Abstract |
Where costs of municipal solid waste disposal are high, composting can offer a least-cost alternative of landfill and incineration. Traditional agricultural uses for compost do not appear viable. More attractive are potential uses as an industrial raw material. For compost to be so used necessitates that it be produced to ensure maximum biological stability and particle uniformity. Under these conditions we project the following potential markets by 1990: organic carrier for non-farm fertilizers, 3,000,000 tons; artificial roughage for cattle feeds, 2,700,000 tons; raw material for insulating and hard boards, 1,500,000 tons; cellulose fiber for artificial lumber and/or paper, 6,000,000 tons. The value of finished compost under these conditions will be, at least, $6.00-$8.00 per ton (1970 dollars), delivered to the industrial user. This price will cover transportation of finished compost to the user, but not costs of production. As prices of virginal commodities increase, the economics of compost will become increasingly attractive. |