BioCycle World :: BioCycle, Advancing Composting, Organics Recycling & Renewable Energy

BioCycle World

BioCycle October 2004, Vol. 45, No. 10, p. 6

COMMUNITY-BASED GROUP PLANS TO TURN WASTE DROPOFF SITE INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE
The Green Institute of Minneapolis has raised over $3 million to turn a city-owned dropoff site into a biomass plant that would generate renewable energy from waste urban wood crop waste and oat hulls from a nearby Cherrios plant. "It is our proactive way to find better, more environmentally friendly ways for that site," says Carl Nelson, project manager for the Green Institute. Nelson has long experience with biomass energy and anaerobic digestion of manure,

from his previous position at the Minnesota Project. Steam from the biomass plant would also be used to heat water that can heat buildings in the area. The project will be described in a session on "New Methods/New Markets for Using Wood for Renewable Power" at the BioCycle 4th Annual Renewable Energy from Organics Recycling Conference. The Conference will be held November 8-10, 2004 in Des Moines, Iowa. For agenda details and conference registration, turn to pages 15-16-17 of this issue.

COMPOST QUALITY ALLIANCE LAUNCHED IN CANADA
At its 14th annual conference in Gatineau, Quebec last month, the Composting Council of Canada (CCC) launched the Compost Quality Alliance (Alliance de la Qualite), a voluntary industry quality program. Established by the CCC and compost producers, the program is designed to utilize standardized testing methodologies and uniform operating protocols to improve customer confidence in compost selection and utilization. The Compost Quality Alliance (CQA) is open to all compost producers, focusing on product versus process. Participants follow prescribed sampling frequency and reporting methods. There is an annual licensing arrangement ($700/year for CCC members; $1,000 for nonmembers) to use the CQA logo on packaging and product promotion. "We will spend the next six months meeting with and signing up compost producers," says Susan Antler, Executive Director of the CCC, which will be managing and promoting CQA. "We actually had a few sign up the day we launched the program at our annual conference." The CQA will be announced to the public in the spring of 2005, with a major promotion during International Compost Awareness Week, scheduled for the first week of May 2005.

For composters in the CQA, the frequency of product testing is based on annual compost production, e.g. four samples during production season for facilities producing one to 5,000 metric tons/year, six samples if a facility produces 5,000 to 15,000 metric tons/year, and 12 samples for production volumes over 15,000 metric tons/year. Product samples need to be submitted to a CQA-accredited laboratory; testing involves regulatory requirements as well as agronomic parameters. Product attributes to be communicated on an ongoing basis to product users are a guaranteed analysis that includes organic matter content, maximum moisture, pH, C/N ratio, particle size, soluble salts and sodium. The declaration also will include directions for use. For more information on the Compost Quality Alliance, visit www.compost.org; or call 877-571-4769 (416-535-0240). A list of CQA-approved laboratories is available at the compost.org website.

VEHICLE RESEARCH INSTITUTE TAKES CLOSE LOOK AT MANURE AND BIOGAS
Since 1972, more than 20 vehicles have been designed and built by undergraduate students and faculty at the Vehicle Research Institute (VRI) at Western Washington University. More than $7 million have been raised by VRI in grants from government, industry and private individuals to complete various projects. Now, reports the Seattle Times, the director of VRI, Eric Leonhardt in Bellingham, Washington wants to transform manure into biogas to fuel a hybrid vehicle running on compressed natural gas.
According to reporter Kristi Heim, the biogas process is being perfected in Goteborg, Sweden, where biogas is sold at fuel stations. "Volvo produces ‘Bi-Fuel’ versions of most of its models, which run on methane but have petroleum backup tanks," she writes. Ultimately, natural gas, hydrogen fuel cells and biodiesel are expected to play a role in these developments.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of the concept, VRI’s Leonhardt is described as concentrating on improving the natural gas engine and its ability to run on biogas. Under its former director, Michael Seal, VRI produced 37 cars and won competitions around the world using solar power and similar technologies — such as biodiesel, ethanol, methanol and natural gas. "By running on a fuel that is otherwise a waste product, it’s much better than any other alternative we can see," observes Seal. "What comes in the intake is dirtier than what goes out the tailpipe."

By Seal’s and Leonhardt’s calculations, two dairy cows would produce enough manure to drive a car 10,000 miles a year. Sums up Linda Graham, director of the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition: "None of them (alternative fuels) work in every type of vehicle for every purpose. We need that full variety to meet all our needs and displace as much petroleum as we can with something that is cleaner and domestic."

