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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