HomeMy WebLinkAboutProduction & Testing of Seafood Waste-Sawdust Compost as Fertilizer 1991PRODUCTION AND TESTING
OF SEAFOOD WASTE/SSAWDUST COMPOST
AS A USEFUL FERTILIZER
FINAL REPORT
Prepared by:
L. A. Bonacker and Associates, Natural Resources Consultants, Inc, and
Washington State University
Prepared for:
Pacific County Economic Development Council
In fulfillment of:
United States Department of Commerce
Saltonstall-Kennedy Cooperative Agreement # NA90AA-H-SK082
April 30, 1991
i i 408 Second Street Economic Development Council Satna wl se
February 10, 1997
Paul McIntosh, USFS
Federal Building
Ketchigan, Alaska 99901
Dear Paul,
Thanks for the great hospitality while we were in your part of the country. I can
understand why people choose to live there, and hope they can find enough diversity to
stay.
I have enclosed a copy of that seafood study. I hope it is of some help.
Karl said to remind Keith to send him that study on tribes (whatever that means). Also, I
think Karl is sending the information on my travel expenses - let me know if you need
anything else.
I sent off some information on Brownfields to Katheryn French and I also sent information
on revolving loan funds to Jay Frank with C.A.R.E..
I hope that whatever process you develop in southeast Alaska it will be yours and effective
for your needs. Good Luck!!
im Lowery
Executive Director
Raymond (360) 942-3690X X 3629 Ilwaco (360) 642-9330 f Fax (360) 942-3688 Scan 541-9330
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The United States Department of Commerce sponsored "Production and Testing of Seafood/Sawdust Waste Compost as a Useful Fertilizer," under its Saltonstall-Kennedy grant program, administered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The Pacific County Economic Development Council would like to thank these departments and all the companies and individuals who contributed their highly valued time, funds, and energy into this project. Individual firms which contributed services to this project are: The Port of Willapa Harbor, Protan Laboratories, Inc., Jessie's Ilwaco Fish Co., The Planter Box, The Rose Ranch, the Weyerhauser Corporation, and Pacific Hardwood Lumber.
ABSTRACT
Seafood processors nation-wide face negative economic impacts of seafood waste disposal due to increased regulations and limitations on solid waste disposal sites. Although the production of value-added products from waste such as meal, protein concentrate, or oil are viable disposal alternatives for large, centralized processors, they are uneconomical for smaller, dispersed processors. Production of fertilizers from four types of seafood waste/sawdust compost was tested as a viable, low-cost alternative to current disposal practices in Pacific County, Washington. Of the four composts produced from groundfish and shrimp waste combined with alder and hemlock/fir sawdust, two composts produced from groundfish and one from shrimp waste combined with alder and hemlock/fir sawdust proved to be viable fertilizers, based on chemical analyses and field and greenhouse plant growth tests. First-year cost of production for a hypothetical compost plant processing 5,000 mt of seafood waste and 15,000 mt of sawdust producing 14,000 mt of compost annually was estimated to be $78/mt of compost produced. The annual savings in waste disposal costs to the seafood processing industry on the Washington coast was estimated to range from $384,000 to $576,000.
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II.
Ill.
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VII.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............cccccescscccccesecessceeceecesesteceeeeces 1
INTRODUCTION ..00...eeiceeecccccececeesseesneenensesecceeeceecseceeccceececees 4
PURPOSE OF PROJECT A.
B.
PROJECT APPROACH
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
FINDINGS ......eecce eee eeecceccecccceceeescsesessesstnnneaassssssaseeseuseceececeese 14 A. Accomplishments and Results.........ccccccccccessssseeeceseseeee 14 B. Need for Additional Work ..............cccecccceeseccecuceeececeeseee 22
EVALUATION... ooo eececccecsssssesesscsecscececcececceceeceseuanansasacenes A. Project Goal and Objectives B. Benefits to the Fishing Industry ...............ccceeececceeeceeeees 28 C. Dissemination of Project Results .............cccecccseeececeeeeeee 33
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER WORK...........ccccccccce00 35
CONCLUSIONS o.oo eeccccccssssssesseseccececcceccecesaaatteeseeeesesceceees 35
APPENDIX I Nutrient Characteristics of Sawdust and Seafood Waste Used in the Composting Process
APPENDIX II Results of Forest Soils and Plant Growth Experiments Conducted by The Weyerhaeuser Company Using Seafood Waste Composts
APPENDIX III __ Results of Plant Growth Trials Using Seafood Waste Composts at The Planter Box, Long Beach, Washington
APPENDIX IV ___ Notes Associated with the Seafood Waste Composting Year one Plant Operational Proforma
APPENDIX V Average Monthly Seafood Waste Production by Species Group and Distance from a Proposed Seafood Waste Composting Plant in Raymond, Washington
APPENDIX VI References
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Exhibit 1.
Exhibit 2.
Exhibit 3.
Exhibit 4.
Exhibit 5.
Exhibit 6.
Exhibit 7.
Exhibit 8.
Exhibit 9.
List of Exhibits
Average daily internal temperature (centigrade) of four types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste.....
Total inorganic nitrogen content (microgram of nitrogen per gram of compost) for four types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste............c.cccceeceeceececeeceeececeeees
Total ammonium-nitrogen content (microgram of nitrogen per gram of compost) for four types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste.............csscccseleceeees
Total nitrate-nitrogen content (microgram of nitrogen per gram of compost) for four types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste............cccccseeccececcecececeecececues
Characteristics of four seafood/sawdust waste composts at the termination of the composting process in June LODO. 0... eeceeeeece sence eeeceeeeeceecceaeceseeccueeeeeeceeeseeeeneeeeeeaeeeaees
Carbon to nitrogen ratios for four types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste...........c..cseceseeeeceees
Total nitrogen content (microgram of nitrogen per gram of compost) for four types of compost produced from
seafood/sawdust waste.............. secseecueeceueeeeeseesesueceeeeseses
Inorganic nitrogen and NaHCO; extractable phosphorus content at the termination of the composting process in June 1990 for four types of seafood/sawdust waste
(ole) 06) o0)-] Se
Silage corn dry matter yield, tissue nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations, nitrogen uptake, inorganic nitrogen added, and residual inorganic soil nitrogen in the greenhouse experiment on nitrogen availability for four types of seafood/sawdust
WASLE COMPOSE. ........ cece cece sec ececeececececececececeessececeeeuceeuce
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42
a
--45
--46
Exhibit 10.
Exhibit 11.
Exhibit 12.
Exhibit 13.
Exhibit 14.
Exhibit 15
Exhibit 16.
Exhibit 17.
Exhibit 18.
Orchardgrass/ryegrass dry matter yield, tissue nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations, nitrogen uptake, and residual inorganic soil nitrogen in the greenhouse experiment on nitrogen availability for four types of seafood/sawdust waste compost. ...............0000:- 47
Comparison of dry matter yields and tissue nitrogen and phosphorus contents of corn and grass in the four fish waste composts and the three commercial composts at an application rate of 100 percent. ............0cccccceseceeccsseeeeeees 48
Silage corn dry matter yield, tissue concentration, phosphorus uptake, and NaHCO; extractable phosphorus in the greenhouse experiment on phosphorus availability for four types of seafood/sawdust WASLE COMPOSE... .....02.ceccosseoscescccscocoeerocceccccceccscstceccoseceesd 49
Silage corn dry matter yield, tissue nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium concentrations, nitrogen uptake, inorganic nitrogen (NHj-N, NO3-N) added in compost or fertilizer, and the inorganic nitrogen in the surface 30 cm of soil on August 9, 1990, in the field experiment on nitrogen availability for four types of seafood/sawdust waste COMmpoOSt. .............cececcecceccececccsceecece 50
Orchardgrass/ryegrass dry matter yield, tissue nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations, and nitrogen uptake in the field experiment on nitrogen availability for four types of seafood/sawdust waste COMPOSE or vasccelessesesebesidehsevabenedeecaebtbee ttle elt esti blsbieblecll eee 51
Proforma start-up and first-year operating costs for a large-scale, bulk product, shoreside seafood/sawdust waste composting plant in Pacific County, Washington....... 52
Increase in the cost of compost production ($/liter) with increasing costs of seafood waste ($/metric ton). ..............00. 53
Increase in cost of compost production ($/liter) with increasing costs of bulking sawdust or wood chips bulking agent ($/metric ton). ..............cccseccceesecceccececcececece 53
Increase in cost of compost production ($/liter) with increasing costs of transporting seafood waste and/or bulking agents ($/metric ton)...............cccssssesecececesseeeeeeeess 54
Exhibit 19.
Exhibit 20.
Exhibit 21.
