Edmonton IPTF and Compost Facitlity

Summary

In Edmonton, half of residential waste is organic, including food scraps, yard waste, and non-recyclable paper. This waste is sent to the Integrated Processing and Transfer Facility (IPTF), where it is sorted, with compostable materials being sent to the Edmonton compost facility. After mixing with bio solids, the waste undergoes a month-long composting process using rotating tubes and aeration systems. The final compost, which enriches soil and retains moisture, is then cured for several months before being sold, helping improve agricultural yields and soil health.

Takeaways

• 🌱 About half of Edmonton's residential waste is organic, including table scraps, vegetable peelings, grass clippings, weeds, leaves, non-recyclable paper, and disposable diapers.
• 🚛 Collected organic waste is transported to the Edmonton Waste Management Centers' Integrated Processing and Transfer Facility (IPTF).
• ♻️ At the IPTF, organic material is separated from inorganic material, with non-compostable items sent to landfill or eventually converted into methanol and ethanol.
• 🏗️ Garbage trucks unload waste onto a tipping floor, where front-end loaders push material into piles around a grappler machine.
• 🪑 Large non-compostable items like furniture, carpet, and metal are removed from the waste manually before further processing.
• 🔄 Bags of organic waste are placed on conveyor belts to sorting rooms, where both compostable and non-compostable materials are further separated.
• 🔧 Trommel screens and electromagnets are used to remove non-organic materials, including plastic, clothing, ferrous metals, and cardboard suitable for recycling.
• 🏒 Organic waste is transported via conveyor belts to the Edmonton Compost Facility, where it is mixed with biosolids in large rotating tubes for around two days to start the composting process.
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• ⚙️ The compost then undergoes additional screening to remove unwanted debris before being stored in large bays for about one month, with augers stirring to add air and moisture.
• 🌞 After initial composting, the material is moved to outdoor curing sites for 5–6 months to mature fully before being sold as nutrient-rich compost.
• 🌾 Finished compost improves soil fertility, helps retain moisture and air, and contributes to higher yields for users.

Q & A

What types of waste are considered organic in Edmonton's residential waste system?

Organic waste includes table scraps, vegetable peelings, grass clippings, weeds, leaves, non-recyclable paper, and even disposable diapers.

Where is Edmonton's organic residential waste processed?

The organic portion of the waste is sent to the Edmonton Compost Facility after being sorted at the Integrated Processing and Transfer Facility (IPTF).

What happens to the inorganic portion of residential waste at the IPTF?

Currently, the inorganic waste is sent to landfill, but in the near future, it will be converted into methanol and ethanol.

How are large items that cannot be composted removed from the waste stream?

Large items like kitchen chairs, carpets, and metal pieces are manually removed from the pile before composting.

What is the role of the trommel screens in the composting process?

Trommel screens are large rotating drums with holes that allow organics like grass and leaves to pass through while filtering out non-compostable items such as plastic bags and clothing.

How is metal removed during the waste sorting process?

Ferrous metals are removed using large electromagnets at multiple stages of the sorting process.

What equipment is used to mix organic waste with biosolids at the compost facility?

Mixing is done using large machines such as kitchen mix masters or rotating mixing tubes that are long and wide enough to fit two school buses side by side.

How long does the initial composting process in the rotating mixing tubes take?

The material takes approximately two days to travel through the rotating mixing tubes, during which the composting process begins.

What is the purpose of the augers in the aeration hall?

Augers continually stir the compost to add air and moisture, which accelerates the composting process and ensures proper decomposition.

How long is the compost cured outdoors before it is ready for market?

After initial processing, the compost is cured outdoors for five to six months to fully mature before being sold.

What benefits does compost provide to soil?

Compost adds nutrients, helps retain moisture, improves air circulation, and ultimately increases soil fertility, leading to greater yields.

Where should dangerous items like propane tanks be disposed of?

Dangerous items like propane tanks should be taken to an Eco Station for recycling rather than being placed in residential waste.