Brent Hansen Environmental Commercial Composting

Brent Hansen Environmental  Industry leader  Practices Sustainable Development  Treats waste as a resource to be harvested  Waste management initiatives must also be.socially / economically viable  Community education & awareness is key

Commercial Composting as Sustainable Development:  Integrated enviro & economic decisions  Stewardship and Conservation  Waste minimization – all the R’s  Reduce - Reuse – Recycle - Recover - Rethink  Balancing the environmental, social, and economic impacts of our decisions.

Residential Waste Composition Source: WRAPP 1996

Setting Up The Commercial Composting Operation of Airfield Organics  Sustainable Development Factors  Regulatory Perspective  Operational Perspective  Economic Perspective & Sustainability  Environmental & Social Benefits

Airfield Organics  Established in 2001  Operational ….February 2002  Partnership between:  B H E  Airfield Farms Ltd.

Regulatory Protocol  Identify an appropriate site  Manitoba Conservation guidelines  Suitable source “raw” organic waste  Sufficient volumes are needed to be viable  Regional planning permission hoops  Manitoba Conservation requirements  Manure management plan  Annual operational reports  Liability & Impairment Insurance

Airfield Composting Pad

Operational Perspective Due Diligence Site Standards  Leachate containment  Monitor “raw” feedstock as added  Ground water monitoring – quarterly  Surface water monitoring - 3 times a year  Analyze compost curing status – quarterly

Airfield Organics Site

Airfield Leachate Collection Ditch

Operational Activities  Preparing a pad  Stacking rows  Turning / windrowing  Temperature monitoring  Adding moisture  Source  Pumping / transporting / introduction

Re-stacking Rows Windrow Turning

Loading leachate for moisture addition Introducing moisture to rows

CCME Class A Guidelines Assessment of Curing Status:  C/N ratio less than 25  Must be cured for 6-month period/no longer reheats  Does not contain any visible contaminants  Must not contain any sharp matter  Minerals/rocks/soil/wood/sand acceptable To Kill Pathogens using Windrow Method:  Waste must attain temperature of 55 C+ for at least 15.consecutive days and turned 5X during this period.

Finished Compost Windrow

Environmental Benefits of Commercial Composting  Extend life of landfill  Reduce methane gas  Managed leachate  Production of enviro-friendly.organic soil amendment  Meet Kyoto targets & credits

Social Benefits  Quality of life  Seven Generational Philosophy  Linked with other factors like job creation  Community pride  Increased awareness and participation of.all.the R’s

Economic Perspective  Access funding support  Ensure financial sustainability  Appropriate scale for community  Quantify labor, fuel, equipment costs  Charge realistic ‘Fee for Service’  End sales of product a small part  Allow time to develop quality product

BHE provides Communities with a One-Stop Shop to set up and maintain a commercial compost site:  Knowledge of rural Manitoba needs  Professional engineering services  Secure licensing and government approvals  Satisfy due diligence concerns  Product quality and marketing strategies  Community education workshops / materials

Brent Hansen Environmental th Street Brandon, MB R7A 4G2 Ph: Fx: