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MANUAL FOR COMPOSTING SEWAGE SLUDGE BY THE BELTSVILLE AERATED-PILE METHOD
Citation:
Willson, G., J. Parr, E. Epstein, P. Marsh, AND R. Chaney. MANUAL FOR COMPOSTING SEWAGE SLUDGE BY THE BELTSVILLE AERATED-PILE METHOD. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-80/022.
Description:
In producing clean water from sewage, wastewater treatment plants also produce sludge. Most of the commonly used methods to dispose of this material are now considered to be either environmentally unacceptable, wasteful of energy, or very expensive. To ease this situation, a relatively simple, rapid, and inexpensive sludge composting process has been developed. The method makes possible the conversion of undigested sludge into a composted product that is aesthetically acceptable and meets environmental standards. The material has demonstrated usefulness as a soil amendment stimulative to plant growth. If relatively simple control procedures are followed, the compost appears to be free of primary human pathogens because of the lethal effect of heat generated during the composting process on such organisms. The composting procedure represents a major advance over previously known composting methods. It is adaptable to practical use in municipalities of widely varying size. In many situations its short startup time will allow its use as an emergency interim solution for sludge management. Key information is presented on the economics of the process, and on the marketing and use of the product as a soil conditioner to improve plant growth.