Leaf Composting Manual for New Jersey Municipalities - New Jersey Municipal Composting Programs

This manual serves as a useful tool when planning for a leaf and/or vegetative trimmings composting facility on a local, county or regional level; however, we must not ignore the continued benefits of, backyard composting (source reduction). Backyard composting has been widely practced and well accepted for many years. Residents can help our local government by reducing organic (leaf and other yard trimmings) materials at the source through home composting practices. Since leaves in New Jersey are already required to be composted or recycled, backyard composting of other organics naturally follows. Besides, by composting source separated organics and yard trimmings, a rich end product becomes readily available for immediate application around the home and yard.

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Leaves and Yard Trimmings
B. Current Management Practices and Options for Leaves and Grass
1. Source Reduction/Yard Trimming Management Options
a. Backyard Composting
b. "Grass: Cut It and Leave It."
c. Backyard Mulching
2. Composting (Municipal)
3. Farmland "Mulching
C. "Historic or Previous Management Strategies
1. Open Burning
2. Landfilling
3. Incineration

II. DESCRIPTIONS OF PROCESS AND PRODUCT
A. Composting (the Process)
B. Compost (the Product)

III. UNDERLYING SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES
A. Temperature
B. Oxygen
C. Windrow Size and Turning
D. Water
E. pH
F. Inorganic Nutrients
G. Microorganisms
H. Leaf Type
I. Pregrinding

IV. FACILITY SITING AND PREPARATION
A. Public Participation
B. Permits
C. Area Requirement
D. BufferZone
E. Location
F. Stream Encroachment and Water Pollution
G. Slope and Grading
H. Percolation
1. Water Table
J. Water Supply
K. Security
L. On-Site Roads/Access Roads
M. Fire Safety
N. Other Safely Considerations
0. Training
V. APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY
A. Minimal Technology
B. Low-Level Technology
1. Site Preparation
2. Delivery of Leaves
3. Wetting
4. Forming Windrows (recommended low-level technology)
5. Combining Windrows
6. Turning Windrows
7. Curing
8. Shredding or Screening
C. Intermediate-Level Technology
D. High-Level Technology

VI. MANAGEMENT OF OTHER YARD WASTES
A. Grass Clippings
B. Woody Materials
C. Other Organic Materials

VII. POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS
A. Odor
B. Leachate
C. Inadequate Composting Rate
D. Bags
E. Aspergillus Fumigatus
F. Toxic Contaminants
G. Other Potential Problems
H. Technical Assistance

VIII. USES OF LEAF AND YARD TRIMMINGS COMPOST

GLOSSARY

APPENDICES

A. Site Capacity, Buffer Zone, and Water Requirement Calculations

B. Leaf Composting Summary fo Field Personnel Incomplete

C. Yard Trimmings/Recyclable Construction and Demolition Materials Collection Log (TG-2A)(NJDEP, DSHKM Incomplete

D. Key County and State Offices Incomplete

ADDENDUM - THE ECONOMICS OF LEAF COMPOSTING By Donn A. Derr, Ph.D. Incomplete
BIBLIOGRAPHY

TABLES

1. Appropriate Leaf Composting Technology

2. Generalized Schedule, and Equipment and Manpower Requirements for a Moderate Sized (1 5,000 cubic yard) Low-Level Technology Leaf Composting Operation

3. Problems Encountered a Leaf Composting Sites

This work was supported and funded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste, and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (Publication No. H-07526-2-92), supported by State funds.

Contact Information

State of New Jersey, 1996-2002
Department of Environmental Protection
P. O. Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402

Phone: 609-984-6985
Fax: 609-633-9839
Email: dshweb@dep.state.nj.us