS large particle size provides structure to the piles carbon is less bio-available can also use as a biofilter
ASH 50% carbon 50% ash high bio-availability, high C/N ratio may help with odour control
BATCH MIXER Enviro-Processor 900 purchased in 2009, $265,000 200 hp Electric Motor Batches prepared based on weight
BIOSOLIDS MIXING augers mix biosolids evenly on each particle of woody amendment 1 part biosolids to 4 parts amendment each batch is 10,000 kg.
AERATED STATIC PILE Initial mix placed over aeration channels Primary Composting retention 24 days Piles reach 55 degrees Celsius for three days
INSULATING AND BIOFILTER LAYER 45 cm cover layer applied over initial mix ensures that all initial compost reaches temperature acts as a biofilter to remove odours
WATER ADDITION Dry Okanagan weather causes cover layer to dry out Bacteria that consume odourous compounds live in thin layer of water on each particle in cover layer
ECS AERATION SYSTEM Aeration system supplied by Engineered Compost Systems Provides metabolic oxygen and cooling for aerobic composting Positive and negative air supply Aeration pipes also collect leachate
BIOFILTER Perforated floor Effective odour removal
BIOFILTER treats foul air from negative aeration media made from overs, hog fuel and some compost Media has been changed about every six months Short circuiting noted along walls
LEACHATE COLLECTION High strength BOD 10,000 Very strong odour 3000 gallon tanks leachate hauled to Septage Handling Facility for treatment $50,000 year hauling costs Plans for reuse in initial mix
PRIMARY PILE TEARDOWN material has compacted and needs turning compost is still in rapid decomposition
SECONDARY COMPOSTING Positive aeration for 14 days Remixes compacted primary compost Water added to surface to prevent drying of cover layer Above ground pipe system is labour intensive Pipe replacement is expensive
CURING PHASE required because compost still too active proposed upgrades will eliminate the need for this step retention time of two to four months
733 MCLOSKY TROMMEL SCREEN
SCREENING brushes keep screen from blinding Screen to ½ inch Overs reused in process as bulking agent May be a market for overs as a ground cover or mulch
FINISHING number piles turned or water added to cool piles piles are tested in accordance with the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation 40,000 m3 sales volume $ $413,000 revenue from sales
OMRR Class A Compost Limits Ogogrow Average Results Arsenic 13 6.3 Cadmium 3 0.6 Chromium 100 22 Cobalt 34 4.9 Copper 400 277 Lead 150 22 Mercury 2 1 Molybdenum 5 3.1 Compost must not reheat Nickel 62 10.5 above 45 degrees Celsius Selenium 2 1.5 500 227 COMPOST TESTING Organic Matter Recycling Regulation and CFIA compliant test metals 5 times per year Temperatures and retention time recorded daily Fecal coliform must be less than 1000 MPN Substance Zinc
OTHER TEST PARAMETERS Parameter Results : dry weight basis Total Potassium % 0.5 Total Phosphorous % 1.3 Total Nitrogen % 2.8 Organic Matter % 72.2 Moisture 47.4 Conductivity (Ms/cm) 2.1 Ms/cm ph 7.7 Foreign Matter % <1% Ammonium mg/kg as N 6400 C/N Ratio 16.7 PCB s None detected
FERENCE WEICKER & COMPANY MARKETING STRATEGY 2000 AND 2003 Purpose Develop a profile of the existing and potential market for soil conditioner products in the Kelowna area Assess the relative competitive position of Ogogrow in each of the market segments Develop recommendations regarding marketing strategies for Ogogrow for the next ten years Recommendations Produce a high quality product Not Integrate forward, value added markets have higher revenues but also higher risk Use a graduated pricing strategy to increase the average price of Ogogrow Support the development of value-added companies
OGOGROW SALES Graduated Pricing Schedule 2009 don t put all eggs in one basket, 50% sold to value added customer Less than 50 yds $ 19.50 50% sold to nurseries, 50-249 $ 14.50 250-999 $ 12.25 1000 2999 $ 9.50 3000 4999 $ 8.25 5000 and up $ 7.75 landscapers and home gardener use a graduated pricing structure bulk sales at production facility retail sales at Glenmore Landfill $ 450,000 annual sales
OGOGROW REVENUES AND VOLUME
AVERAGE PRICE PER YARD
PROMOTION Registered trade name Attend garden shows Calendars, coffee mugs for high volume buyers One on one meetings with high volume buyers SEE message Safe, Environmentally Beneficial and Economically Beneficial