Transform Compost Systems
Turning Waste Into An Opportunity

The four 0.5 cubic meter stainless steel composters under construction.

The temperature control and aeration is controlled by a computer and National Instruments software.

The composters mimic the process in a full scale system by using an aerated floor. They also have a water jacket where the temperature of the water is controlled by the temperature of the composting organic material.

Animal Manure as a Source of Greenhouse Gas

We have started research on greenhouse gas emission during composting. This research is in collaboration with the University of Guelph

Objectives of this research include:
• Quantifying nitrous oxide, methane and ammonia emissions from solid hog manure, or liquid hog manure composted with straw or woodwaste.
• Gaining more understanding of the factors controlling emission of nitrous oxide and methane during the composting process.
• Developing composting strategies that minimize emissions of greenhouse gases, but also consider ammonia emission and the value of the composted product.

Manure management is one of the greatest limitations to environmental sustainability of the hog industry. Environmental concerns with liquid hog manure management include nitrate and phosphorus contamination of surface and groundwater, ammonia emission and redeposition, and greenhouse gas emission (nitrous oxide and methane).
Methane is emitted from the manure during storage in lagoons or concrete tanks. Nitrous oxide is emitted from the soil following land application. Ammonia is emitted from the barn, during manure storage and following land application.
There is concerted effort to develop new strategies for sustainable management of hog manure to minimize water quality concerns. Composting is one strategy that allows the nutrients in hog manure to be recycled efficiently. We need to be sure that we also address air quality concerns. We know that methane emissions can be eliminated by a well designed composting process. We need to understand more about the nitrous oxide emission, and how we can minimize emission during the composting process.

This project is funded by the Climate Change Action Fund, Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks. In-kind support is provided by the University of Guelph and Transform Compost Systems. We appreciated the excellent work of Dennis Goosen, Ted Fowler and Mike Fowler in putting together the research composting units.

Fax 604.504.5666
Email: info@transformcompost.com
Website: www.transformcompost.com

Hogs are an important agricultural commodity in Canada.

Traditional management of hog manure of liquid hog manure carries the potential for environmental concerns.

Hog manure can be composted and pelletized to produce a high quality organic-based fertilizer product.