Changes in the cost of compost production ($/liter) with changes in the annual volume of compost production Cae Te Oe eee a ITEM IEICE ELIE 5A
Expected seafood waste production (metric tons), percent composition by waste type, and amount available for seafood waste composting in the Pacific County region, DO ee erases tate Lene MRM eM MT TT III 55
Expected percent of seafood waste production (metric tons) within species groups by seafood processors in the Pacific County, Washington, region, 1991. .........0cc.cceeeecccee 56
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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The seafood processing industry nation-wide suffers from the problem of seafood processing waste disposal. With increasing environmental regulations on offshore dumping, increasing costs and limitations on land-based disposal, and the anticipation of increased volumes of future waste production, seafood processors are facing negative economic impacts from waste disposal.
The seafood waste disposal problem in the Pacific Northwest, and particularly in Pacific County, Washington, has been a factor in limiting the expansion of shore-based seafood processing of traditional at-sea, foreign-processed marine resources from within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. In regions where the volume of seafood waste is localized and of sufficient quantity and consistency of supply, the production of value-added products, such as fish meal, protein concentrate, and oil is a viable waste disposal alternative. In other areas, such as Pacific County, where small seafood processors are located throughout the region, each producing relatively small volumes of waste in response to seasonal harvests of a variety of target species, the high cost of production makes these value-added waste products uneconomical.
In 1988, the Pacific County Economic Development Council obtained State of Washington funding to study the seafood waste problem and to recommend a viable alternative to the solid waste disposal currently practiced by local seafood processors. The study concluded that the production of seafood waste/sawdust compost, a low-cost, low-technology, value-added product was the most likely solution to the seafood waste problem in Pacific County and, possibly, the entire
Pacific Northwest region. This report summarizes a project conducted by the Pacific County Economic Development Council sponsored by a Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate the production of seafood waste/sawdust compost as a useful fertilizer. The objectives of the study were: 1) determine the best compost ingredient mixture; 2) produce test compost from four combinations of two types of seafood and two types of sawdust wastes; 3) determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the four types of compost; 4) conduct plant growth experiments to evaluate the performance of the composts as fertilizer; and 5) identify the cost of production of compost.
Two types of seafood waste, groundfish (Pleuronectidae and Sebastes
sp.) and "Protan” shrimp (Pandalus borealis)! waste were combined with two timber wastes, red alder (Alnus rubra) and a mixture of hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
1 Shrimp wastes were actually shrimp shell-sludge resulting from the extraction of chitin
by Protan, Inc. in Raymond, Washington.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 1
sawdusts to produce four compost combinations. Hot compost techniques were employed. Compost samples were field- and greenhouse-tested on silage corn and orchard and rye grass, at varying application rates. Three commercially available composts, including two sludge composts and one steer manure compost, and straight applications of nitrogen were used as controls for comparison with the four types of seafood/sawdust waste composts in plant growth studies.
Moisture content, carbon, and potassium levels were similar among all composts. Nitrogen content was highest in the alder/groundfish compost. Carbon:nitrogen ratios were similar in the hemlock/groundfish and Protan composts (32 to 35) and higher than the 23 found in the alder/groundfish compost. Observed pH levels were lower in the Protan composts (5.5) than in either the alder/groundfish (6.7) or hemlock/groundfish composts (8.1). Phosphorous levels were considerably higher in the groundfish composts than in the Protan mixes. Analysis of the inorganic components of the compost found similar high levels in the groundfish and hemlock/Protan mixes. Inorganic levels in the alder/Protan compost were much lower than those in the other composts.
In growth tests, a wide variety of plants, including corn and grass, showed good growth responses to applications of seafood compost. Groundfish composts and the hemlock/Protan compost produced more abundant corn growth than any application of nitrogen. Corn growth rose with increasing applications of compost up to application percentages as high as 5 percent. Grasses showed responses similar to corn. With the exception of alder/shrimp waste compost, all composts compared favorably with the commercially available composts in terms of nutrient content and plant growth enhancement.
Cost of production for a hypothetical plant processing 5,000 mt of seafood waste and 15,000 mt of sawdust into 14,000 mt of compost was $78/mt in the startup year. The cost of production analysis assumed initial startup costs, purchase of both seafood waste ($15/mt) and sawdust ($15/mt), and expected amortization costs for land and equipment purchases.
Informal interviews were conducted with seafood processors in the Pacific County region to determine current disposal practices and costs and expected future seafood waste production. Given reported costs of seafood waste disposal averaging $30/mt and an estimate of 12,800 mt of compostable waste annually produced in the region, an expected savings to the seafood processing industry of $384,000 would result from seafood waste composting in region. An additional income to the seafood processors of $192,000 could result if a compost
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 2
plant purchased the 12,800 mt of seafood waste generated annually at $15/mt, for a total net economic gain to the industry of $576,000.
Interviews with the seafood processors indicated that they would provide a portion of their seafood wastes to a composting project and that they do produce sufficient quantities of seafood waste throughout the year to supply the proposed composting facility. Although further analysis is necessary to determine the market demand and value of the resulting seafood waste/sawdust compost, the results of this study indicate that composting is a viable disposal alternative for seafood waste and would present a net economic gain to the seafood processing industry in the region.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 3
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Ill.
INTRODUCTION
By its very nature, seafood processing generates seafood wastes.
Only 20 percent of an individual shrimp can be considered edible, the
remainder enters the seafood waste stream. On the average,
groundfish processing produces as much weight in waste as in
edible product. Although salmon and crab processing generates less
waste on an individual animal basis than does the processing of
other species, these wastes still enter and add to the size of the
seafood waste stream.
Given the large volume of seafood processed in the Pacific Northwest,
the size of the resulting seafood waste stream is immense.
Approximately 30 million pounds of seafood waste was generated by
coastal Washington processing plants in 1989. Of this total,
groundfish wastes accounted for 37 percent of the total waste stream,
shrimp wastes represented 35.5 percent, and crab wastes
represented 18.7 percent.
Cost-effective and environmentally sound techniques must be used to
dispose of or market the wastes produced by seafood processors. This
project explores the development, performance, and economic
viability of a seafood composting plant that would accomplish such
objectives. Section III identifies the problem and reasoning behind
the project. Section IV describes the approach taken to develop and
analyze the compost. Section V discusses the physical, chemical,
nutritional, growth, and economic findings of the project, while
Section VI evaluates the performance of the project in the light of its
objectives. Section VII contains specific recommendations for future
work. The report closes with summary conclusions in Section VIII.
PURPOSE OF PROJECT
Seafood processing generates considerable amounts of waste that
must be disposed of in an environmentally sound and cost effective
manner. The range of alternatives available to address the seafood
waste disposal/use problem effectively is, however, extremely limited
and will likely become even more limited in the future as the
stringency of environmental regulations increases.
Recent legislation calling for the development of a marine sanctuary
along the coast of Washington may restrict the at-sea disposal of
seafood wastes from processing vessels. Near-shore disposal is
restricted to specific times and areas where disposal will not exceed
water quality standards. Increasing demands upon the near-shore
environment by a variety of different users will likely further restrict
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 4
the disposal of seafood wastes within near-shore areas. Landfilling
of any material, including seafood wastes, is becoming ever more
limited, with some areas not permitting any landfill disposal of
seafood products. As in many other areas of the United States, in
Pacific County, Washington, the current landfill is at or near
capacity and will likely close during 1991. Thus, the problem of
seafood waste disposal for processors in Pacific County is an
immediate one. Any new landfill will most likely be more expensive
and restrictive in types of acceptable waste. The high cost of
incinerating seafood wastes effectively precludes the use of this
technology as a means of seafood waste disposal.
High production costs also limit the development of certain
marketable products from seafood wastes. Fish meal, protein
concentrate, and oil have been produced from seafood wastes. The
economic viability of these operations, however, is often reduced by
the expenses associated with augmenting the products with nutrient
supplements or the value of the product being closely tied to markets
for other protein sources, such as soy beans.
Pacific County, Washington, offers a microcosm reflecting the
problems of Pacific Northwest seafood processors in general. When
considering the production of fish meal, oil, and most other products
as possible means of dealing with their seafood waste stream, Pacific
County faces an additional problem shared by most smaller seafood
processors. Although the Pacific County waste stream is
substantial, it is not of the magnitude and/or consistency necessary
for the cost-effective manufacturing of fish meal, oil, or most other
marketable products from the waste stream.
Thus, Pacific County faces a difficult problem. Landings of fish and
shellfish are large, waste generation is also large (over 8,000 mt in
1990) and is likely to increase by 4 percent per year in 1991 and
thereafter. However, the disposal of these wastes is increasingly
difficult and expensive. Few cost-effective means of developing
marketable products from these wastes are available.
Seafood waste compost production is an alternative that may address
Pacific County's seafood waste stream problem, as well as in other
areas in the Pacific Northwest. Large sources of sawdust necessary
for compost production are produced from the forest products
industry. The low-cost production of compost from fish and shellfish
wastes mixed with sawdust could provide a potentially cost-effective
source of fertilizer for use on crop or pasture land or within nursery
applications. This grant effort tested the feasibility of seafood waste
compost production in Pacific County, Washington, as a test case in
the Pacific Northwest.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 5
B. Proiect Obiecti
IV.
