IV. Siting a Facility
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| Actual siting of the compost facility is critical.
A composting site must be large enough to receive projected annual
yard waste from the municipality. Siting criteria should include:
an adequate buffer zone to protect neighbors from site activity
impact; a nearly level surface, preferable a 2-3 percent grade;
a high soil percolation rate to avoid standing water; a central,
accessible location with good traffic flow; a water source for
wetting compost piles; a location where prevailing winds blow
away from sensitive neighbors; and a low water table to prevent
site flooding. |
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| A buffer zone is required between the composting
facility and neighboring residences or businesses to minimize
possible odor, noise, dust, and visual impacts. The New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC, requires
these listed minimum separation distances. The best protection
against complaints from neighbors is to site at the greatest
possible distance from such neighbors. |
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| Easy access to and from the compost site is important.
The location should minimize the distance to be traveled by collection
vehicles. Access over uncrowded, nonresidential, hard surface
roads is preferable. If the site is in a residential area, local
residents may demand the latest types of mufflers on all moving
equipment. This may require bid performance specifications on
bid documents for equipment. Noise barriers erected at the site
could also be used to minimize impacts on neighborhoods. |
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| A landscaping plan that uses evergreen trees
to enhance the appearance of the facility will also absorb noise
produced by operating equipment. Berms around the composting
area can also help reduce noise and visually screen the site. |
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| Sites that may be appropriate for municipal composting
include: unused paved areas, such as parking lots, right -of-ways,
the buffer area of a closed landfill or waste water treatment
plant; an existing buffer area around industrial installations
and institutions; and municipally owned land used for buffer
areas or storage. |
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| The area required for a composting operation
depends on the volume of yard waste to be composted, the desired
volume reduction, the size and shape of windrows used, and the
time required to complete the composting process. Actual available
sites may dictate a municipality's choice between composting
methods. For a turned windrow facility, the DEC suggests allowing
one acre for each 5,000 cubic yards of leaves. |
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| The size of a windrow and the spacing between
each windrow depend on the site's dimensions, the equipment used
to aerate the windrows and the geographic location of the community.
The windrows should be placed in pairs, a minimum of 2 feet apart
so that air can move through the piles to sustain aerobic bacteria
and other organisms and so that odor does not result. A 20 foot
spacing between pairs of windrows will allow adequate room to
turn or roll them and allows for a front end loader to maneuver
between piles. |
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| A water supply is necessary at the site both
for moistening the compost material and for fire protection.
Water can be supplied by a hydrant, nearby lake, stream or well,
or water truck. Typical water requirements are 20 gallons per
cubic yard of leaves collected. |
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