ANALYSIS OF EPA GUIDANCE ON COMPOSTING SLUDGE. PART IV - FACILITY DESIGN AND OPERATION.

In the composting process, the driving force is microbial activity. The rates at which such changes occur affect numerous practical aspects of facility design and operation. With possible rare exceptions involving small facilities in nondemanding circumstances, the basic goal of design and operation should be to maximize the rate of microbial activity. The practical needs of routine field operation can be met by comparative measurement of a surrogate for heat flux, and two highly serviceable such surrogates are available. The article discusses rational composting facility design, bulking agent, mechanical action, in-vessel composting, and other aspects of the subject.