Green Waste Receiving Area near Gatehouse
July 2001
Ecowaste embarked on a program which included a pilot yard waste composting program initiated in the Spring of 1992, and a full scale program which commenced in the Fall of 1992. The company currently accepts green waste from residents of Richmond under agreement with the City of Richmond, as well as green waste received from citizens and companies operating throughout the Greater Vancouver Regional District.
Green Waste Receiving Area near Gatehouse July 2001 |
Green waste is received at the Richmond Landfill, located in East Richmond. The company has two stockpile areas for receiving green waste. A small paved area immediately west of the gatehouse was constructed for Richmond residents only at the beginning of 1998. In the Spring of 1998, a larger paved area accommodating all customers was opened just west of the gatehouse. From these locations the material is transshipped by Ecowaste to the processing area. Large commercial haulers will still deposit their material at a stockpile located near the processing area. |
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The type of refuse accepted under this program is called Clean Green ®. (Note: a list of acceptable and unacceptable materials for composting is given under the Clean Green link) (Why certain materials are unacceptable for composting)
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 Richmond Resident unloading Clean Green March 2002 |
| Green waste is processed using a grinder on intervals dictated by the accumulation
of material. Commercial equipment of proven design is employed by subcontractors for this
operation.
Grinding equipment is either of the "tub grinder" design (photo to right) or of the "horizontal grinder" design (photo below) |
 Mobile tub grinder with grapple and stacking conveyer Composite photo taken on Ecowaste site |
 Mobile Horizontal Shaft Grinder Photo taken on Ecowaste site June 2001 |
The yard waste grinder is normally fed with an excavator,
and additional equipment (excavator, front end loader or bulldozer) may be
used to assist in the processing. Where the grinder has a grapple
(photo above), the grapple may be used in combination with other
equipment.
The ground material is then relocated to the windrow area, typically using 6 wheel articulated off road dump trucks. |
| The ground materials are then windrow composted. The windrows have been
constructed in a large level area where filling has been completed.
When specialized turning equipment is employed (such as the "Wildcat" windrow turner shown to the right) initial windrows are approximately 2.5 m in height, 6 m in width and 75 m in length. As the volume of material decreases through the composting process, windrows are combined to retain a suitable size for heat retention and cost effective turning. Minimum windrow dimensions are approximately 2.3 m in height and 4.5 m in width. |
 Turning Windrows with "Wildcat" Windrow Turner mounted on Cat 966 Wheel Loader Photo taken on Ecowaste site |
As an alternative to specialized turning equipment, front end loaders or excavators can be used. For the last few years, Ecowaste has used a special type of bucket mounted on an excavator to turn the compost windrows.
Initial windrow are 4.5 to 6 m in height and 7.5 to 9 m in height.
Windrows are monitored for temperature and moisture content and turned as indicated by temperature measurements.
 Turning Windrows with "Rake" on Excavator Photo taken on Ecowaste site November 2002 |
 Turning Windrows with Wheel Loader Photo taken on Ecowaste site |
Compost Windrow Area
Composite photo taken on Ecowaste site November 2002
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Following the active composting stage, the material is formed into a static pile for curing. The compost is utilized by Delta Topsoil or sold to other users approximately 6 to 18 months following initial receipt of the material. The cured compost is included in the materials used by Delta Topsoil for blending of standard and custom soil mixes. Unscreened compost has also been incorporated into the surface of final cover material for the landfill operation and has proved valuable for establishing a vegetative cover. Compost being produced by Ecowaste is classified as Type A and therefore has unrestricted distribution. |
 Loading compost from windrows for transfer to Delta Topsoil Photo taken on Ecowaste site June 2001 |
Given the size of the site, and the adjacent agricultural uses of the land, a satisfactory level of odour control has been achieved using open air windrows actively turned to avoid anaerobic decomposition. The composting area is in the approximate centre of Ecowaste's 160 hectare land holding, and is therefore well buffered from neighbouring properties.
Leachate from the compost area is collected and treated. A comprehensive leachate control system was installed by the Company during 1988 as part of the environmental controls for the landfill operation. The system was extended in 1995/96 as part of a lateral expansion of the landfill.
The leachate control system includes membranes, buried collector pipes and open ditches. The leachate is directed through an aeration pond and into the marsh area on the north side of the site, where it passes through an engineered marsh system initially designed by BC Research to provide natural treatment. From here the leachate flows to a final aeration treatment pond before being discharged to a Nursery Ditch. The water is then discharged into the No. 7 Road ditch. The leachate is discharged under Operational Certificate MR-04922 issued by the BC Environment. Sampling and analysis of water is done at locations and frequencies specified in the Operational Certificate.
The compost facility started operation before there were any formal regulations, although the provincial Production and Use of Compost Regulation, which became effective January 1, 1994, was in draft form and the operation was tailored to conform to these regulations. When the Production and Use of Compost Regulation was in force, the facility was operated in accordance with the regulation.
On March 25, 1997, the facility was licenced by the Greater Vancouver Sewerage & Drainage District (Licence C-007). On October 14, 1998, the facility was specifically authorized in Operational Certificate MR-04922.
The Production and Use of Compost Regulation was replaced by the Organic Material Recycling Regulation ("OMRR"), effective February 5, 2002. Under OMRR Section 3.(2)(a)(i), OMRR does not apply to any composting facility authorized by an operational certificate. Nevertheless, the facility is operated as appropriate in accordance with the requirements of OMRR.
© Ecowaste Industries Ltd.
last modified 2005-11-22