Current FORCE Projects
On-farm Composting Demonstration
The purpose of this project was to demonstrate proper design and operational procedures for on-farm composting. The specific focus was(a) use of off-farm vegetative waste to optimize composting of yard trash or manure generated on the farm, or (b) use of off-farm yard trash as part of manure management operations regulated under Chapter 62-670, F.A.C.
This project served both research and demonstration objectives. Materials handling and composting activities were closely monitored, and data regarding operational procedures, best practices, feedstock and compost quality, and economics was gathered. The information obtained and the operation itself demonstrated and helped to promote efficient and environmentally-sound on-farm composting.
READ THE FINAL REPORT HERE [click]
Pre-consumer Food Waste Composting Demonstration
The purpose of this project is to establish a composting demonstration for source-separated food waste (vegetative waste and animal by-products) from supermarkets. The project will demonstrate proper design and operations and help to promote diversion of this major source of food waste in Florida. The project is conceived as a demonstration of what can be accomplished under the proposed revisions to Chapter 62-709, F.A.C. that provides a registration process for source-separated pre-consumer food waste composting. Separate compost piles will be constructed using vegetative waste versus animal by-products, incorporating yard trash as the bulking agent.
READ THE FINAL REPORT HERE [click]
Compost Training Course
The purpose of this project was to design and implement a Florida-specific training program for compost facility operators (e.g., public, private, farmers, grocers) or those to compost under the proposed registration program. The course was developed using as a starting and reference point the SWANA Compost Certification Program which, while providing an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of composting, does not deal with Florida’s unique climate and organic wastes. Florida-specific issues – e.g. physical characteristics of yard trash, potential for large amounts of storm debris, major agricultural and food manufacturing industry, and impact of tropical climate on composting operations – were incorporated into the Florida Composting Training program. The one and a half day workshop was held in three locations across the state during January 2011.
Major topics covered included: regulations, feedstock characteristics and selection, materials handling, active composting, post-processing, monitoring and testing, odor control, diagnosis and solutions for optimal composting, compost marketing, and community relations. The curriculum entailed a combination of lecture, case studies, small group exercises, and peer-to-peer discussion. ACCESS THE LEARNING MODULES HERE: [click]