As residents are aware, I recently undertook a visit to the composting operation at the Riverside Civic Amenity site, following complaints from residents to the north of the site last year about bad odours emanating from the area.
I have now been given a useful update on the actions the City Council is taking to hopefully ensure the issue is not repeated this year – as follows:
"... following on from our site visit we have had an on site visit from a technical consultant from the accreditation body regarding our composting process. Following that meeting we are proposing the following actions to our standard operating procedures:
1 - Reducing the composting process from 26 weeks to either 14 or 16 weeks;
2 - Reducing windrow turning from 5-7 turns down to 3-5 turns. (less agitation of material);
3 - Increasing frequency of shredding to reduce the amount of time green waste sits at the green waste reception area (less time to decompose and begin composting); and
4 - Only screening 0-20ml compost, 0-10ml compost will no longer be produced (less screening)
All of the above are subject to our windrows passing the validation tests at either 14 or 16 weeks for:
- Pathogens;
- Potentially toxic elements;
- Stability/maturity;
- Physical contaminants and stones;
- Plant response; and
- Weed seeds and propagulesas.
We shall be taking samples in the next few weeks once existing windrows have matured to the 14 and 16 week age. These will be tested by an approved lab. If we can meet the minimum thresholds in the tests we will re-validate the whole process with the accreditation body at either 14 or 16 weeks. We are quite confident this will be achievable. This should hopefully assist in minimising any odours migrating off site."