This project responds to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
Northwest Regional Priority 1d, "develop and evaluate waste
utilization technologies for both shoreside and at-sea operations
which process seafood waste into commercial products" identified in
the Federal Register Notice for the 1989 S-K Program. The goal of the
project was to determine whether compost produced from different
types of seafood waste and sawdust commonly available in the Pacific
Northwest can be successfully developed as a useful fertilizer. This
determination was made by accomplishing the following objectives:
Objective 1: From chemical analyses of different types of seafood
wastes and sawdusts, determine the best ingredient
mixture for useful fertilizer compost production.
Objective 2: Combine seafood wastes and sawdusts to make test
samples of four different composts.
Objective 3: Determine the physical and chemical characteristics
of sample composts.
Objective 4: Conduct experiments on plant growth and nutrient
uptake rates of the different composts and compare
with controls.
Objective 5: Identify the cost of production of the test composts
during the project.
PROJECT APPROACH
. Compost Production
The scientists at Washington State University analyzed the compost
constituents, established the compost production parameters, and
oversaw the compost production process. Seafood waste and sawdust
were analyzed to determine moisture content and concentrations of
carbon and nitrogen to determine the correct mixture of ingredients
most likely to produce a useful compost fertilizer. Fresh hardwood
sawdust (alder) and fresh softwood sawdust (Douglas fir/hemlock
mix) were used as the principal carbon source for composting with
seafood wastes. The seafood wastes included groundfish waste and
Protan waste, which is a sludge generated from manufacturing
chitin and chitosan from shrimp and crab shell at a facility in
Raymond, Washington. The compost constituents were analyzed for
organic carbon (C) by the Walkley and Black (1934) titrimetric
method, total nitrogen (N) in a H,SO, and H2Oz digestion by the
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 6
Kjeldahl method (Bremner and Mulvaney, 1982), and moisture content by gravimetry.
Since the compost was made during the rainy season in an area which receives greater than 200 cm/yr of rainfall, it was made in a covered shed with open sides and a packed earth floor. In mid- December 1989, prior to starting the fish/sawdust waste composting process, an inoculum of the two sawdusts types was developed to speed up the composting process. Approximately 9.2 m3 each of the hemlock/fir and red alder sawdust were delivered to the site. One hundred twenty five kilograms of NH,NO; fertilizer (43 kg N) were added to the hemlock/fir sawdust and 64 kg of NH4NO3 (22 kg N) were added to the alder sawdust and mixed to reduce the carbon:nitrogen
(C:N) ratio into a range of 15-40. The sawdusts were covered and aged approximately 11 weeks in an attempt to build up the microbial
population and enzyme concentrations for inoculation of the fresh sawdust to accelerate the composting process in the fish waste/fresh
sawdust mixtures.
The target C:N ratio of 15-40 is the range that best promotes microbial activity in the composting process and produces a finished product with a good balance of plant nutrients. The basis for composting is the oxidative metabolism of carbohydrates by microorganisms in an environment containing adequate nutrients and moisture. Microbial metabolism requires a well-balanced nutritional substrate. Ideal
conditions are approximately 3 parts of nitrogen (nutrient containing matter) for every 100 parts of cellulose consumed (energy containing matter) or a C:N ratio of 25 to 30.2 If the C:N ratio is appreciably higher, microbial activity may be limited due to a shortage of
nitrogen. If the C:N ratio is too small, i.e. the nitrogen concentration is large relative to the carbon concentration, the microbes will not utilize sufficient quantities of nitrogen and the compost will putrefy and become malodorous due to the decomposition of protein (fish waste).
The composting was initiated March 6 and 7 and completed on June 19, 1990, at the Port of Willapa Harbor in Raymond, Washington. The composting process period could have been shortened by two to three weeks if a better inoculum (active fish/sawdust compost) had been available and if the turning frequency had been increased.
The groundfish was ground up and delivered to the site in 0.75 m3 fiberglass bins that could be poured with a forklift. The Protan sludge was generated at a processing plant adjacent to the composting site. The desired range of C:N ratios for the compost
2 See Golueke, C. G. 1972. Composting: A Study of the Process and its Principals. Rodale
Press.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 7
mixtures of 15-40 was the basis for determining the proportions of
sawdust and seafood waste to be used in the mixture (Willson, 1989).
Since the Protan sludge waste contained only 2.3 percent solids, FeCl3
was added at a rate of 0.12 percent to 60 m3 of wastewater to flocculate
some of the suspended organic solids. The wastewater remained
overnight in a settling tank. The following morning, about 10 m3 of
sludge were drained from the bottom of the settling tank into a 19 m?
tanker which was pulled to the composting site. After an additional
2-3 hours of settling, the sludge was drained from the bottom of the
tanker as needed for mixing into the sawdust. The solids content
was increased to 5 percent and contained 6.6 percent N.
Approximately 1.5 m° of the inoculated sawdust (aged sawdust) were
mixed with 10.7 m3 of fresh sawdust. About 2,270 kg of Protan
sludge were slowly mixed with each of the two types of sawdust. The
7,200 kg of alder sawdust and 5,500 kg of hemlock/fir sawdust, at 60
percent moisture, contained 3,300 and 4,300 kg of water, respectively.
The 2,270 kg of Protan sludge contained 2,160 kg of water. The
resulting moisture contents of the compost mixtures were 68 percent
and 70 percent, respectively. This was above the water retention
capacity of the sawdust, and some liquid was seen trickling from the
piles. The N content of this liquid was 0.06 percent, but the volume
lost is unknown.
Two samples of approximately 3,400 kg of groundfish waste were
poured from the fiberglass bins with a fork lift into mixtures of 1.5 m3
of the inoculated sawdust (aged sawdust) and 10.7 m3 of fresh
sawdust of each of the two sawdust types.
The compost constituents were mixed and windrowed with a front-
end loader equipped with a 0.75 m3 bucket. The resulting windrows
were trapezoidal, 1.2 m high, 0.9 and 3.0 m wide at the top and base,
respectively, and 6 m long. Each time the pile was turned, a light
coating (3-5 cm) of fresh sawdust was sprinkled on the pile and the
ground around the pile for odor reduction. Temperature in the
windrows was monitored and recorded by Datapods. Employees of
the Port of Willapa mixed and re-windrowed the compost as often as
twice daily in response to windrow temperatures above 60°C.
Beginning in May, weekly samples were analyzed for pH, organic C,
total N, inorganic N (NH}-N and NO’;-N by steam distillation
(Bremner and Mulvaney, 1982), and water content. Water was added
as needed to maintain water content of the compost near 50 percent.
This was continued until declining windrow temperatures and total
N contents indicated that stabilization was occurring. A simplified
schematic of the composting process is as follows:
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 8
Analyze Compost
Ingredients and
Develop Mixing Ratio to
Yield C:N Ratio
of between 15 to 40
Create and Age Inoculum
to Speed Composting
Process
Mix Seafood and Sawdust
Wastes into Windrows
Monitor Temp, pH,
Moisture, Organic C,
Inorganic N
Turn Compost when
Temp Exceeds 60°C, Add
Water To Maintain
Moisture at 50 %
Composting Process
Completed when Temp
Remains Constant at Less
than 60°C
Heat production in the composts results from the microbial activity.
Declining temperature indicates that the relatively easily
compostable fraction of the compost has been exhausted and that
continuing decomposition will occur at a declining rate. Likewise, a
stabilized N content indicates no substantial mineralization of
organic matter.
The compost was trucked to WSU Research and Extension Center,
Puyallup, Washington, on June 19 for field and greenhouse
evaluations. The chemical characteristics of the finished compost
were further determined, including neutral IN NH,OAc, extractable
potassium (K), and total K, zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and cadmium (Cd)
contents by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, total phosphorus
(P) and NaHCO; extractable P (Olsen and Sommers, 1982) by
colorimetry (Murphy and Riley, 1962); soluble salts in a 1:5 compost to
water ratio by electrical conductivity; and bulk density. Water
retention was determined by soaking 25 g of compost in water
overnight, followed by draining and the gravimetric determination of
the water content.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 9
The quality of the finished composts as a fertilizer was assessed with plant growth experiments. The levels of N, P, and K available to plants and the resulting improvement in plant growth are measures of the quality of the composts as fertilizers. The plant growth trials were conducted using corn and a mixture of grasses because of their high capacities for nutrient uptake. A number of greenhouse and field evaluations of finished compost N, P, and K availability to corn and grass were made. The dry matter yield and tissue concentration of these elements were used for such evaluations. This facilitated the development of guidelines for best utilization of the composts produced.
