The EU Landfill Directive is driving local authorities to reduce biodegradable waste input into landfill in order to minimise methane emissions (a potent greenhouse gas). Furthermore, the EU and UK Governments have set stringent recycling targets for municipal waste. By extracting Green Waste (Garden / Park Waste) from the waste stream, not only does it reduce biodegradable waste inputs to landfill, but also qualifies as a contributor to meeting Local Authority recycling targets.

Open Windrow Composting
Controlling the levels of water and oxygen and balancing the carbon: nitrogen ratio are the main management drivers for successful Open Windrow Composting. After these are achieved, time is required to produce low odour, efficient volume reduction and a value-added end product.

The size of the site designates licencing requirements and it is rare to get a new licence without fulfilling the Environment Agency's standards - these include construction designs and quality processes to control litter, dust, vermin, odour and leachate/surface run-off.

The Agrivert Open Windrow Composting System
Agrivert obtains and builds its own facilities including all planning permissions and adhering to the standards applied by the Environment Agency. This includes site construction to a specification to control leachate/surface run-off (see Sealed Surfaces) and operating protocols to control litter, dust, vermin and odour. Locations are selected on their proximity to Local Authority Green Waste collection rounds.

Waste Specification
A very wide spectrum of Green Waste can be processed. Prior to shredding, hand picking of large contaminants keeps large objects out of the system. At the end of the process, all screening operations have the option of wind sifting to move plastic and litter, making the Agrivert Open Window Composting System a very forgiving operation in relation to Green Waste input.

Pedigree
Agrivert has been building and operating Open Windrow Composting Systems for over three years and currently compost 60,000 tonnes per year for Local Authorities.