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Controlling Odors At Your Commercial Composting Facility.

Posted on November 27, 2019 - 9:52 am

Controlling odors at your commercial composting facility should be a top priority. There are most likely local regulations regarding bad odors (malodors) that you must comply with. Also, anyone in your area will appreciate your consideration in reducing malodors. Here are some tips on how you can accomplish these goals.

Regulate oxygen levels

You must manage the flow of air to your commercial compost piles. The average amount of oxygen should be around 13% ideally. Compost needs the most oxygen in the first two weeks of its formation. The amount of oxygen that flows through your piles will be determined by their size and their temperature. Aeration is key to regulating both temperature and malodors. There are many systems and tools you can use to properly manage your piles, including manually turning and using large machines known as compost windrow turners.

Use bulking materials

These materials soak up excess moisture as well as hold everything together. Good bacteria can eat and breath in this type of environment. If oxygen isn’t monitored, anaerobic bacteria can form and cause reduced sulfur compounds that result in malodors.

Use biocovers and biofilters

After you have taken the first steps in controlling odors in your compost, you can focus on emissions. Biofilters and biocovers can help reduce emissions to minimal amounts within the first 10 days. These help keep the right moisture levels in your compost piles so that bacteria can do their jobs to break down materials and odor compounds. Covers can help protect your investment from the elements too. Be sure to research these systems further if you wish to use them to optimize your compost.

Tips for managing your commercial compost piles

As we have briefly touched on, managing other aspects of your compost piles like temperature and moisture will help you take care of bad odors. Here are some general tips to help you take care of your compost and reduce odors.

    1. Find out the best way to build your compost piles. There are many methods and types of piles you can create. One of the most efficient is to build long piles known as windrows.
    1. Some organic materials require mixing, like cardboard and corn stalks. Be sure to grind these to make the compost finer.
    1. Composting can be done on any scale. Odors should be controlled whether you compost in your backyard or have a large-scale commercial composting operation.
    1. Your piles or windrows need to be turned. The way you do this is up to you, but it needs to be efficient. Large and medium-sized operations can benefit from using a self-propelled compost turner.

Get high-quality compost with a SCARAB windrow turner

When it comes to commercial composting equipment, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why SCARAB International offers Compost Turners in a variety of sizes. If you don’t find a New, Used, or Refurbished machine that fits your operation, our professionals can custom-build one for you. Our products come with various options including four-wheel drive, drum styles, engines, and more. Give us a call at (806) 883-7621 or Send Us an Email to learn more.