The Composting Handbook provides a single guide to the science, principles and best practices of composting for large-scale composting operations facing a variety of opportunities and challenges converting raw organic materials into a useful and marketable product.
Composting is a well-established and increasingly important method to recycle and add value to organic by-products. Many, if not most, of the materials composting treats are discarded materials that would otherwise place a burden on communities, industries, farms and the environment. Composting converts these materials into a valuable material, compost, that regenerates soils improving soils for plant growth and environmental conservation.
The Composting Handbook expands on previously available resources by incorporating new information, new subjects and new practices, drawing its content from current scientific principles, research, engineering and industry experience. In both depth and breadth, it covers the knowledge that a compost producer needs to succeed. Topics include the composting process, methods of composting, equipment, site requirements, environmental issues and impacts, business knowledge, safety, and the qualities, uses and markets for the compost products.
The Composting Handbook is an invaluable reference for composting facility managers and operators, prospective managers and operators, regulators, policy makers, environmental advocates, educators, waste generators and managers and generally people interested in composting as a business or a solution. It is also appropriate as a textbook for college courses and a supplemental text for training courses about composting or organic waste management.
1. The Composting Handbook - p. Page i 2. Cover - p. Page i 3. Front Matter - p. Page ii 4. Table of Contents - p. Page iii 5. Copyright - p. Page iv 6. Dedication - p. Page v 7. Authors and Contributors - p. Page v 8. Preface - p. Page viii 9. Acknowledgments and appreciations - p. Page ix 10. List of Illustrations - p. Page xi 11. List of Tables - p. Page xii 12. Chapter 1 : Why compost? - p. Page xii 13. Chapter 2 : Enterprise planning - p. Page 25 14. Chapter 3 : The composting process - p. Page 47 15. Chapter 4 : Compost feedstocks - p. Page 96 16. Chapter 5 : Passively aerated composting methods, including turned windrows - p. Page 147 17. Chapter 6 : Forced aeration composting, aerated static pile, and similar methods - p. Page 192 18. Chapter 7 : Contained and in-vessel composting methods and methods summary - p. Page 266 19. Chapter 8 : Composting animal mortalities∗ - p. Page 304 20. Chapter 9 : Composting operations and equipment - p. Page 336 21. Chapter 10 : Site planning, development, and environmental protection - p. Page 407 22. Chapter 11 : Process management - p. Page 494 23. Chapter 12 : Odor management and community relations - p. Page 546 24. Chapter 13 : Safety and health principles and practices for composting facilities∗ - p. Page 619 25. Chapter 14 : Facility management - p. Page 673 26. Chapter 15 : Compost characteristics and quality - p. Page 730 27. Chapter 16 : Compost use - p. Page 771 28. Chapter 17 : Compost use for plant disease suppression - p. Page 837 29. Chapter 18 : Compost marketing and sales - p. Page 873 30. Chapter 19 : Composting economics - p. Page 911 31. Appendices - p. Page 942 32. Sources of photographs and external graphics - p. Page 942 33. Index - p. Page 952
The Composting Handbook provides a single guide to the science, principles and best practices of composting for large-scale composting operations facing a variety of opportunities and challenges converting raw organic materials into a useful and marketable product.
Composting is a well-established and increasingly important method to recycle and add value to organic by-products. Many, if not most, of the materials composting treats are discarded materials that would otherwise place a burden on communities, industries, farms and the environment. Composting converts these materials into a valuable material, compost, that regenerates soils improving soils for plant growth and environmental conservation.
The Composting Handbook expands on previously available resources by incorporating new information, new subjects and new practices, drawing its content from current scientific principles, research, engineering and industry experience. In both depth and breadth, it covers the knowledge that a compost producer needs to succeed. Topics include the composting process, methods of composting, equipment, site requirements, environmental issues and impacts, business knowledge, safety, and the qualities, uses and markets for the compost products.
The Composting Handbook is an invaluable reference for composting facility managers and operators, prospective managers and operators, regulators, policy makers, environmental advocates, educators, waste generators and managers and generally people interested in composting as a business or a solution. It is also appropriate as a textbook for college courses and a supplemental text for training courses about composting or organic waste management.
1. The Composting Handbook - p. Page i 2. Cover - p. Page i 3. Front Matter - p. Page ii 4. Table of Contents - p. Page iii 5. Copyright - p. Page iv 6. Dedication - p. Page v 7. Authors and Contributors - p. Page v 8. Preface - p. Page viii 9. Acknowledgments and appreciations - p. Page ix 10. List of Illustrations - p. Page xi 11. List of Tables - p. Page xii 12. Chapter 1 : Why compost? - p. Page xii 13. Chapter 2 : Enterprise planning - p. Page 25 14. Chapter 3 : The composting process - p. Page 47 15. Chapter 4 : Compost feedstocks - p. Page 96 16. Chapter 5 : Passively aerated composting methods, including turned windrows - p. Page 147 17. Chapter 6 : Forced aeration composting, aerated static pile, and similar methods - p. Page 192 18. Chapter 7 : Contained and in-vessel composting methods and methods summary - p. Page 266 19. Chapter 8 : Composting animal mortalities∗ - p. Page 304 20. Chapter 9 : Composting operations and equipment - p. Page 336 21. Chapter 10 : Site planning, development, and environmental protection - p. Page 407 22. Chapter 11 : Process management - p. Page 494 23. Chapter 12 : Odor management and community relations - p. Page 546 24. Chapter 13 : Safety and health principles and practices for composting facilities∗ - p. Page 619 25. Chapter 14 : Facility management - p. Page 673 26. Chapter 15 : Compost characteristics and quality - p. Page 730 27. Chapter 16 : Compost use - p. Page 771 28. Chapter 17 : Compost use for plant disease suppression - p. Page 837 29. Chapter 18 : Compost marketing and sales - p. Page 873 30. Chapter 19 : Composting economics - p. Page 911 31. Appendices - p. Page 942 32. Sources of photographs and external graphics - p. Page 942 33. Index - p. Page 952