HEALTH & SAFETY GUIDE ISSUED BY UK COMPOSTING ASSOCIATION
A publication titled, Health & Safety at Composting Sites: A Guide for Site Managers, has been published by The Composting Association of the United Kingdom. (Visit: www.compost.org.uk) "The treatment of biodegradable wastes at composting, anaerobic digestion and mechanical biological treatment facilities across the UK is set to increase substantially in the future," begins the Guide. "This necessarily means that more workers will need to be employed to manage and operate these systems, presenting new challenges in occupational health and safety management."

The Association hopes that the Guide will provide managers with practical advice. The contents reflect their goals as this summary of chapters indicates: Legal Obligations; Training Employees; Composting and Bioaerosols; Control of Hazardous Substances; Health Surveillance; Safe Working Practices; and Personal Protective Equipment.

The chapter on Managing Composting Facilities ranges from pretreatment of incoming feedstocks, windrow turning to good hygienic practices and site management. For details about obtaining a copy, contact The Composting Association, Avon House, Tithe Barn Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NNB 1DH, England. (info@compost.org.uk).

INVESTMENTS FROM POWER COMPANIES IN JAPAN HELP LAUNCH RENEWABLE ENERGY FUNDS
Investments from Japan’s Chubu Electric Power Co., Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Mitsubishi Corporation and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have created the Global-Asia Clean Energy Services Fund — Asia’s first fund for energy service companies (ESCOs) and clean energy projects. As explained by the Japan for Sustainability electronic newsletter, an ESCO is a special type of company that provides services to boost energy efficiency through equipment improvements and guarantees the energy efficiency, receiving returns based on the customers’ reduced energy costs.

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PROJECTS GET SUPPORT FROM USDA GRANTS
The selection of 167 recipients from 26 states to support renewable energy initiatives was announced in mid-September by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A large percentage of the awards will support anaerobic digesters as well as small and large wind power ventures. The $22.8 million in competitive grants included almost $21 million for renewable energy projects and $1.8 million for energy efficiency projects. The top three renewable energy categories were anaerobic digesters, wind and biomass. Top award winners by states included:
Wisconsin – $6,262,836; Minnesota – $5,186,899; Mississippi – $11619,584; New York – $1,427,748; Ohio – $1,000,000; Idaho – $900,000; and Pennsylvania – $828,113.
Notes Andy Olson of the Environmental Law and Policy Center: "The number of energy efficiency awards increased dramatically, to 73 from 24 in FY2003. This good news is a direct result of our collective efforts to improve the program with lower grant limits and streamlined application requirements." To learn more about these topics, visit http://www.farmenergy.org.
Some examples of projects receiving grants for anaerobic digesters included the following: California – Tollenaar Holsteins – $198,282; Van Warmerdam – $148,158; Cal-Denier – $101,831; Minnesota – Vreba-Hoff Dairy – $500,000; Durst Bros. Dairy – $249,741; Diamond K Dairy– $320,125; New York – Bioenergy Cooperative of Perry, Inc. – $500,000; Allenwaite Farms – $252,983; Porterdale Dairy – $350,650; Hardie Farms – $153,960; Ohio – Wenning Poultry – $500,000; Pennsylvania – Four Winds Farm – $196,978; Penn England Farm – $203,725; Vermont – Blue Spruce Farm – $97,318; Wisconsin – Norswiss Digester – $180,000; Emerald Dairy $500,000; Dic-Wisco Farms – $254,768; Gordondale Farms – $124,669; Dairyland Farm – $260,741.

REGIONAL ACTIVATED SLUDGE FACILITY USES MIXING SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE RENEWABLE ENERGY FLOWS
The Moreno Valley Water Reclamation Plant in the Hemet/ San Jacinto, California region, has four anaerobic digesters with a total volume of 1.2 million gallons, where the gas is utilized in engine-driven blowers; hot water is recovered from the jacket water waste heat for digester heating. Each digester mixing system uses a Vaughan Chopper Pump with internal nozzles to provide the flow needed to give 90 percent complete mixing in 30 minutes. According to Steve Ingersoll, plant manager, and Paul Cockrell, a mechanical engineer who specializes in digesters, gas production increased about 80 percent with the pump mixing and nozzle system. Raw sludge feed rotates around to each digester, based on time. On average, about 1.5 of the 4 mixing systems are continuously operating; measured gas production data indicates the digesters are performing well with this mixing schedule.
Besides improving digester performance, the project savings amount to about $200,000/year. With a total installed capital cost of $400,000, payback period is two years.

