PRODUCTION OF COMPOST FROM TOWN WASTES IN POLAND

In 1961 works were started in Poland on a technical scale on composting of town wastes. Up to now 6 small compost plants with the production capacity of about 3500 t/a have been built, based on the simplest technology and low mechanization, as well as 1 compost plant producing about 6500–7000 t/a of compost, based on the imported Danish equipment of the Dano type.

Lately by the Institute for Municipal Economy in Warsaw a modern technology of accelerated composting of town wastes was worked out and the construction of the necessary special equipment developed.

The technological process of compost production consists in a fully mechanized preliminary treatment of the wastes and in an acelerated controlled biochemical process in piles. The preliminary treatment comprises: segregation, crushing and two-stage cleaning from remainders of plastic foil, rags, glass, slag, etc.

Biochemical process leads to:

1. sanitary neutralization of mechanically processed wastes under influence of high temperatures 65–70°C and of the formed antibiotic substance;
2. decomposition of organic compounds and their transformation into humus.

The compost ready for use as a fertilizer is obtained after about 1.5 month while the heating compost - as early as after 3 weeks.