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HIGH ALTITUDE, <br />COLD WEATHER COMPOSTING <br />The high altitude of the composting <br />site, 11,200 feet above sea level, and <br />long winter season (the site received <br />eight-inches of snow on June 1S, 2001) <br />made outdoor composting a question- <br />able alternative. The high technology <br />enclosed composting systems were out <br />of the question due to the cost and bud- <br />get constraints of the generators. A se- <br />ries of composting experiments con- <br />ducted in 1989 by the Breckenridge <br />Sanitation District and the Silver- <br />thorne/Dillon Joint Sewer Authority <br />helped determine the optimum mix- <br />ture of biosolids and wood chips need- <br />ed for such extreme conditions. After <br />several trials, they found an effective <br />combination of ingredients, pile size <br />and air flow (see "High Altitude <br />Sludge Composting," August 1992). <br />Westvac Environmental Services. <br />used that experience to design and op- <br />erate the composting operation on the <br />Climax Mine site. Due to weather and <br />below freezing temperatures, the <br />biosolids are immediately blended <br />upon delivery to the site during the <br />winter. The biosolids are blended with <br />fresh wood chips and recycled com- <br />post at a rate of 1:2:2 (one part <br />biosolids, two parts fresh wood chips <br />and two parts recycled compost) using <br />a large front-end loader. Aeration <br />hoses are laid down on a bed of the <br />mixture and a'windrow approximate- <br />ly ten-feet high is built. The sides are <br />toed into the other windrow to con- <br />serve heat. Blowers push air through <br />the static piles 15 minutes of every <br />hour. Most windrows reach a temper- <br />ature of 150°F within five days of pile <br />formation and can stay at this tem- <br />perature range for typically 75 days <br />when the blowers are turned off. <br />All feedstocks, including wood <br />chips, are tested for nutrients and <br />metals. Temperatures are monitored <br />throughout the process and the com- <br />post is routinely tested for salmonella, <br />nutrients and metals. The finished <br />compost stays in the windrows until <br />late summer, then is spread on the <br />surrounding disturbances atthe mine. <br />A large roll-off shed was purchased <br />and placed on site to house the blow- <br />ers. The temporary "building" can also <br />house operators who get stranded on <br />site during winter storms. It is <br />equipped with sleeping bags, food, wa- <br />ter, aradio and an electric heater. <br />The composting operation has ex- <br />panded each year over the past three <br />years. In 2001, over 1,000 tons of <br />Class A compost will be produced. The <br />compost, along with the blended 1:1 <br />biosolids and wood chips, have been <br />spread along the southern end of the <br />Robinson Tailings Pond at Climax <br />Mine. The tailing pond is next to Col- <br />PROFESSIONAL SERVICES <br />CamprehmsraeWaste Management5ervitesaMPre-Engineered Noduro <br />• OrganiaandBiogas5ervifes <br />• C:NComposting5ystems"" <br />• BIOCLEANBiofiltrationSystems <br />Manu6Mmg • Engineering. Permitting • (omwltion • Bperatbm <br />~~~ <br />Q~ EnviroConn <br />w v <br />ECOwtmrca Nimnwt alatMaVrp <br />r''~12)Ba00i SbM Cuelam Web Daalpm <br />WotDn tldres, F2•Buehra•InIPMI <br />IoWa.50200 Buevne••Enlenxir• <br />Phorm: S1S22SYat0 itarapwm•M SOnwwe <br />Emei: Oe95m a1 Ptonotb W <br />mN•u„o®m,rwtmn.mm MalerlM w,d im9c• <br />'Your EnHrommeMal Connection to Internet Sdueons' <br />laboratory Support for Commercial Composting <br />Our Coxecr[t COMIVaT Paoceax •tartc viin fozmul- <br />ating Na compost mix aM ends With potantia: <br />u•u of final product. <br />• r••d•tomtr mboim•1 a pbT•1ul gv.lltT <br />• Tesmulatlaq mimuz qu•ravC•• qualltT <br />• Campo•te qualitT. stability ova aur• <br />• ayrlultural uu• avd appllutiu rats. <br />• Blora•distiov am8 b•praaaHOe o[ t•vivr <br />• TemleitT. eiousq, m•t•la, Putioldu <br />COn9'ROL LAB. Inc. TEL (0311 ]24-5422 <br />42 Hangar Way, <br />Wa[sonville, CA 950]6 PA% IBJlI '124-J300 <br />Sludge <br />77B Wes}Sfreel <br />Integoted Wns[o /JnragPnrn SP1Nt~ <br />Cmposting Ruydvg, Oclar Cantrd <br />PIOC¢55 ~,SL')n oM PlacuenlPlK <br />Fodily Rud[z5ystem Optimuolion <br />V*botlWY. Nw'Nt. BwM P.I„IYtl. f.Iw.LV/ <br />ue oze.aaa-aeao r-.~: eze.~a.wnm <br />•.MY: am..R wxw.mwk~mY,m.mn <br />~Ifi~~Y~`iI~ <br />I M C O B P O fl ~ I C 0 <br />WASTE MANAGEMENT <br />CONSULTANTS SINCE 1876 , <br />•p.mBp •ralt.t AlWysu <br />• EnghleeNq Wdpl • CoOeetlotl <br />• pnpNnwntatlm •llotoBde Rtatw <br />• ReeyeBngrAftFa • ~ WRnm <br />•COnWcetYq •ETMelnallaW <br />1850 Gatsvfcy Blvd. Suite IOQO <br />Colteord C.aCfortvc 4a520 USA <br />Tet 925.1563700 Ffoe 925.356J956 <br />Final mlei~cdseov4lry.can <br />G. B. Willson Associates <br />CorisuNarrt on <br />Composting/Organic Waste Recycling <br />1702 Park Ddve Phone: (970) 663-1167 <br />Loveland, CO 60536 FaT: (970) 663.5M1 <br />Digester Cleaning, Dewatering, Dredging, Disposal <br />Complete Services <br />Amu <br />The Full urge of water and wutewater related services <br />BOP4ai4115 www.trimaaenv.com; 888.776J1et www.azarixna.com <br />BIOCYCLE NOVEMBER 2001 67 <br />