Troubleshooting

Tom Richard
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Operator's Fact Sheet #10 of 10




Problem Cause Solution
Anaerobic odor Excess moisture
Window too large
Temperature greater than 140° F
Leaf compaction
Surface ponding
Turn windrow
Make windrow smaller
Turn windrow
Turn or reduce windrow size
Eliminate ponding
Apply odor masking agent
(cures symptom, not problem)
Low windrow
Temperature

Windrow too small
Insufficient moisture

Poor aeration

Combine windrows
Add water while turning windrow

Turn Windrow

High windrow
temperature
Winddrow too large
Leaf compaction
Reduce windrow size
Turn windrow
     
Surface ponding Depressions or ruts
Inadequate slope
Fill depression and/or re-grade
Grade site to recommended slope design
     
Vectors
Rats
Mosquitoes
Presence of garbage (food, etc.)
Presence of stagnant water
Remove garbage, or use rat bait
Eliminate ponding
     
Pollution of
surface waters
Leachate discharge Treat leachate before it leaves site by
passing it through soil, sand, or grass
filter area
Avoid surface runoff
     
Fires/spontaneous
combustion
Excessive temperature
Inadequate moisture
Stray sparks, cigarettes, etc.
Make windrow smaller
Add water
Keep potential fire sources away from
windrows
If fires do start, break windrows apart
and extinguish completely


"Operator's Fact Sheets, Table of Contents"

Cornell
Composting

Science &
Engineering

Composting
in Schools

Resources


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For specific comments related to this page, please contact the Cornell Waste Management Institute (format and style), or Tom Richard (technical content).

 

This page was created on August 30, 1995
This page was last updated October 2000