Maine Compost School—(Photos by Mark King, Maine DEP)

Pat Jackson Septic Compost Facility-Belgrade, Maine

Green Mountain Technologies,“ComptainerTM”, In-Vessel System—Pauline Dube, Owner

Receiving Area-Incoming septage and fryolator grease are processed through a waste activated treatment process, combined with a polymer, and then gravity de-watered through a Green Mountain Technologies “Detainer TM” system. De-watered solids are then transported to the facilities receiving area and pre-bulked with sawdust shavings.

Composting Area-More sawdust shavings and finished compost are added and thoroughly blended using a Reel Auggie® Mixer. The final recipe (1 part dewatered solids, 1 part sawdust shavings, and ½ part finished compost is then loaded into the “Comptainer®” System using a conveyor. The compost cooks, under forced aeration, in the container for five to seven days, to meet EPA pathogen reduction standards of three consecutive days at 55 degrees C. Odorous emissions are exhausted through a biofilter.

Curing Area-Following the “Active” compost phase, the containers are opened and dumped. The compost is formed into windrows and allowed to finish composting for 6-9 months. The final product is double-screened and sold to contractors for use in topsoil manufacture and turf enhancement.

Maine Compost School— (photos by Mark King)

Rainbow Valley Farms-Sidney, Maine

“Turned Windrow”, Compost System—Harland Bragg, Operator

Receiving /Mixing Area-Waste animal feed and dairy bedding are stored in bunkers until ready for composting. Ingredients are applied in a layered format, creating long windrows on the facilities’ asphalt compost pad.

Composting Area-The compost mixture is then thoroughly homogenized using a Sandberger Compost Turner®, pto-driven windrow turner for a 6-8 week active compost period. Once completed with the active phase, the windrows are allowed to cure for 3-6 months and then the product is coarsely screened and sold through “Bulk” sales.

Maine Compost School—(photos by Mark King, Maine DEP)

Farmington Compost Cooperative-Farmington, Maine

Turned Windrow System—Operated by Farmington Public Works and UMF

Receiving –Food scraps are collected from the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) three times per week, and delivered to the Farmington Compost Cooperative’s facility, where it is off-loaded directly into piles of fresh horse manure.

Composting/Curing: Horse-manure and bedding (collected from the fairgrounds) is formed into a large pile in the center of the facilities 100’ long by 75’ wide asphalt pad. Collected food is dumped into a “trench” formed in the pile and then immediately covered to discourage vectors. At the end of each week, freshly filled areas are fully turned using the facilities frontend loader. Compost is cured on the same pad, and the finished product is sold for a small profit.

Maine Compost School—(photos by Mark King)

“Living Acres” Compost Facility-New Sharon, Maine

Turned Aerated Piles—Tony Ramsey, Operator

Receiving/Composting –Creating a “Gourmet” product with a guaranteed analysis is the foundation of Tony’s business. To ensure this, he buys all of his feedstocks: sawdust shavings, dry chicken manure, turkey offal, perlite. Feedstocks are bulked mixed in the receiving building and then fed into the aerated composting bays using a modified manure spreader. Piles are then aerated for 21-42 days, and turned multiple times during the process.

Curing/Screening/Blending: After the active composting is completed, materials are transferred into long-term curing, where it is screened and blended into a multitude of products. Tony’s line, “KOMPOST” features numerous blends suited for the average homeowner, up to the serious organic farmer. By producing a quality product with a guaranteed analysis on the bag, Tony is able to demand a premium price for his product line.

Maine Compost School—(Photos by John Leslie, Casella Waste Management)

Casella Organics, “Hawk Ridge” Compost Facility-Unity Plantation, Maine

GICOM “Dutch Tunnel”, In-Vessel System—George Belmont, Operator

Receiving Area-Municipal Sewage Sludge is dumped onto a “tip-floor” in the covered pre-mix area, where it is mixed with sawdust shavings, papermill generated short paper fiber residual, animal-bedding from Jackson Laboratories, and some finished compost.

Composting Area-Compost mixture is then loaded onto a conveyer system and thoroughly mixed with additional amendment to create the facility’s recipe. The compost is then transferred to one of the six “Dutch Tunnels” where it is composted under 24/7 aeration for 7-14 days. Exhaust air is directed through a scrubbing system to a Biofilter.

Curing Area-Following the “Active” compost phase, compost is moved to the aerated curing area, where it is formed into windrows over perforated pipe and allowed to condition for an additional 21 days under forced air. Finally, the finished material is screened, and sent to long-term storage where it is made available for sale.

Maine Compost School—(Photos by Mark King, Maine DEP)

“Kinney Compost”—Knox, Maine

Turned Windrow System, Wes Kinney-Owner/Operator

Receiving Area-Seafood and grocery store produce discards are received and immediately amended into a pile of sawdust shavings or Horse bedding in the facilities’ receiving area. Additionally, animal manures are added to provide further bulking of the compost mixture.

Composting Area-The Compost blend is transferred to the facilities’ asphalt composting pad where it is formed into large windrows and turned weekly over a 6-9 month period during the composting/curing phase. Once the compost is finished, it is screened and then transferred to a mechanized hopper which leads into the facility’s bagging system. Wes Kinney sells his compost for a premium price as a bagged product or in bulk quantities.

Maine Compost School—(Photos by Mark King, Maine DEP)

“MB Bark/We Compost It”—Aubrn, Maine

Turned Windrow System, Bill Crawford/Brett Thompson Operators

Receiving Area-Food scraps collected from central and southern Maine residences and business are collected in an (18 yard capacity) repurposed garbage truck by “We Compost It” and delivered to the MB Bark Compost Facility (located in Auburn) for processing. The load is dumped onto a bed of one year-old leaves and other carbonaceous amendments.

Composting Area-The Compost mixture is thoroughly blended using large frontend loaders and is composted under cover for the active compost phase (turned weekly) and then transferred to the facilities’ asphalt composting pad where it is formed into large windrows for thecuring phase. Once the compost is finished, it is screened and then sold in bulk form.

Maine Compost School—(photos by Mark King, Maine DEP)

Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority-Auburn, Maine

“Agitated Bin”, In-Vessel System—Mike Pelletier, Operator

Receiving Area-Municipal Sewage Sludge is dumped onto a “tip-floor” and mixed with sawdust and shavings and some finished compost, using a frontend loader.

Composting Area-Compost mixture is then loaded into one of the facility’s 210 foot-long bins, where it will be turned and aerated daily [moving the material rearward 10 feet at a time] for a total of 21 days. Building air is exchanged regularly and exhausted through an in-ground Biofilter for odor control.

Curing Area-Following the “Active” composting phase, compost drops onto the curing floor where it is formed into windrows over perforated pipe and allowed to condition for an additional 21 days under forced air. Finally, the finished material is sent to long-term storage and made available for sale.

Maine Compost School— (photos by Mark King, Maine DEP)

Little River Compost-Lisbon Falls, Maine

“Static Aerated Pile”, Compost System-Mark Goddard, Owner

Receiving Area-Seafood and grocery store produce discards are received and immediately amended into a pile of sawdust shavings in the facilities’ covered receiving area. Additionally, animal manures are added as further

Composting Area-The Compost blend is transferred to a Reel Auggie Mixer for further homogenization before being moved to the compost bays where it is formed into piles, over forced aeration pipes, and composted for 21 days. Once the active composting phase is complete, piles are broken down and transferred to an asphalt curing pad for long-term curing. Final product is screened and bagged for retail sales.