The TopTurn X is one type of machine that helps industrial composting work. Photographed at the 2012 Waste Expo in Las Vegas. Photo: Jennifer Berry, Earth911
Have you ever wondered how industrial composting facilities mix and maintain so much compost? It certainly would be a difficult task to accomplish by hand.
Compost must be turned regularly to ensure proper ventilation, aerobic decomposition (a process which uses oxygen and helps the pile to not give off unsavory odors), proper microbe mixture, even water dispersion and a host of other considerations.
Industrial Compost in Action: San Francisco Collects Millionth Ton of Scraps
While a variety of machines exist to accomplish the task of turning compost windrows, it’s possible that none quite resemble a spaceship the way the Topturn X does. Made by Komptech, the machine turns compost to produce perfect windrows, adds water during the process to evenly hydrate the pile and utilizes an efficient diesel engine. It also has fun and functional features, such as a telescoping frame to accommodate any size compost pile and a cabin for the driver which lowers to the ground for easy (and safer) entry.
A look at the TopTurn X in action:
As machinery becomes more advanced and efficient, composting itself could have a better chance at becoming more widely available nationwide. Tony Pierce, who works in parts for Komptech, said it best when we discussed the expansion of industrial composting: “It’s coming.”
Company Turns Expired Groceries into Sustainable Compost