B. Greenhouse Evaluation
Silage corn (Zea mays L., Northrup King 9903, 85 day maturity) and a mixture of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), and perennial
ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were used in identical experiments. Each of the compost mixtures was mixed with a Puyallup fine sandy loam soil (coarse-loamy, mixed, mesic Fluventic Haploxeroll) at rates of 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 100 percent compost (weight/weight) in the corn experiment and 0, 1, 2, 5, and 100 percent in the grass experiment for greenhouse evaluations of the N availability. Each treatment was replicated three times in 15 cm pots and completely randomized. Phosphorus (KH2PO,) and K (KCl) were added ina band 2.5 cm deep at rates of 100 kg P.O; ha"! and 270 kg K,O ha}. The N response in the soil was determined by adding NH,NO3 at rates of 0, 56, 112, and 168 kg N ha-!. Four corn seeds per pot were planted on September 6 and thinned to two plants after germination. The grass mixture was seeded on August 2, 1990, at a rate of 100 seeds per pot. Daylight was supplemented with metal halide lights for 16 hr/day. Water was applied through an overhead mist system. The grass was clipped weekly after establishment, and the clippings were accumulated until October 8, 1990. The corn was harvested October 2, 1990. Dry matter yields were determined and the plants were ground for further analysis of N, P, and K contents. Samples of the soil/compost mixtures were refrigerated for later determination of inorganic N (NH}-N and NO3-N). An additional
experiment to evaluate P availability was conducted by adding N and K at rates of 224 kg N ha-! and 270 kg K,O ha:! to compost treatments of 0, 1, 5, and 100 percent. Comparison of the compost mixtures with three commercially available composts for their effects on the growth of corn and grass were made at the 100 percent rate (based on weight/weight). The commercial composts included two sludge
composts and one steer manure compost. Experimental procedures and growth measurements used were identical to those used for the fish/sawdust waste composts described above.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 10
In addition to the above experiments, a comparison of the seafood
composts with commonly used potting mix as a growth media for
rooting and growth of various nursery plants was made in
cooperation with The Planter Box Nursery, Long Beach, Washington.
Growth measurements of plant height, root, and top growth were
made.
C. Field Evaluation
To reduce the size and number of field experiments, the field
evaluation of nutrient availability from the seafood composts was
limited to N evaluation. Nitrogen is the primary limiting factor to
plant growth in most soils of the coastal Pacific Northwest. Since
surface applications of composts can either remain on the soil
surface or be incorporated, the N availability study was divided into
two parts, one concerned with N availabilities of surface applied
composts and the other with that of soil incorporated composts.
Two field experiments were conducted on a Sultan silt loam soil (fine,
silty, mixed, mesic Aquic Xerofluvent) at the Puyallup site to evaluate
the N availability in the composts. Each of the composts was applied
with a manure spreader at rates of 0, 45, 90, and 225 Mg ha-!.
Potassium chloride was broadcast over the entire field and
incorporated along with the compost by rotovating. Corn was planted
June 21 in 76 cm rows at 91,400 seeds/ha in 13.9 m? plots with 4 rows
plot-!. Treble superphosphate was banded with the seed at a rate of
101 kg P,Os ha-!. In plots receiving no compost, NH,NO3 was banded
in a split application at rates of 0, 56, 112, and 168 kg N ha-! to
determine the N response in the soil. Each treatment was replicated
three times in a completely randomized design. Weeds were
controlled with alachlor herbicide. Irrigation was applied as needed.
Soil samples were taken from the 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths on
August 9 for inorganic N determination. The corn was harvested on
September 28, 1990.
The grass was drilled in 17 cm rows on June 22 at a rate of 28 kg ha-!
in the same experimental design as was used for the corn using 5.6
m2 plots. All fertilizer treatments were identical for the corn and
grasses except that the NH,NOs was broadcast and the second portion
of the split application was applied later in the season. Broadleaf
weed control was accomplished by several clippings. The grass was
harvested on October 8, 1990. Both corn and grass samples were
analyzed for dry matter yield and total N, P, and K.
Statistical analyses of the results were performed using analysis of
variance procedures to assess the treatment effects of various seafood
waste composts on tissue and total uptake of N, P, and K, and dry
matter yields of test plants. Duncan's new multiple-range test was
used to identify differences in the response among treatments.
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April 30, 1991 Page 11
In addition to the above analyses, The Weyerhaeuser Company was supplied with samples of each of the four composts to conduct its own forest soils and plant growth experiments. Their scientists have provided an independent report on the quality of the composts as fertilizers in timber production.
D. Economic Analysis
The actual costs associated with the development of the test compost within this project do not accurately reflect the start-up costs of a commercial operation. The volume of the test compost was much lower than that in a commercial plant, no purchases of land, equipment, or buildings were necessary, and all seafood waste and bulking agents were donated. To assess the cost of composting more accurately, in-kind contributions were valued at their market level and combined with estimates of other expenses necessary to develop a mid-size commercial operation capable of composting up to 5,000 metric tons of raw seafood waste per year.
Compost plant expenses were obtained through a review of literature describing the equipment and materials necessary to operate a 5,000 mt per year plant. Following this review, cost estimates for necessary construction and land and equipment purchases were obtained from local sources in Pacific County and incorporated into a plant operational proforma. Results of compost trials (necessary seafood to sawdust mix rations, ratios of final to beginning volume, etc.) were incorporated into the proforma in order to accurately assess variable cost factors such as the purchase and transportation of bulking agent to the composting site.
E. Project M i Participati
The project represented a comprehensive effort by public agencies, private organizations, and individuals. The contributions made to the project are as follows:
1, Mr. Art Yoshioka, Executive Director of the Pacific County Economic Development Council (EDC) had direct responsibility over all aspects of the project and dealt directly with NMFS project officers. Through the offices of EDC, Mr. Yoshioka managed the project, kept financial records, and prepared progress and final reports. The Pacific County Economic Development Council identified three subcontractors in the project proposal, L. Bonacker & Associates, Natural Resources Consultants, and Washington State University. These subcontractors were previously selected by EDC to conduct the Pacific County seafood waste characterization study completed in early 1989 and the basis for this project proposal.
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2. Mrs. Lee Bonacker assisted Mr. Yoshioka in the day-to-day responsibilities of project operation, including acting as the liaison between the project and the local community, organizing the steering committee meetings, coordinating subcontractor and other participants activities, and disseminating project information to the general public and potential commercial operators. Ms. Bonacker also assisted in record keeping and report preparation.
3. Mr. Jeff June and Mr. Mark Freeberg with Natural Resources Consultants, Inc., were responsible for organizing NRC project activities involved with determining the cost of production of compost test samples, assistance in the technical aspects of the project, and in report preparation. NRC also conducted interviews with seafood processors to determine current waste generation and disposal practices, as well as associated costs. Waste generation patterns suggested by these interviews were verified through an analysis of three years of seafood harvest data for coastal Washington obtained from the state's Department of Fisheries.
4. From Washington State University, Dr. Shiou Kuo established the entire production parameters, oversaw the production of composts, chemical analyses, and plant growth tests. Mr. Eric Jellum conducted the day-to-day monitoring of the chemical analyses and field trials with the assistance of technicians from WSU and labor from the Port of Willapa Harbor. Ms. Betty Arneson assisted Dr. Kuo and Mr. Jellum with plant growth studies. Dr. Kuo and Mr. Jellum prepared the technical section of the final report.
5. The Port of Willapa supplied a covered shed and 1/2 acre of land at the Port for the composting operation during the project. The Port also was hired to perform the soil technician function during compost production, since the Port already had appropriate equipment, available manpower, and donated space.
6. The Weyerhaeuser Company provided the softwood sawdust and transported it to the composting operation from its mill in Raymond, Washington. The firm also provided independent analyses, plant growth studies, and evaluation of the four compost samples from a laboratory in California.
7. Jessie's Ilwaco Fish Processing and Chinook Processing supplied and transported seafood wastes for compost production.
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8. Protan Laboratories, Inc. provided shrimp and crab sludge for the compost production, titration services, heavy equipment, labor, and a tanker truck, and conducted analytical tests in their laboratory.
9. Pacific Hardwood Lumber supplied and transported hardwood sawdust for the composts.
10. The Planter Box applied compost to potted plants and provided anecdotal information on compost plant growth performance.
11. Mr. Bob Rose supplied fenced pasture land for compost application and has provided anecdotal growth information
An informal advisory committee was convened three times during the project to examine project progress project and advise on planning and implementation of project work. A list of advisory committee participants for the project is as follows:
Mr. Larry Hendricksen-Manager, Port of Willapa
Mr. Gordon Sargent-Manager, Protan
Mr. Russ Plancik-Owner, Raymond Seafoods
Mr. Terry Krager-Manager, Chinook Packing
Mr. Pierre Marchaud-Manager, Jessie's Ilwaco Fish Processing Mr. Ray Milner-Manager, The Planter Box
Mr. Tom McGough- Pacific Hardwoods
Vv. FINDINGS
A. Accomplish
Findings are presented for each of the five project objectives.
