The Komptech commercial composting process

Composting windrows
Composting windrows

Commercial composting of green waste involves a series of steps where various types of machinery are used to process the organic material into high-quality compost. The Komptech range of machines is specifically designed to handle these tasks efficiently.

  • 1

    Green waste is shredded into smaller pieces using Komptech shredders.

  • 2

    Shredded material is arranged into windrows to optimise aerobic decomposition.

  • 3

    Windrows are periodically turned using the Topturn X to maintain aeration and proper moisture levels.

  • 5

    The compost is screened with machines like Multistar and Cribus to achieve the desired particle size and quality.

  • 4

    Contaminants are removed using separators like Hurrikan and Stonefex.

1. Shredding

The first step in the composting process is shredding the green waste to reduce its size and increase the surface area for microbial activity. The Komptech  shredder range includes:

  • Crambo: A slow speed two-shaft shredder that can handle a variety of materials, including wood and green waste, reducing them to a manageable size.
Komptech Crambo shredder

2. Formation of windrows

After shredding, the material is formed into windrows, which are long, narrow piles of composting material. This maximises the surface area exposed to air, aiding the aerobic decomposition process.

Komptech Multistar Screener

3. Aeration with windrow turners

Aeration is crucial to maintain the aerobic conditions necessary for composting. Komptech’s windrow turners are used to mix the material, ensuring even decomposition and preventing anaerobic conditions:

  • Topturn X: This machine turns the windrows, mixing the material and allowing air to penetrate the pile, which helps control temperature and moisture levels.
Komptech Topturn windrow turner

4. Screening the finished compost

The final step in the composting process is screening the compost to ensure a uniform product that meets quality standards. Komptech offers high-performance screeners for this task:

  • Multistar: A star screen system that separates the compost into different fractions based on particle size. It can handle both wet and dry materials efficiently.
  • Nemus: A trommel screener that provides high throughput and precise separation, ensuring the final compost product is of high quality.
  • Cribus: Offering the same facilities as the Nemus, the Cribus is equipped with electric / diesel  hybrid drive.
Komptech Maxx trommel screener

5. Separation of contaminants

Once the composting process is underway, it is important to separate contaminants and non-organic materials from the compost. Komptech provides several separators for this purpose, including:

  • Hurrikan S: An efficient machine for removing light materials, such as plastics and foils, from the compost.
  • Stonefex: Specifically designed to remove stones and other heavy contaminants from the composted material.
Komptech Metalfex separator