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Canyon Recycling Takes Over
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- Vermicomposting Organic Residuals from MRFs
Canyon Recycling Takes OverThe Fallbrook vermicomposting project was forced to close as local residential development increased. The once rural community became a suburban community. However, interest in vermicomposting continued in San Diego County as Resource Conversion Corporation (RCC) obtained some 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kg) of earthworms from Fallbrook and brought them to Canyon Recycling in San Diego. On an eight-acre site, Canyon Recycling established twenty-two 250-foot (76.2 m) long windrows, ten feet (3 m) in width. A landfill diversion site, Canyon received tipping fees for municipal yard trimmings, manure from San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Del Mar Race Track, and construction and demolition (C&D) debris. In the early 1990s, Canyon concentrated on vermiculture, building up its earthworm population. Earthworm beds were fed and split continuously until the time came to shift from vermiculture to a vermicomposting operation (Bogdanov, 1996b). By March of 1996, John Beerman, General Manager of the facility reported that he provided his 75,000 pounds (34,020 kg) of earthworms about 15 to 20 tons (13.6 to 18.1 metric tons) of green waste every day (Barbour, 1996). Three to four inches (8 to 10 cm) of feedstock were applied with manure spreaders twice a week to each windrow. Water usage amounted to between 40,000 and 50,000 gallons per day. Earthworms were sold only rarely. 
Figure Entrance and truck scales for Canyon Recycling, Home of Vermigro After growing its earthworm inventory for about five years, harvesting vermicompost began in earnest and sales of Vermigro™, a blend of earthworm castings with compost, were made to nurseries, landscapers, organic farmers, and the general public. The blended product was sold in bulk ($35/cu. yd.) and in bags ($7.00 retail for one cu. ft. (.028 m3). In one instance, Canyon negotiated a contract to produce 5,000 bags per month for a large retailer, but the deal never materialized.
Figure Sacks of Vermigro earthworm castings blended with compost Canyon Recycling also sold recycled wood-fiber products to particleboard manufacturers and co-gen facilities, and produced compost and mulch used for roadside application by California’s Department of Transportation (Cal-Trans). However, the early creation of burdensome and unmanageable indebtedness pressured RCC’s directors to put Canyon Recycling up for sale in 1997. In spite of the fact that Canyon reported it could not make enough Vermigro™ to satisfy the demand, other factors contributed toward the need for restructuring this facility.
Figure Canyon Recycling's windrows measured 10 feet in width and 250 feet in length Vermicomposting Organic Residuals from MRFsPacific Southwest Farms, a 54-acre vermicomposting facility in Ontario (San Bernardino County), California began its operation in 1994 with eleven tons (10 metric tons) of earthworms transported from the failed Worm Concern project in Simi Valley, California. Owner Barry Meijer steadily built his operation into what may have been the largest project of its kind up until its closure. PSF received the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) or “green material” (as defined by California’s compost regulations) from up to three different material recovery facilities (MRFs) for a tipping fee. Initially, PSF took in about 75 tons (68 metric tons) per day and increased that amount to approximately 100 tons (90.74 metric tons) per day. Earthworm-stocked windrows measuring eight feet (2.4 m) in width and 100 feet (30.48 m) in length were fed at the rate of four tons (3.63 metric tons) of material per row per week. Situated east of Los Angeles in an arid climate, PSF’s water usage amounted to 120,000 gallons per day. Sources for water included residential sprinkler runoff and barn water from local dairies. While the water was abundant and free, pumps, irrigation lines and use of electricity added significant expense. At it zenith, PSF estimated that more than 100 tons (90.74 metric tons) of earthworms processed organic residuals in 360 windrows. Finished vermicompost was reportedly sold to agricultural users in central California. Due to the mixed quality of feedstocks which contained a significant portion of inert material (especially glass shards), the final product had to be screened to 1/8 inch and was not acceptable for retail sales to the public (Bogdanov, 1997a). 
Figure Irrigated windrows at Pacific Southwest Farms measured 8 feet in width and 100 feet in length PSF’s feedstocks were non-traditional in comparison to other vermicomposting sites. From the beginning of its operation, MRFs in nearby Orange County processed the commingled material they received and sent the biodegradable fraction to PSF. This material was approximately 95% organic but contained enough bits of plastic to cause a problem with site and product appearance. The particle size of the incoming product was later reduced from four inches to 1-1/4 inches, which proved to work better and contained less visible and unsightly plastic. PSF also received ground paper that had come into contact with food material or other green waste. That which was fed to earthworms is specified as “green material,” defined by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) as “any plant material that is either separated at the point of generation, or separated at a centralized facility [a MRF] that employs methods to minimize contamination. Green material includes, but is not limited to, manure, untreated wood wastes, paper products, and natural fiber products. Green material does not include treated wood waste, mixed demolition or mixed construction debris.” (California Integrated Waste Management Board, 1997a). During the time of its operation, Meijer believed PSF was the only project using MSW for vermicomposting in California.
Figure PSF's feedstock from MRF's contained plastic and glass shards Directory: wp-content -> uploads uploads -> 587 Return function, r i(X) r i(0) r i(1) r i(2) r i(3) 1 0 2 4 6 Thermal Station, I 2 0 1 5 6 3 0 3 5 6 10 uploads -> The Case Against the nypd’s Quota-Driven ‘Broken Windows’ Policing What Is It? uploads -> For want of a nail uploads -> Police Militarization uploads -> Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act of 2014 uploads -> 2017 afoCo Landmark Scholarship Program uploads -> Instructions for the Preparation of Camera-Ready Contributions to the Conference Proceedings uploads -> Medical Radiography Program uploads -> Ihbb asian Championships 2014 middle school bowl Round 4 First Quarter uploads -> Ihbb european Championships 2014 Bowl Round 4 First Quarter Download 114.5 Kb. Share with your friends:
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