Objective 1. From chemical analyses of different types of seafood
wastes and sawdusts, determine the best ingredient mixture for useful fertilizer compost production.
Samples of Protan waste, groundfish/shrimp waste, alder sawdust, and hemlock sawdust were analyzed for C:N ratios prior to mixing. C:N ratios in the raw products were 8.1 in the Protan, 5.1 in the groundfish/shrimp mix, 110 in the alder, and 614 in the hemlock sawdust. (Complete nutrient profiles of the sawdust and seafood wastes are presented in Appendix I.) One hundred twenty-five kg of NH,NOs fertilizer (43 kg N) were added to the hemlock/fir sawdust and 64 kg of NH,NO; (22 kg N) were added to the alder sawdust and mixed in with a front-end loader to reduce the C:N ratio into the
preferred range of 15-40. The sawdusts were covered and aged in an attempt to build up the microbial population and enzyme
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concentration for inoculation of the fresh sawdust. At the time the compost mixtures were made, 1.5 m3 of this aged sawdust were mixed in with 10.7 m3 of fresh sawdust.
Once the C:N ratios of the sawdust bulking agent were modified to approximately 25 to 30, the volume of sawdust and seafood waste in the initial compost necessary to attain an overall C:N ratio of 25 to 30 in the pile was determined by simultaneously solving two linear equations. The appropriate mix in these piles was thus established at three parts sawdust for every one part seafood.
One problem encountered in the mix determination process was the low percentage of solids (2.3 percent) in the Protan sludge. Unless modified, the high liquid percentage of this sludge would make it difficult to add enough sludge to the sawdust to attain the appropriate
C:N ratio without exceeding the moisture holding capacity of the sawdust. To attempt to minimize this problem, FeCl; was added at a rate of 0.12 percent to 60 m3 of the Protan sludge in order to flocculate and condense the suspended solids.
Objective 2. Combine seafood wastes and sawdusts to make test
samples of four different composts.
Protan Sludge
To the 60 m3 of Protan sludge, 0.14 m3 of 40 percent FeCl; were added
as a flocculant and the mixture allowed to settle overnight. The following day, approximately 10 m3 were drained out of the bottom of the tank into a 19 m’ tanker. After an additional 2 to 3 hours of settling, the sludge was drained from the bottom of the tanker as needed for mixing into the sawdust. The solids content of the sludge
had by now increased to 5 percent and contained 6.6 percent N.
About 2,270 kg of Protan sludge were slowly mixed into the sawdust.
The 7,200 kg of alder sawdust and 5,500 kg of hemlock/fir sawdust, at
60 percent moisture, contained 3,300 and 4,300 kg of water,
respectively. The 2,270 kg of Protan sludge contained 2,160 kg of
water. The resulting moisture contents of the compost mixtures
were 68 and 70 percent, respectively. This was above the water
retention capacity of the sawdust, and some liquid was seen trickling from the piles. Since further amounts of Protan sludge could not be
added to the pile, the resulting C:N ratios of 109 in the alder compost
and 148 in the hemlock compost were much higher than the target
ratio of 30 considered optimal for composting. Nutrient and growth
characteristics of these composts should be interpreted with this
difference in mind. The N content of the liquid which drained away
was 0.06 percent, but the volume lost is unknown.
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Fresh Groundfish/Shrimp Waste
The groundfish waste was a mixture of several species of groundfish
and shrimp shells that had been ground prior to delivery to the
composting site. Two samples of approximately 3,402 kg of the
groundfish/shrimp waste were added to samples of 10.7 m$ of fresh
and 1.5 m3 of aged sawdust for both the alder and hemlock sawdust
samples. The resulting moisture content of the compost samples
was approximately 63 percent while the C:N ratios were 17.0 in the
alder/groundfish and 17.7 in the hemlock/groundfish mixture.
The compost constituents were mixed and windrowed with a front-
end loader equipped with a 0.75 m3 bucket. Early in the composting
period, both the alder and Protan sludge (AP) and the hemlock/fir
and Protan sludge (HP) compost windrows were reformed into piles
that minimized the surface to volume ratio to promote higher
temperatures. The alder and groundfish (AGF) and hemlock/fir and
groundfish (HGF) composts were left in the long windrows.
Eventually all composts, with the exception of the HGF and HP,
exceeded 50°C for at least one week (Exhibit 1). Windrow
temperatures did not exceed 70°C except in the AGF.
By the 12th week of composting, the pH in the AGF compost had risen
to 8.6. Seventy gallons of 1 N HCl were mixed into the pile. This
reduced the pH to 6.7 to prevent the loss of N through NH3
volatilization. When pH levels exceed 8, especially at high
temperatures, significant amounts of N can be lost as NH3 (Morisaki
et al., 1989).
Although both flies and odor were reported to be somewhat
objectionable early in the composting process, the light coating of
fresh sawdust after each turning prevented any serious problems.
All operators and volunteers wore surgical or gauze face/nose masks
during early turnings.
The total inorganic nitrogen (NH}-N, NO3-N) declined gradually
(Exhibit 2) due to the decrease of NHj-N without the concurrent
increase of NO3-N through nitrification (Exhibits 3 and 4). Such a
result suggests some loss of N through NH; volatilization when the
composts were turned early in the composting period. The AGF had
a consistently higher total N content but considerably lower NO3-N
throughout the composting period. It is possible that the alder
sawdust had a higher content of slowly degradable carbon substrates
that supported continued microbial activity and extended the length
of time required for composting to be completed (Exhibit 1). Alder is
known to contain more carbohydrates and less lignin than conifers.
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Objective 3. Determine the physical and chemical characteristics of sample composts.
The physical characteristics of the compost include descriptions of color, odor, texture, and moisture content. All composts except the alder/Protan mixture were brown to light brown in color. The alder/Protan was deep brown to black in color.
Odor was noticeable during initial turnings of each of the piles but the piles containing Protan exuded the most offending smell. However, overall, odor was not strong and dissipated within a few days of turning. The final composts had almost no odor other than a rich earthy or woody smell when held close to the nose.
Compost texture is best described in relative terms. It is similar to that of most ground wood soil conditioners currently on the market although heavier than peat moss and lighter than bark-steer manure mixes. All composts easily pass through the fingers when held in the hand and resist compaction to some degree.
Moisture content of the final compost varied from 41 percent in the hemlock/groundfish and alder/Protan composts to 48 percent in the hemlock/Protan mix. The alder/groundfish compost exhibited a 42 percent moisture level.
The chemical characteristics of the various composts at the completion of the composting process are presented in Exhibit 5. The C:N ratios were near or below the value of 25 critical for the mineralization of organic N (Allison, 1973) (Exhibit 6). The total N contents, ranging from 1.3 to 1.9 percent (Exhibit 7), were similar to those for municipal sludge and other seafood composts that use sawdust as bulking material (Hay et al., 1988; Brinton and Seekins, 1988). Approximately 20 to 30 percent of the total N for HGF, AGF, and HP, as opposed to 2 percent for AP, was in mineral forms (Exhibit 8). Due to the low available N content, coupled with incomplete decomposition of degradable organic carbon, the AP compost may likely be of little value to supply adequate N for immediate plant use and could even aggravate N infertility through microbial immobilization. The immobilization removes soil inorganic N and incorporates it into microbial tissue, thus decreasing the level of soil inorganic N that is immediately available for plants. Only 5 to 10 percent of the total phosphate was immediately plant available, whereas virtually all of the potassium was exchangeable.
HGF and AGF contained much more plant-available phosphate by the NaHCO; test than HP and AP. All composts contained Zn, Cu, and Cd levels that are much lower than sludge or municipal refuse
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composts (Terman et al., 1973) and are unlikely to cause metal toxicity to plants when applied to soil for crop production. All composts had relatively high salt content which could impair plant growth for those species less salt tolerant.
The high salt content in the groundfish composts could be due to the large quantity of fish added and the level of soluble inorganic N. In the shrimp waste compost, the NaOH used in the production of chitin and the ferric chloride used to flocculate the suspended solids were the primary source of salts. When the composts are used as soil amendments, the salt level may be diluted to an extent that may not
be a problem for normal plant growth.
Objective 4. Conduct experiments on plant growth and nutrient
uptake rates of the different composts and compare with controls.
Greenhouse Experiments
Nitrogen Availability
Corn dry matter yields increased in response to HP compost addition
up to the 25 percent rate and to HGF and AGF compost addition to the 5 percent rate (Exhibit 9). Corn dry matter yields, N uptake, and residual inorganic soil N concentrations all responded negatively to AP compost treatments. Dry matter yields of corn grown without compost and fertilized with NH,NO3 at 112 and 224 kg N ha-! were
comparable with those at the 5 percent rate for the two groundfish composts. The amount of N added from the compost was well in excess of that which could be accounted for by plant uptake or residual inorganic soil N. This corresponds to similar results in the field experiment. Microbial immobilization of the added N may have been responsible for this, but further study is required to explain this enigma.
