HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-05-27, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 27,1992. PAGE 7.
Walton firm designs major composting project
BY BONNIE GROPP construction and for the first lime,
For the second time a Walton- the design of an innovative com-
rea enterprise has pioneered the posting system.
One of a kind
Employees of LH Resource Management in Walton proud
to have been part of the design construction of a new
compost facility in Hensall. In front, from left: Judy Lee,
Gord Chiddicks, who did the design and Chris Lee, owner
of LH. On processor: Dave McCormich, Travis Koehler,
who did the fabrication work and Nancy Snell.
Two years ago, LH Resource
Management built a giant com-
poster designed by a University of
Guelph professor, to handle the
waste from the test farms at the
University of Minnesota. Just
recently they have finished the new
compost processor for Hensall,
which will be used primarily for the
handling of waste from the village's
three local mills that is presently
taken to the municipal landfill.
Chris Lee of LH Resource says
the company became involved as a
direct result of a newspaper article
written by Keith Roulston on the
Minnesota project. Mr. Lee said
Cecil Pepper had contacted him
after seeing the story with the idea
of establishing a wind row com
posting system for Hensall, but he
recommended a course on munici
pal compost systems, which they
attended. After completion they
decided to go with an in-vessel sys
tem and asked Mr. Lee's firm to do
a proposal for them.
This has been an exciting experi
ence for Mr. Lee and his staff. "It is
a radical departure from the Min
nesota project, because that was
built to someone else’s design. This
time the machine is independent of
the facility, is more appropriate for
commercial waste and is big
enough to service a large area, so
could possibly handle other types
of waste in the future," said Mr.
Lee.
Tenders were opened May 21 for
the construction of the facility,
designed by LH Resource and B.
M. Ross & Assoc., Goderich, in
which the processor will operate.
The lowest bid of Logan Construc
tion, Stratford was tentatively
accepted. It is hoped that the facili
ty will be ready by July 31, said
Mr. Lee.
The building is to be located at
the municipal landfill site, at the
same spot where the village had
done some wind-row composting
in the past. It will be 60' wide and
160' long, with a storage area
around three sides. The design
resembles that of a bam, with over
head doors on side and ends for the
material to enter and leave.
An office and reception area are
to built on one side and tours of the
site will be available by appoint
ment.
Inside there will be three vessels
in which the raw material is placed.
Fans and ventilation will control
the heat and oxygen to keep the
material aerobic. "Once the temper
ature exceeds 60 degrees Celsius
you actually kill efficient bacte
ria,"said Mr. Lee.
The process begins each day with
10 ton of waste loaded into each
vessel. The machine, which is
computer-programmed, runs down
the length of the vessel to the end
of the building. The whirling flails
on its undercarriage, chew off
material and throw it back 10'. The
processor travels back the length of
the vessel. According to Mr. Lee it
is expected that it will take 1 1/4
hours to cycle through each vessel.
This will vary somewhat depending
on the program used, which deter
mines how fast the processor is
travelling.
In similar compost systems the
method has always been mechani
cal, said Mr. Lee so with the com
puter controlling aeration, nutrients
and the program the process is
being optimised. "The intent is that
in 10 days the product will be
compost ready for curing." At the
lower end of the scale, Mr. Lee
says the compost can be used for
agricultural purposes whereas at the
high quality end it replaces peat as
a soil commodity.
Under the building is an imper
meable liner so if there is any per
colation from the waste it will be
collected and taken to the storage
pond, where the run-off is collect
ed.
The projected capital cost for the
finished project is $820,000, said
Mr. Lee. The province has granted
funding for 1/3 of the capital costs,
with the balance to be paid by the
village, and will pay the operating
costs for the first year.
The facility can be doubled in
capacity, says Mr. Lee in the even
tuality that other waste products
will be coming to the site for com
posting. Mr. Lee said that Hensall
plans to purchase a $100,000 tub
grinder for the plant which, though
not essential, does allow them to
broaden the type of product coming
in. According to Mr. Lee, though
the village obtained a minor vari
ance that allows for the processing
specifically of mill waste, MOE as
a condition of funding has stated
that they want to experiment with
other products at the site to see
what can be done.
The ministry has also set guide
lines for the incoming material and
finished compost, said Mr. Lee.
"There will be detailed analysis and
monitoring of incoming raw mate
rial and of the performance process.
The outgoing compost will be
checked to ensure that it is compost
and that heavy metals and contami
nants are with tolerances." A total
continued on page 15
I