BIOSOLIDS COMPOST: RESEARCH NEEDS FOR MAKING A GREAT PRODUCT

Of all the forms that biosolids can take, none seems to be more preferred by the public than compost. Composting is not the cheapest of biosolids disposition methods, and, although it rests on the most ancient of biological processes, neither is it the easiest method. Biosolids composting had its root in research at the USDA back in the mid 1970s, with early windrow and static piles methods, and today BioCycle Magazine counts in its annual survey over 200 biosolids composting facilities nationwide. While forays into mechanized composting have yielded some very successful facilities, many of us still rely on the “old-fashioned” pile systems. Regardless of system, the application of sound technical principles and attention to end user requirements can yield a compost product that earns fierce customer loyalty. Yet, sometimes, the drive to save costs of operation and to deal with limitations of time and space compel operators to look for shortcuts. This can lead to problems, unless great care is taken. Therefore, composting, a popular a biosolids handling method, deserves special research attention.