Grass yields and tissue concentrations of N, P, and K increased to the 100 percent compost treatment in the HGF, AGF, and HP (Exhibit
10). Since there were no intermediate rates between 5 and 100 percent, it cannot be determined at what rate the response plateaued at the level noted in the 100% application. Yields of grass grown in 100 percent compost were higher than grass in NH,NO; fertilized soil, with the exception of the AP treatments. Again, the dry matter yields and N concentrations of grass did not respond to AP compost additions.
The HGF, AGF, and HP were more effective in promoting dry matter yields and tissue N and P contents of grass than any of the three commercial composts used. They were comparable to the sludge compost (SL-1) and the steer manure compost (ST) for corn yields.
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Both AP and the sludge compost (SL-2) had a very low content of inorganic N (Exhibit 11) and thus limited value as a fertilizer.
Phosphorus Availability.
The total and NaHCO; extractable P concentrations in the compost are shown in Exhibit 12. Applications of HP, HGF, and AGF increased corn yields and NaHCO;-P levels in the soil. The AP compost did not increase yields beyond the 1 percent rate despite slight increases in soil P levels. The yield decline above the 5 percent rate did not appear to be directly related to the availability of P, as P tissue concentration increased consistently with rate. The magnitudes of the increases in NaHCO3 extractable P levels were more pronounced in the HGF and AGF, corresponding to higher NaHCO; extractable P concentrations in these composts. However the considerably lower availability of P in the AP may be related to microbial P immobilization.
Corn dry matter yields in the greenhouse experiment on N availability peaked at the 5 percent level for the HGF and AGF. The 5 percent rate of these composts in the experiment on P availability increased the NaHCO; extractable P levels in the soil to 58 and 77 ug g}, respectively. A value of 50 ug g! would be considered adequate for this particular soil. This indicates that the available N and P values of the HGF and AGF are well balanced. The HP, even at the 10 percent rate, raised the NaHCO;-P level to only 45 pg g!, and the AP to 28 pg g (Exhibit 12).
Potassium Availability.
Although a K response experiment was not done in the same
manner as the N and P experiments, the difference in corn tissue concentrations within the range of compost treatments in the N response experiment was neither large nor much different from the control corn. Since the K availability apparently was not deficient or excessive, an individual experiment was not considered necessary.
Results of independent plant nutrient and growth analyses conducted by The Weyerhaeuser Company are presented in Appendix II.
Field Experiments
Nitrogen contributions to the soil from the compost treatments for silage corn are shown in Exhibit 13. The inorganic N (NH}-N, NO3-
N) levels in the surface 30 cm of soil are from the August 9 samples. The indigenous N supply was adequate to prevent obvious tissue N
deficiency symptoms until late in the season. Even without considering N mineralization, less than 20 percent of the inorganic N
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added to the HGF and AGF could be accounted for by plant uptake or residual soil inorganic N in the surface 30 cm. Dry matter yields of the control corn that received varying rates of NH,N' O3 peaked after the 56 kg N ha-! rate which is well below the N rates applied from the HGF and AGF even at 1 percent (Exhibit 13). Yields were increased as much as 30 percent in the AGF and HGF treatments over the fertilized control. Improved soil physical conditions such as improved soil aggregation and water holding capacity, especially at high rates, could not be ruled out as factors contributing to the increased yields of corn grown with AGF, HGF, and HP. The composts having very high water holding capacity and low bulk density can increase the availability of soil water and soil aeration. The humus or organic acids from the decomposition of the compost could bind soil particles and improve soil aggregate stability. However, it could not compensate for inadequate N fertility in the AP treatments. In this case, compost rates decreased, instead of increased, corn yields.
Tissue concentrations of N, P, and K are shown in Exhibit 13. Tissue N concentrations increased up to the 2 or 5 percent rate except for the AP compost treatments. This result was reasonable considering the available N contents in the AGF, HGF, and HP (Exhibit 8). Tissue P and K concentrations were little different between compost fertilized and NH,NO; fertilized treatments. The AP compost had essentially no effect on tissue N, P, or K concentrations.
The C:N ratio or the total N content has been used to index N mineralization and bioavailability of organic N (Allison, 1973; Iritani and Arnold, 1960). Neither parameter is more effective than the total mineralized N in explaining the response of corn yields to the composts.
The grass dry matter yields increased in response to compost addition up to the 5 percent rate (Exhibit 14). The AGF and HGF compost increased N, P, and K tissue concentrations, but the AP and HP composts made little change in N and P and some decreases in tissue K concentrations. The NH,NO; fertilized treatments resulted in higher grass yields and tissue N concentration than did the compost amended treatments. The N fertilizer was applied in split applications that could better meet the N requirements of the grass.
In summary, except for the alder/Protan compost, the seafood waste composts’ nutrient characteristics and growth effects compared very favorably with commercially available compost mixes.
Anecdotal, non-replicated results of separate growth tests conducted at The Planter Box, a nursery located in Long Beach, Washington, concurred with the above findings (Appendix III). The tests were not conducted under controlled scientific conditions, nor was there a
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documentation of the methods and procedure used. All of the plants grown with seafood compost responded to 25 and 50 percent applications with good growth and little need for additional fertilizer during the test period. Field observations at The Planter Box noted that the 50 percent application did show slightly better color and growth (one-half to one inch) than did the 25 percent application. Mixtures using 75 percent compost dried out very rapidly and analyses were discontinued. Little difference in plant growth performance was noted between alder or hemlock compost mixtures.
Rhubarb and potatoes showed especially good responses to compost applications at The Planter Box site. Rhubarb growth in six months was equal to about 18 months of growth under normal commercial fertilizer application regimes. The plants were compact and exhibited very good color. Furthermore, when compost was used as a mulch around potatoes, treated plants yielded on average twice as much as those which received no compost. Again, however, it should be noted that these non-replicated results are anecdotal in nature.
Objective 5. Identify the cost of production of the test composts during the project.
Due to the small volume of compost produced and the donated site, labor, and equipment, the costs associated with production of the seafood/sawdust waste composts during the project did not reflect the actual cost of compost production required to address the Pacific County, Washington, seafood waste disposal problem. As a result, startup and first-year operation costs of a hypothetical composting plant were obtained from the literature and quotes from local suppliers to produce a business proforma.
Results of the seafood composting plant operational proforma demonstrated that Pacific County compost can be produced for from $0.019 to $0.053 per liter of compost (Exhibit 15). Key assumptions affecting price are the price paid for bulking agent, price paid for seafood waste, the cost of transporting waste and/or bulking agent to the composting plant, and the annual volume of compost produced for a given level of start-up and annual costs. Exhibits 16, 17, 18, and 19 depict the effect on unit costs of production due to changes in these key variables. Total start-up and year one costs of operation equalled $1.1 million under a scenario in which 5,000 mt of seafood waste was purchased at $15 per mt and composted with 15,000 mt of sawdust/wood chips purchased at $15 mt, producing an annual yield of 14,000 mt of compost. Per unit cost of production was estimated at $0.019/ or $0.035/1b. Although the above prices compare quite favorably to prices received for other soil conditioners now on the market (wholesale and retail marketers were queried), a detailed
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analysis of the commercial viability of seafood compost produced at these prices is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of this study.
B. Need for Additional Work
1. Agronomic Research
There is a need for additional and detailed agronomic research on the nutrient transformation after the compost has been incorporated into soil. This is particularly true for N since much of the applied N in the compost could not be accounted for in the analyses. In addition, the mineralization rate and residual availability of compost N during the subsequent growing seasons should be established for the purpose of meeting fertilizer requirements, protecting ground water quality, and marketing the compost.
In addition, if wood waste is to be the primary bulking agent, more work is needed to understand the performance of the alder wood waste. Alder is a common wood waste in the Pacific Northwest and seems to have fewer desirable effects on plant growth as a bulking agent in seafood waste compost than fir and hemlock sawdust. Understanding the dynamics of the alder wood waste in the composting process could lead to implementing composting techniques allowing better plant growth performance from the alder/seafood waste compost.
Evaluating and/or developing other composting techniques that can be more efficiently operated, shortening the time needed to stabilize the compost, and enhancing the recovery of the nutrients in the fish waste is needed. This will provide necessary technologies to strengthen the foundation for the fish waste composting industry.
2. Regulatory Considerations
General Federal Regulations
The federal Environmental Protection Agency formulated a goal of reducing solid waste destined for landfills by 25 percent by the year 1992. This goal is reflected in a new emphasis on recycling in Washington State. In 1989, the Solid Waste Management--Recovery and Recycling Act (70.95 RCW) was amended to establish a recycling goal of 50 percent. Yard waste composting alone is expected to reduce the solid waste stream going into State of Washington landfills by 25 percent.
