ECS Facility Audits

Blog ECS Staff 09/19/2021

ECS Facility Audits – Designed to Help Operators Meet Their Objectives

Compost operators face an ever-changing array of challenges including new regulations, closer neighbors, more difficult feedstocks, and evolving market demands. Operators often do not have the time to gather data, analyze their processes, and formulate a strategic plan to address new challenges. This is where ECS audit services and engineered approach adds value. We ask lots of questions to gain an understanding of your objectives, gather and analyze the necessary data and provide a menu of data driven options from which operators and owners can choose solutions.

The ECS approach compost engineering relies on science and best engineering practices. We begin by measuring key process indicators (KPI’s) in the mix, in the composting system itself, and in the piles. We also interview the operators, hunt for inefficiencies, and catalog process outcomes such as compost stability, compost maturity, scale data, and air emissions. We use these data to understand and model the dynamic biological processes and determine which KPI’s are inhibiting the processes or contributing to inefficiencies. Lastly, we provide a list of cost-weighted options to better optimize the facility to achieve the process and economic objectives identified by the client.

ECS recently performed an audit of a large ASP which was plagued by high air emissions and inconsistent end-product stability. The ECS audit team measured:

  1. Mix densities and moisture,
  2. Pile heights, temperatures, oxygen concentration, pH, and end product stability,
  3. System air-flow rates and mal-distribution, and
  4. VOC emission rates.

We found that the process was inhibited by high temperatures, pile compression, and a lack of water. The top-rated improvements included adjusting the control settings on the existing aeration system, more effectively adding water, and changing pile geometries. Our client implemented these low-cost steps to improve KPI’s. This helped them improve process conditions and reduce odor and air emissions.

Please contact ECS for more information on our suite of technical services and to request an estimate for a facility audit at your location.