CEM Ready to Begin Phase One of Composting Project

Thanks to approximately $27,000 in funding from Materials and Manufacturing Ontario (MMO), MIRARCO’s Centre for Environmental Monitoring (CEM) will be starting Phase One of a project entitled "Process Optimization with an Aerobic Bio-Reactor for Waste Management." Phase One of the project will involve further testing of a composting technology manufactured by Gagnon Renewable Resources Inc. – the Bio-Reactor. CEM has a proposal pending for Phase Two, a two-year project composting a wide variety of organic wastes using a smaller research-scale Bio-Reactor.

Research using the Bio-Reactor began in May 2002 by Jackie Richard of CEM, through a project entitled “The Use of an Aerobic Bio-Reactor in Fish Waste Composting". Though Gagnon Renewable Resources Inc. knew the technology of their 18-tonne tunnel of steel had great merit, they needed high-quality research to back up their claims, and found the expertise in CEM.

The purpose of the initial project was to investigate the rapid decomposition of fish waste and sawdust in the Bio-Reactor, an in-vessel, aerobic composting unit developed by Gagnon Renewable Resources Inc. in Kagawong on Manitoulin Island. The first step was to create a “recipe," using ingredients that were readily available on the Island: 2900 kg of fisheries processing waste from local fish farms and 2300 kg of sawdust from local mills. These massive quantities were added to the Bio-Reactor, along with water and a bacteriological agent to catalyse the decomposition. Five days later, the experiment yielded a product that was ready to be set-aside for the maturation phase. Researchers were amazed at the speedy progress, as current methods take months to arrive at the same state.

Organic waste products are everywhere: university, hospital and prison food waste; restaurant waste; municipal solid waste; factory waste; and even household waste. Along with the large scale Bio-Reactor, there is much opportunity to create “mini" Bio-Reactors for restaurant chains, or even a centralized Reactor in each municipality.

According to Ms Richard, composting could divert up to 65% of organic materials from landfill sites. “Nobody wants a landfill in their backyard, and composting could provide an alternative," said Richard. The material could then be directed to a waste composting plant and turned into a commercial soil amendment product to replace synthetic fertilizer. The products could be the perfect organic complement for gardens and other horticultural applications.

Though results are promising, the intitial experiment showed a few areas needing further investigation. Bio-Reactors could become an excellent tool for municipal or industrial waste management, but for now manufacturing costs may make it only a tool for those who can afford it. Also, the current output did not reach the required nutrient and temperature levels, as outlined in the Ministry of Environment and Energy’s Composting Guidelines. This means that further research is required to create the optimal compost recipe. New ingredients being considered include wood, straw, leaf waste, paper sludge, yard waste and barnyard waste.

To read about this story in the Fall 2003 issue of the Laurentian Magazine click on the link below:
LU Magazine, Fall 2003, Composting Gets Fishy with New Biotechnology (pdf, 212kb)
(French version, pdf, 211kb)

For more information please contact Jacqueline Richard, CEM, by phone at (705) 675-1151 x 2014 or by email at jrichard@mirarco.org