Compost is a desirable way to reduce the waste stream, but there will still be regulatory hurdles to overcome when siting a new compost facility. These difficulties are apt to add delays and permit requirements which can be very expensive to implement. Compost is
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defined in Washington State law as solid waste and is therefore regulated under the Minimal Functional Standards for Solid Waste Handling (MFS), under Chapter 173-304 WAC. Solid waste is regulated under other WACs as well, pertaining to such issues as runoff, leachate, or odor. Additional regulations which could affect compost are not yet completely established or are being reviewed.
Although it is reasonable to ask for consistent, firm rules before beginning any activity, siting a business during a time of regulatory flux is now a common reality throughout the United States. As more information is gathered about the interaction of man's activities with his environment, regulations seek to reflect current knowledge. Regulatory change thus becomes inevitable. Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) personnel estimate that solid waste regulations will change substantially over the next three or four years (pers. comm. Kyle Dorsey, DOE Yard Waste Composting Workshop, Tacoma, Washington, August 30, 1990).
The following discussion will briefly discuss some major areas in which these regulatory changes are occurring. Although regulatory details are specific to Washington State, the issues below may arise anywhere a compost facility is proposed.
General State (SEPA) Regulations
The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) provides a vehicle for assessing and, if necessary, reducing the potential environmental impacts associated with a project. Local government has authority to administer the SEPA review process. The “lead agency" under SEPA assesses the degree of environmental impact. The local health department is the lead agency for siting a compost facility. During the permitting process, state agencies may interact with the lead agency and require additional regulations.
The Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) is reasserting some authority for solid waste handling which until recently it had left almost exclusively to the discretion of local health departments. For example, the DOE has now decided that solid waste handling facilities (including compost) will be required to file an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The EIS will provide a regulatory framework demonstrating to the proponent of a compost project how to lessen negative impacts of his project. Thus the EIS determines in large part the environmental (and thus economic) feasibility of siting a compost project. For example, water quality considerations and needed treatments will be examined and/or required under the SEPA process.
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If the SEPA process determines that negative impacts are so extensive they cannot be mitigated, the compost facility will not be allowed. However, the level of detail required by an EIS fora compost project has yet to be determined. As of November 1990, comments were still being taken on the scope of environmental impact statements for various solid waste handling facilities. Thus, a compost project proponent does not yet know which impacts to study or how much effort and expense is necessary for mitigation design.
Water Quality Regulations
The DOE has responsibility for maintaining water quality in the State of Washington. Washington State solid waste water quality regulations are based on the total amount of waste and how long it is stored on the ground. The assumption is that the larger the amount of waste stored and the longer it is stored, the greater the chance for interaction with the environment, especially the aquatic environment. Time deadlines do exist to regulate storage of various types of compost. As yet there are no regulations on the volume of compost storage requiring permits.
State and possibly federal waste discharge permits will be required for all types of interaction with water. Mr. Kyle Dorsey at the DOE can provide information on how the interaction of solid wastes and water is regulated. If a compost project uses the sanitary sewer system or if runoff may seep into ground water, a state discharge permit is required. For piles larger than 10,000 cubic yards, groundwater monitoring or leachate treatment will be required to get a discharge permit. Groundwater regulations in the State of Washington have recently been revised, and both project proponents and regulators must familiarize themselves with how these changes will effect composting.
To lessen impacts on ground water quality, the DOE may require all future compost facilities to be covered and to have liners and leachate containment systems. If a waste water treatment system for the leachate is required by the discharge permit, the design of the system must be approved by the DOE prior to its construction. To add to the uncertainty, the DOE states that waste discharge permits may be completely avoided by recycling collected runoff and leachate back into the compost piles (Page III-2, Yard Waste Composting Manual, WDOE). Although providing a simple scenario in theory, the technical practicality of this liquid recycling method will vary greatly from site to site.
If water from the site is discharged to surface waters, a federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit will be required. A lead time of one year is generally required for processing the federal NPDES permit. The Washington State DOE
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may also add more stringent conditions to the federal NPDES permit. Discharging any water from a compost facility to streams, lakes, or rivers is not recommended by this study. The ideal situation would be for a compost facility to be sited on impervious ground with a deep water table, as far away from any body of water as possible. This scenario is highly unlikely in the Pacific Northwest, especially for a facility specializing in seafood waste compost.
Solid Waste Handling Regulation
Facilities handling solid wastes may also be producing compost, thus present compost regulation may be affected in two ways. First, regulations for solid waste handling facilities are being rewritten by the Washington Department of Ecology during the next two years. These regulations are called Minimum Functional Standards for Solid Waste Handling. Second, compost is presently regulated under generic "pile" standards which cover solid waste, such as manures used for fertilizer. The DOE is also examining whether to alter the generic pile standards specifically for compost.
Classification and Monitoring of Seafood Waste Compost
When considering land application, solid waste is presently regulated according to how it is classified. Sewage sludges are regulated more stringently than other wastes due to the possibility of
their containing toxic materials. Seafood waste is not likely to contain the same levels of toxic materials which are found in sewage sludge. In spite of this fact, the bulking agent, wood waste, is already regulated under the same classification as sewage sludge. Due to its wood waste component, seafood/sawdust waste composting may be required to conduct the same extensive monitoring required of metropolitan sludge producers under current regulations.
Fortunately, the DOE has initiated a grant program which will test various types of compost to see which monitoring regimens will be required. After data are evaluated, the testing regimen will be revised so unnecessary testing is eliminated. The DOE has stated they are trying to move compost regulation into a situation that is less regulatory and which makes much more common sense. This philosophy may help to find the appropriate classification for regulating and monitoring seafood waste compost. Testing regimens will be required to monitor compost operations, but appropriate testing is still being formulated.
Air Quality Regulations
Solid waste handling facilities may be regulated under the North West Air Pollution Control permit, particularly for odor. Unfortunately, the air quality standards which may be imposed and
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 25
VI.
how they may be implemented are very uncertain at this time. Of all
the various permitting issues surrounding compost production, the
question of air quality regulation is the vaguest.
The State of Washington has "best management practices" for
nuisance and odor regulation. These regulations are handled by
local air pollution control authorities. Not all of Washington State is
covered by these local bodies. In some areas regulatory authority
falls back on the state. Depending upon whether state or local
regulations apply, the air quality regulations affecting compost
production may vary.
New sources of odor may have to go through permit review, but local
air pollution regulatory agencies will make that determination.
Local air pollution authorities may require that best available
controls be used for odor prevention. For compost production those
controls may require certain types of turning equipment, turning
schedules and temperature data, odor reducing compost coverings,
or even installation of specialized aeration equipment eliminating
compost turning and thus decreasing odor.
3. Economic considerations
Pacific County seafood processors are interested in compost
manufacture as an alternative method of handling seafood wastes.
The cost assumptions made in the proforma included in this study
could be adjusted to fit individual circumstances. For example,
processors could provide their own seafood waste, free of charge, and
may already have land or equipment available. Start-up and
operational costs could be less than those in the proforma, but costs
on a per unit basis may be greater if a lower volume of compost is
produced. Seafood compost manufacture could become an integral
part of existing shoreside processing in Pacific County and
elsewhere. More detailed economic scenarios need to be developed to
reflect alternatives to an independent seafood composting plant and
to develop break-even costs for other volumes of compost production.
EVALUATION
I eee eed ad Obese
Project Goal: To determine whether compost produced from
different types of seafood waste and sawdust
commonly available in the Pacific Northwest can be
successfully developed as a useful fertilizer.
Three out of four types of seafood and sawdust waste compost were
successfully developed into useful fertilizers, thus completely
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 26
fulfilling the goal of the project. Each of the four types of compost demonstrated varying degrees of benefit to plant tissue measured via growth, nutrient content, and/or availability. In general, both bottomfish composts and the Protan/hemlock/fir composts performed better than the Protan/alder compost.
During the project life each of the objectives were also realized, as noted below. Detailed descriptions and data verifying how the objectives were satisfied are included in Section V. There were no modifications made to the project's goal or to the basic objectives.
Objective 1: From chemical analyses of different types of seafood wastes and sawdusts, determine the best ingredient mixture for useful fertilizer compost production.
Washington State University soil scientists determined these mixes as described in the Findings, and thus satisfied Objective 1. These mixtures were then used for manufacturing the compost test samples.
Objective 2: Combine seafood wastes and sawdusts to make test samples of four different composts.
Development of the following four compost test samples was completed in July, 1990, to fulfill Objective 2:
a. Bottomfish waste - hemlock/fir timber waste b. Bottomfish waste - alder timber waste c. Protan shrimp waste - hemlock/fir timber waste d. Protan shrimp waste - alder timber waste
Objective 3: Determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the sample composts.
The chemical profile necessary for healthy plant growth must be met by any successful fertilizer. The description of the physical and chemical characteristics of the compost samples complete the requirements for this objective, as stated in Section V. The characteristics of the physical and chemical analyses of the sample composts determine the quality of the composts.
