Composting
Municipal yard and food waste composting programs can significantly benefit WTE projects. For example, increases in alternative yard trimmings management programs can reduce seasonal peaks in wet organic matter, which in turn may alter the moisture content and heat value of the feedstock. A decrease in moisture content increases fuel quality by reducing the amount of energy used to vaporize moisture. Thus, by separating or removing wetwastes, the likelihood of creating conditions for optimal boiler temperature and efficiency of energy recovery is increased.
Yard trimmings volumes fluctuate seasonally in temperate zones, with peak quantities occurring from spring to fall. By eliminating or leveling these peaks through other waste management practices, the boiler capacity can besmaller, thereby reducing capital and operation costs.
Benefits of Composting
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Reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers.
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Promote higher yields of agricultural crops.
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Facilitate reforestation, wetlands restoration, and habitat revitalization efforts by amending contaminated, compacted, and marginal soils.
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Cost-effectively remediate soils contaminated by hazardous waste.
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Remove solids, oil, grease, and heavy metals from stormwater runoff.
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Avoids Methane and leachate formulation in landfills.
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Capture and destroy 99.6 percent of industrial volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in contaminated air. See Innovative Uses of Compost: Bioremediation and Pollution Prevention.
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Provide cost savings of at least 50 percent over conventional soil, water, and air pollution remediation technologies, where applicable. See Analysis of Composting as an Environmental Remediation Technology
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Reduces the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
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Serves as a marketable commodity and is a low-cost alternative to standard landfill cover and artificial soil amendments.
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Extends municipal landfill life by diverting organic materials from landfills.
