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1 <br />Process water will be supplied from an on-site groundwater well, the storm water retention basin, <br />and/or the evaporation gond. The delivery system will include piping, faucets, industrial -size <br />hoses, nozzles, and emitter systems for the tub grinder and windrow turner. Most of the water <br />required will be applied when the material is ground and the windrows are constructed. Less <br />water will be required to keep the existing windrows moist; however, the outer 6" - 12° of the <br />windrows will dry out during hot, dry, and windy conditions. <br />Leachate and storm water runoff from the compost pad will be collected in the evaporation pond. <br />Leachate will be reused as process water or evaporated. <br />Only source -separated yard and wood waste material will be used as feedstock. All feedstocks <br />will be subject to inquiry, inspected, analyzed, and possibly tested for heavy metals prior to <br />processing. Wood wastes will be inspected prior to processing. Painted and treated lumber will <br />not be processed. Ground wood waste will be screened for metal contaminants prior to <br />composting. <br />It is estimated that the average processing time to produce finished compost will be 20 weeks. <br />Approximately 12 weeks are required for the rapid decomposition phase and 8 weeks for the <br />curing phase. <br />The rapid decomposition phase of the composting process will take approximately 12 weeks. <br />During this time, the windrows will be closely managed and aerated to maintain optimum <br />decomposition rates. During this time, windrow temperatures (1250 - 160° F.), moisture content, <br />Ph, changes in material size, color, and aroma will be monitored to ensure satisfactory progress <br />towards stabilization. A gradual decline in temperatures from 125° F. to ambient temperatures <br />indicates that the rapid decomposition phase of the composting process has been completed and <br />the material is stabilizing. <br />The curing phase of the composting process will take approximately 8 weeks. Temperatures will <br />decline 125° F - ambient) 'and decomposition rates will slow down over several weeks. <br />Characteristics of stabilized compost will be a dark uniform brown color, near ambient <br />temperatures, earthy aroma, and volume reductions of 50 - 75 percent. <br />It is estimated that an average of 7 cubic yards of finished compost would be shipped out of the <br />facility on a daily basis. This assumes that 50 percent of the organic wastes would be <br />composted, size -reduction of green waste of 5:1 and wood waste of 10:1, and volume reduction <br />in the windrows of 50 percent. <br />Normal operating procedures will not include the use of chemical additives or bulking agents to <br />finish the composting process. Such additives or amendments would be custom blended upon <br />customer request. Under no circumstances would septage, sewage sludge, or mixed solid waste <br />be used. <br />Climatic conditions can affect the comoostina operations. Heavv rains can saturate piles of <br />organic matter and the composting windrows. Saturated conditions can create anaerobic <br />conditions and odors. The existence of a concrete composting pad will ensure all-weather <br />equipment operation so that aerobic conditions can be maintained. Materials susceptible to <br />anaerobic conditions such as green grass cuttings or animal manures will be given priority <br />handling or covered pending inclement weather. <br />Hot. dry winds will dry out the outer portions of the windrows and slow the decomposition rate. <br />Additional water applications will be made during these conditions. <br />5 <br />ER -93-1 - 16 - (9-27-93) <br />