PAPER RECYCLING AWARDS ARE PART OF 55 PERCENT RECOVERY CAMPAIGN
Three special recycling awards have been established to support the paper industry’s campaign to recover 55 percent of all paper consumed in the U.S. by 2012. While announcing the launch of the awards, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) explained that the Recognizing Individual award would be named the Ed Hurley Memorial Paper Recycling Award for his 35 years’ work in the paperboard, containerboard and recycling industries. Communities that serve as role models for cities of more than (as well as less than) 100,000 would be eligible for the Recognizing Committee award including a $2,000 monetary prize. Businesses that increase paper recovery through educational and cost-effective programs and partnerships would be recipients of Recognizing Business awards and prizes; separate categories will cover firms with more than (and fewer than) 150 employees. For details about judging criteria, visit www.afandpa.org/recycling. Award applications are due by January 15, 2005. AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest, paper and wood products industry.

SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY KEEPS BOTTLE BILLS "BOTTLED UP"
In New York, the beer and soft drink industries along with food retailers are reported to have spent $2 million to lobby against "Bigger, Better Bottle Bills." As reported in the latest issue of the Container Recycling Institute’s newsletter, the proposed bill in the NY State legislature (first introduced in 2002) would expand the state’s 21-year-old bottle bill to include bottled water, ready-to-drink teas and other noncarbonated beverages. It would also require distributors and bottlers to return unclaimed deposits to the State Environmental Protection Fund. The Institute estimates that as much as $180 million a year in unclaimed deposits would be available for environmental protection if the bill became law. "Why is, the bill ... bottled up in Albany," ask Laura Haight of the New York Public Interest Research Group. "The answer is simple: money talks. Money is the great divide between special interests and the public interest."

Meanwhile, statewide public opinion polls conducted in New York, Iowa and Michigan reveal that support for bottle bills "is robust across all sectors of the population." These survey results, declares Pat Franklin, executive director of the Container Recycling Institute, "confirm what has been found in dozens of other statewide and national polls conducted over the past three decades."

BioCycle October 2004, Vol. 45, No. 10, p. 14

CLEANING UP HURRICANE DEBRIS … AFTER CHARLEY, IVAN AND JEANNE
Coming issues of BioCycle will report how Florida communities are working with organics recyclers in places like St. Petersburg, Orlando, Gainesville , Stuart and elsewhere to deal with downed trees and woody debris. For now, these experiences reported in past issues may provide some insights for steps to be taken in coming weeks and months.
Twelve years ago, when Hurricane Hugo hit the Carolinas, a Mecklenburg County official in Charlotte said that they didn’t have landfill capacity to bury all the debris. The county immediately set up sites for contractors and residents to take yard waste, stumps and trees — seven sites totaling 100 acres were spread out for drop off. "We used old and existing landfills, space at the airport, vacant city and county property," recalled Cary Saul of Mecklenburg’s engineering staff. Processing the material took 17 months. Four contractors with 10 tub grinders were hired; Mulch was given away free. "We allowed people to come on the sites and take what they wanted. We set aside hardwood that was cut in firewood length, and that disappeared quickly." Total price tag back in 1992 was $7 million.
Officials kept very careful accounting of waste processed as well as associated costs. Accounting was crucial for reimbursement from agencies.
Based on their experiences in dealing with the carnage of broken trees, smashed roofs and downed power lines following a tornado, officials in Sandusky, Ohio stress that "the most important thing is maintaining communication with area residents and businesses." They now know how vital it is to inform people about an organized cleanup plan and what they can do. The plan should first designate agreed-upon areas where debris can be temporarily piled.
Another crucial step in handling downed trees is to separate the brush from the logs. Into the brush piles should go any branches of less than six inches diameter (or whatever the chipper will handle). Larger pieces can go directly into the log pile. Stumps too large or unwieldy are usually best handled with stump-chipping machines, if available. According to Sharon Barnes of Barnes Nursery whose company chipped and windrowed tree debris after the tornado:
"Even when the brush is going to be handled by forklifts and fed into a big grinder, the job goes much faster when the brush is separated from the heavier log material, and piled neatly with the butts all together. The savings can be considerable. We charged $180 an hour back in 1992 with our large capacity Willibald grinder and an operator, plus $55 an hour if we did the forklifting."
In Washington State, after a freak winter storm destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of trees, the city of Olympia and Thurston County offered chipping services plus drop off sites for debris. Three private contractors were hired — one with a Morbark chipper plus 3-person crew; another with a Vermeer and 2-person crews. More debris also went directly to a local composter.