Low Cost and Environmentally Compliant (Air and Water Emissions) On-Site Dairy Manure Management Composting Technology

Title: Development of a Low Cost and Environmentally Effective On-Site Dairy Manure Management Composting Technology. Directors: Timothy ONeill, President, Engineered Compost Systems Problem: Dairies face restrictive air and water quality regulations for manure, and compliance represents a significant cost. To remain competitive, dairies need manure management systems that are: 1. Economically viable, 2. Environmentally responsible, and 3.Produce value-added products. Aerobic composting can effectively manage manure, but application has been limited because of environmentally compliant systems expense. Opportunity-Each US dairy cow generates 25,000 lbs-yr of manure. The innovative technology developed in this initiative will reduce capital and operating costs of manure composting systems. Goals: 1. Design-supply pilot-scale composting system with adequate instrumentation for research. 2. Conduct dairy manure compost trials develop parametric design-operation. 3. Produce replicatable samples for testing pathogen kill and re-growth 4. Determine optimum process for producing dairy bedding 5. Test for air and water environmental compliance 6. Determine system requirements for full-scale facility. Project Plans: 1. ECS supplies specialized equipment and PI 2. WSU conducts trials and monitors emissions 3. WSU laboratories test samples for pathogens Project Relevance: 1. Develops innovative and environmentally sound technology 2. Improves economics of dairies and CAFOs 3. Creates value-added products from manure-bedding and soil amendments (compost) Results and commercial applications: 1. Standardized, marketable, cost-effective manure composting technology designed for dairies and other CAFOs 2. Commercial dairies interested in participating in Phase II 3. ECS markets compost system to diary and CAFO industries