By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Following their presentation during the TCEQ environmental trade fair and conference, Kevin Krueger (center) and Jack Nalepka (right) listen to comments from one of the event’s audience members. Krueger and Nalepka provided details on San Angelo’s latest project of composting biosolids without bulking materials. -- Staff photo by Taylor

June 15, 2006 - During the recent environmental trade fair and conference, hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in Austin, attendees were introduced to many subjects and projects that should make Texas environments healthier and more productive for all Texans.

 One subject which shows much hope and progress was presented by members of the City of San Angelo and its Kickapoo Composting Facility. Kevin Krueger and Jack Nalepka provided information on San Angelo’s newest addition to composting … “composting biosolids without bulking materials.”

 According to Krueger, San Angelo is the only city in Texas that is doing this, at this time, but after hearing and seeing his presentation, it is likely that other cities will be looking into the process very quickly. 

 After visiting locations in New Mexico, Colorado and California, San Angelo officials decided their location offered wonderful possibilities for this type of conversion facility.

 For many years, the generally-accepted way of composting biosolids was accomplished by combining bulking material (brush and lumber that could be turned into chips) with feedstock.

 Located on 12 acres, the Kickapoo Composting Facility has approximately 6.5 acres of concreted working surface, a storm water detention pond, and an administration building. 

 One aspect about the system’s cost is that only a few pieces of equipment are necessary. Since December 2003, the facility has worked with a front-end loader, self-propelled windrow turner, spreader/dump trucks, and a water truck.

 On a normal week, the facility is able to compost all the material produced, which is approximately 200 to 250 cubic yards. The cost to the city is about $9 less per ton than using bulking material to create the compost.

 The only feedstock currently accepted at the facility is digested biosolids from San Angelo city’s water reclamation facility, and the Class B biosolid arrives with a moisture content of approximately 80 percent, according to city literature.

 Nalepka noted that “the most important things” involve the temperature and moisture involved in the composting technique, and each must be constantly checked to make sure that the end result will produce the fine “humus like” compost that is the end product of the facility.

 Obviously, the San Angelo Kickapoo Composting Facility was registered with the TECQ prior to start-up, and they are working to pass all testing required by the TCEQ in order to market their compost without restrictions. Today, the compost is used on city-owned properties, and slides showed a marked improvement in the testing on grasses where the product had been used.

 According to Nalepka, the process starts with establishing windrows and keeping material’s temperature above 50 degrees, and the moisture level (HIGH OR LOW?) throughout the composting process. Once the windrow has reached 55 degrees for 15 days, and has been turned a minimum of five times, most diseases and flies eggs have been eradicated, and a batch takes approximately 60 days from start to completion.

 Krueger noted that the facility is producing about six batches of compost per year, with each batch producing between 300 to 400 cubic yards.

 He explained that this type of composting is especially good in smaller, rural areas where there is more agriculture, such as there is around San Angelo. Although the areas that have operations going, now, are in drier areas of the states, Krueger added it should be possible to create the same type facilities in more moist areas of the state, with adjustments to the moisture needed in the windrows.

 In closing, both Krueger and Nalepka noted that the success of the project had been determined by “the relative ease of the operation; less equipment, space and personnel required; minimal odors, vectors, ...; acceptance of final product by others and potential source of revenue from a previously unmarketable material,” among other reasons.

 (For more information: San Angelo website is  www.sanangelotexas.us/compost)