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AWS Ltd market 24 hour in-vessel composting equipment with scientific and quality control assistance from the Universities of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and Teeside.
We have carried out extensive processing trials with the composting unit, to establish the range of products, which can be satisfactorily composted, particulary among the more difficult waste media.
AWS undertake practical trials on behalf of customers and have already achieved an excellent range of composts from many forms of organic waste.
By including different amendments during processing the performance characteristics of the compost can be established thus allowing the manufacture of a range of specifications to meet clients requirements.
Various analysis are carried out independently by the University of Newcastle to verify the values of NPK, heavy metals count, pathogen count and potential release rate of nitrogen encapsulated in the product.
Additionally, growth trials allow comparison of composts with standard commercial fertilisers found in horticultural and agricultural products.
Why use In Vessel composting systems ?.
1) No vermin, leachate or odours, the process can be carried out in / out doors.
2) Up to 20 cubic meters of compost per 24 hr period from a single unit, however machines can be 'banked up' to increase output.
3) Pathogen and E Coli elimination (process temp over 70'c achieved)
4) Low power consumption 21 kw per hour from the largest unit.
5) Small machine footprint 6.4m x 3.1m x 4.1m high.
6) Operator attendance not required during composting.
7) Legislation will soon dictate that this is the only acceptable method of composting many difficult waste streams
Green Waste Products.
First trials were carried out with green waste from fruit and vegetable growers and wholesale suppliers which produced a very good compost once the water level was reduced by the addition of an amendment.
Waste from ground maintenance sources produced a satisfactory soil conditioner and reduced costs significantly on major commercial contracts.
Four Special Projects Undertaken for Clients
Composting of Sheep Stomachs.
Requirement: Our client has 150,000 units per week to dispose of following a dewatering filtration system process and bio remedial treatment provided by AWS Ltd.
The waste was prepared by the inclusion of an amendment to reduce the content of the mix.
As the stomachs waste was added, the two elements merged readily in the machine to produce a very much drier product.
Odour levels were at an acceptable level and the temperature rose initially to 22'c during mixing process.
During the next 24 hr period the automatic production process was engaged, the temperature rising progressively through 40'c to a peak of 80'c.
Odours were neutralised by the addition of an amendment to the mix during the initial processing, reducing the smell to an acceptable level.
The product recovered from the machine resembled closely the typical commercial compost obtainalbe from a garden centre.
Following the cooling and unloading period, analysis and growth trials were carried out at the University of Newcastle which produced very satisfactory results in terms of growth, plant strength etc.
Waste pastry food from a national bakery.
Requirement: To dispose of production waste and returned stock comprising of a pastry base with meat filling.
The machine was filled with product with additional drying amendment added.
Sawdust and wood shavings provided the necessary material to achieve the texture sought from the process.
During the composting the material reached a temperature of 70'c which was maintained for a 4 hour period ensuring pathogen elimination.
An amendment was again added to deal with the odours which were present.
The product was allowed to cool prior to discharge from the machine.
The resulting material whilst being prone to 'crusting' was of excellent quality once screened to remove the added chippings.
The trial showed a very worthwhile alternative to landfill.
Chicken Carcases from a food processor.
Requirement: To provide an altenative solution to the current disposal method of landfill due to the high cost and undesirable nature of the waste.
Our customer removes the usable flesh from the carcass leaving the skin and bones.
We conducted a trial in which we first shredded the product.
The shredded material was loaded into the trial machine with the necessary amendments.
Our experience in compost manufacture enabled us to process the waste with ease into compost of the desired quality.
Growth enhancement with barley and grass was twice that of mineral fertiliser.
Chicken Feathers.
Material trial: Commercial chicken producers waste.
Requirement: To provide a solution for the composting of chicken feathers into a quality product.
Pre shredding was required to reduce the quill size and speed up the composting process.
As the stock can have a high water content of up to 70%, dewatering and amendment supplements are needed to address this and the odour discharge.
High temperatures were again achieved in the processing, eliminating potential problems with pathogens.
The feathers produced compost with a particularly high N level, the highest we have achieved to date.
General formulations and process operators comments.
Horse manure
Shredded green waste
Shredded paper
The result after 24 hours was a friable, rich brown compost.
The maximum temperature achieved 73'c, was held for at least 1 hour to ensure any weed seeds and pathogens had been destroyed.
Sewerage crumble
Shredded Straw
Shredded green waste
The sewerage crumble has high moisture content so it is necessary to load the machine carefully, with the dry materials introduced first.
The trial was successful, reaching temperatures of 86'c resulting in a satisfactory soil conditioner.
An unpleasant smell was evident during processing, therefore a bio-filter would be required for production processing.
One report from consultants reviewing the analysis details read: ' ...deeply impressed by (the Bio Quick reactor) obvious capabilities for the composting many wastes including sludge. The microbial data, and particularly the rates at which microbial contaminants are effectively eliminated, was staggering.'
General Kitchen Food Waste
Shredded Cardboard
Compost bed
This waste was obtained from local school canteens and mixed with shredded cardboard.
Compost from a previous batch was used to seed the new batch.
Highest temperature reached was 62'c and the result was light, fluffy compost with excellent water retention properties.
No unpleasant smells during processing we recorded.
The local council has an abundance of both types of wastes.
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