Large Commercial Scale Composting can be both Economically Sustainable, and a very good neighbor, and environmentally responsible.
We’ve got to conserve our resources, and improve soil health, so we can have healthy food, a prerequisite for our own health. WE can achieve that goal, and have the process earn a sustainable Return On Investment, by using technologies that we’ve developed. That other food composters may not be earning a nice ROI only means that they have not discovered what we have through our hands-on in-house R&D. Economy of scale is vital. Small scales isn’t economically sustainable.
Food waste is a major portion of our overall waste stream, on a global scale. Composting, neighbor and environmentally responsible, can be a major part of the solution. The leadership team must make the overall operation Economically Viable, Profitable, for it to be sustainable, for it to attract investor capital.
For commercial food composting to be economically sustainable, profitable, requires a holistic approach. It’s got to be treated as a business, with gross revenues exceeding all expenses. Recognizing the vital role of Research and Development, Marketing has to be designed to generate more than enough revenues to financially cover the R&D. The R&D has to focus on getting answers to practical questions, improving process efficiency and finished product performance.
All composting also has to be neighbor friendly with NO foul odors. Take as an example this: Woodhue Composting, NY Times article. Regardless of the marketing successes at Woodhue, both front end, and finished product sales, having their permit revoked put them out of business, and being fined $1.5 million on top of that, may not qualify as sustainable business management in the eyes of the investors and everyone else.
Composting facilities can be well managed and be great neighbors, with visionary leadership and investors.
Our perspective on composting takes a holistic approach, balancing business, science, micro-biology, process strategies that massively improve efficiency beyond industry norms; marketing, public relations, everything. Team leadership can promote a mantra of: "How can we improve our operations, and enjoy the process?" Team profit sharing can give everyone on the team a vested interest in long and short term profit.
Recognizing that the microbes, though we may not be able to see them with the naked eye, are vital members of our team, we focus on empowering those microbial master composters. We are dependant upon the microbes to do the actual composting. Thus, we must be able to quantify their activity through both oxygen consumption (aeration requirements), and direct estimates of the population of active bacteria and fungi present in the active compost. If active bacteria have a natural life span of 20 minutes, then that assaying has to be on site, striving to complete the staining with Fluorsescein Diacetate within 20 minutes of pulling the sample from the compost of interest. We want to know what is going on in the pile of compost, not compost in a zip lock bag for 24 hours in route to an outside lab. We’ve got to be able to measure performance, including microbial activity, as a tool for improving the composting process.
Foul odors are the #1 reason for composting facilities to be forced to shut down, so if you don’t know how to eliminate all foul odors, maybe composting is not the right business for you. The economic consequences of foul odors are disastrous.
The microbes are a key part of the overall composting team, even if they cannot be seen with the naked eye. Understanding the microbial end of composting is a never ending learning adventure. Knowing how to empower the microbes is vital to success in composting.
Copying technologies that already have demonstrated severe limitations is inviting the same results, the limitations. Of course the marketing teams selling those technologies only stress their advantages, and likely don’t even know about the limitations. An example is the aerated static pile technology, whether Gore Cover, AG-Bag or open windrows with forced aeration; look at the population of active bacteria, over time, compared to compost that is on well managed 24/7 forced aeration, that is being turned daily.
What is the optimal oxygen level in the compost? Why do you believe that is the optimal level of oxygen? What evidence supports that belief? We’ve looked at these questions, and done the research; and we continue the research.
What is the ‘best’ process technology, the most profitable? How can that be improved?
What is the "best" revenue balance? Can finished product sales provide enough revenue to cover the entire operation? What other options are there? What are the best feedstocks to target? Why do you think those feedstocks are the best? These are just a few of the basic questions that must be answered.
We’re seeking one or more key people to help grow the business. Alignment is everything. Commitment to making this a better world, with the profit being a byproduct of providing that value, instead of the primary focus being on monetary, material rewards, is vital to being part of our team.
Those interested in more information about making composting economically attractive can contact me at:
John Crockett, CEO
Mother Nature’s Farms
Carmel, New York
jac@magicsoil.com
http://www.magicsoil.com
1 (845) 225-7763