Collection
In Ann Arbor, separate compost trucks pick up yard waste or "compostables" from curbside collected residences. At the compost center, the trucks are weighed at the scalehouse to determine how much has been collected. After that the drivers dump their load in large piles near the tub grinder. |
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Grinding/Mixing Compostables
Yardwaste
The large piles of yard waste are separated to make wood mulch (branches/pallets) or compost (grass/leaves). The separated piles are run through a tub grinder, which acts like a giant food processor.
Grinding/Mixing
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The wood mulch (branches/pallets) are made into piles for sale. The compostables (leaves/grass) are also mixed together in the tub grinder. The mixed compostables are then transferred by a dump truck and make long piles, called windrows. |
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Wood Mulch
In Ann Arbor, after the holiday season, trees are collected curbside and by the Drop Off Station and brought to the Compost Center to be mulched. The trees are run through the tub grinder (similar to a large food processor) and the finished mulch is made into a pile.
Other materials like trees and pallets are also collected at the Drop Off Station and ground into different types of mulch.
This mulch can be purchased and used as attractive landscaping material around plantings to reduce weed growth and conserve water.
Building Windrows
These windrows (long piles of leaves, grass clippings & brush) are actively managed for 8 - 10 months. |
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Turning Windrows
The long piles are mixed weekly with a windrow turner to redistribute air, water and heat to create an optimum environment for decomposition. Once everything has broken down it's time to run the compost thru the screener. |
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Screening Finished Compost
After almost a year, the finished compost is run through a screener to remove rocks, tennis balls (the one's that got away from Fido) and sticks. What's left over is something that looks like rich dirt, or peat moss. However, it's not just dirt, because it also contains the nutrients that were stored in the leaves and grass. |
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Compost Uses
Compost can be added to gardens or lawns for an extra "boost."
You can even create your own home compost or purchase municipal compost. Learn how.