Objective 4: Conduct experiments on plant growth and nutrient uptake rates of the different composts and compare with controls.
The ultimate success of a soil amendment is determined by the level of nutrient value the plant can use in the growth process, not the level of nutrients the amendment provides to the soil. Plant
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report April 30, 1991 Page 27
growth and nutrient uptake for the different composts and controls are described in Section V. In the greenhouse tests, the sample seafood/sawdust waste composts, with the exception of the alder/shrimp waste compost, performed quite favorably, if not better than other commercially available soil mixes and the experimental controls.
Objective 5: Identify the cost of production of the test composts during the project.
The cost of production for the test composts was initially determined from grant expenditures. The seafood compost project was a community effort which involved heavy participation with in-kind services. Although providing costs of production for the seafood compost samples fulfills Objective 5, these costs were not suitable as a guide to costs of commercial compost production. Therefore, a proforma of operational costs for a hypothetical shore- based seafood composting facility was developed with costs and assumptions specific to Pacific County, Washington. This proforma analysis is included as Exhibit 15.
B. Benefits to the Fishing Industry
Benefits of seafood/sawdust composting to the fishing industry are evaluated within the context of this project only. There presently are no commercial seafood waste compost operations operating in the area and thus direct economic benefits are contingent upon such a company becoming a reality. As a result, direct economic benefits from the project are not measurable at this time. However, assuming that a compost facility were to be established in Pacific County or a similar area in the Pacific Northwest, potential benefits of such an operation can be estimated based on results of the study.
While the purpose of this study was to provide information on the benefits of seafood waste composting to the fishing industry and to provide information that might encourage the development of a compost facility, other indirect benefits to the county would be likely. In the event a seafood/wood waste industry were developed, measurable benefits would include increased employment, reduced pressure on land fills, creation of alternative markets for wood waste products, and development of an environmentally sound fertilizer for local growers/farmers.
The reader is cautioned that there are a variety of factors which could affect the benefits of seafood waste composting, including changes in regulations affecting the harvest of seafood and thus the supply of seafood waste, changes in environmental regulations that could negatively impact or eliminate composting as a disposal alternative,
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 28
development of alternative byproducts for seafood waste, and many factors which might affect the marketability of seafood/sawdust waste products. Many of these factors were not addressed in detail in this report because they were beyond the scope of this study. Other factors, such as regulations affecting composting, are in the process of development and it is difficult to predict their positive or negative impacts on composting. The supply of both seafood waste and wood products is also dependent upon conditions affecting the harvest of marine resources and timber products which can change.
For the purpose of this study, the potential benefits to the fishing industry were evaluated by answering the following pertinent questions, given the present conditions in the Pacific County, Washington, region. The assumption was made that the conditions in Pacific County are similar to those existing in other Pacific Northwest rural communities.
Whether or not seafood compost is a viable alternative to existing commercial fertilizers depends upon a variety of factors, chief of which are the nutrient/growth characteristics and the cost of production of the compost. From the results of this study, the nutrient characteristics of the groundfish and hemlock/Protan composts meet and exceed those of most existing soil conditioners and fertilizers. Exhibit 5 presents a nutrient profile of these three composts. Nitrogen levels ranged from 1.3 to 1.9 percent, phosphorous from 0.29 to 0.84 percent, and potassium from 0.15 to 0.19 percent. A survey of major commercial fertilizer products found that seafood compost nutrient characteristics exceeded the nutrient content of all except composted chicken manure. Composted steer manure, for example, possessed nitrogen and phosphorous at 0.5 percent levels, approximately one-third of that found in the seafood composts.
The growth response of plants which received applications of seafood compost also supports seafood compost as a viable alternative to present commercial fertilizers, with the exception of alder/shrimp waste compost. In field trials at the Puyallup experimental station, compost applications produced more abundant growth than did any application of nitrogen to test sites. Corn growth responded favorably to such applications up to a 5 percent application of the composts. Rye and other grass growth responded in a manner similar to corn. In short, the results of these tests showed that growth induced by seafood compost, with the exception of alder/shrimp waste compost, compared favorably to commercially available compost mixes.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 29
The alder/shrimp waste compost failed to provide good plant growth responses. Without further research and development work, the production of this type of compost is not advised.
Anecdotal results obtained from project collaborators demonstrated that the growth of vegetable crops also was extremely positive following applications of seafood compost. When applied to rhubarb, growth in six months was comparable to that typical of 18 months under applications of other fertilizers. Moreover, potato yield was double that of untreated plants.
While nutrient and growth characteristics appear to show that
seafood compost will match or outperform applications of other ’ commercial fertilizers, the other major factor affecting the viability of seafood waste compost is cost of production. Results of analyses of start-up and year one costs demonstrate that a 5,000 metric ton compost plant in the vicinity of Raymond, Washington, can produce bulk compost at a rate of $0.02 to $0.05 per liter. Seafood waste compost produced at these rates may be competitive with most
compost products currently being marketed. Although the price differential between wholesale cost of production and the retail market price is unknown, potting soil is currently marketed at the retail level for $0.23 to $0.35 per liter, while peat moss, a commonly
used soil conditioner, sells for up to $0.88 per liter at the retail level.
Most fertilizers priced at similar levels, for example steer manure,
have nutrient and growth characteristics inferior to seafood compost.
Given the nutrient, growth, and cost of production characteristics of
seafood compost and its perceived potential competitors, it is
apparent that, with the exception of alder/shrimp waste compost,
other seafood waste composts produced in this study are indeed a viable alternative to existing commercial fertilizers.
From the evaluation of the costs of producing the test samples of
compost, what is the potential cost of composting the present reported
supply of seafood wastes generated in the Pacific Northwest?
Fisheries data for 1987 to 1989 reveal that the average size of the Washington State coastal port compostable’ seafood waste stream
equals 28.3 million pounds (12,808 metric tons) annually. Compost
cost of production analyses based on a plant with a maximum
throughput of 5,000 metric tons per year demonstrate that total start- up and year one costs would equal $1.1 million. Costs would total $2.8 million if additional 5,000 metric ton plants were constructed in order
to process nearly the entire 12,808 metric ton Washington State
coastal seafood waste stream. Total plant and operation costs would
3 This estimate does not include oyster, clam, or mussel wastes since such by-products are
not readily compostable.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 30
increase by 50 to 100 percent if the total Oregon seafood waste stream were also to be composted at a larger capacity plant.
While the $2.8 million total accurately reflects start-up and year one costs, it should be remembered that, assuming a market exists for this product, these costs are recoverable by the sale of the finished compost. The seafood composts’ nutrient and growth characteristics indicate that the material could compete quite favorably with existing products. The actual interest of the wholesale nurseries, landscapers, turf builders, etc. in this compost is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of this study.
Whatis the potential reduction in cost of disposal of seafood wastes by c
Seafood processors’ costs of disposal of seafood waste ranged from approximately $30 per ton of waste to $30 to $95 per month,depending on plant size. Given a 12,808 metric ton seafood waste stream and total costs at $30 per ton, the total annual cost to Washington State coastal seafood processors for seafood waste was slightly more than $384,000 in 1990, or about 35 percent of the start-up and year one costs for the seafood waste composting plant described above. However,
unlike the above seafood compost costs, the $384,000 spent by coastal seafood processors on the disposal of seafood wastes to landfills or other sites does not produce a product with a recoverable value. Indeed, the proforma analysis of start-up and year one costs assumed that seafood processors would receive $15 for each ton of seafood waste they supplied. Under this scenario, processors would receive revenues totalling $192,120 for the 12,808 metric tons of waste
they produced in 1990. Processors’ costs (and revenues) for waste disposal would fall to zero if processors contributed wastes to a composting facility even without payment for the waste. Thus, the potential reduction in the cost of disposal of seafood wastes by composting ranges from a minimum of $384,000 to some maximum value dependent upon the rate charged by the processors for the seafood waste they produce. For example, if the attached cost of production analysis for the seafood waste compost plant is accepted, seafood processors could experience a net gain of $384,000 through the elimination of disposal costs and, possibly, a further gain of
$192,120 through the sales of 12,808 mt of seafood waste to a composting plant. Total annual net gain to the processors could exceed $576,000.4
4 This scenario assumes that sufficient composting capacity exists to accept the entire
coastal Washington State seafood waste stream. Our operational proforma assumes one,
5,000 mt capacity plant.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 31
Given tl Its of th ; hat is the likelihood th food ld partial Ht food ‘
A total of seventeen seafood processors in the Pacific County region (Hammond, Oregon north to Taholah, Washington) were interviewed on their current amount of seafood waste production, methods and costs of disposal, and the likelihood they would use an alternate disposal method if available. Of the 17 seafood processors questioned, only five indicated they produced significant quantities of fish or shellfish waste. The other 12 either answered that they generated little or no waste products, or were oyster processors who returned all of the waste to the marine environment in the form of empty shells. The total estimated annual waste production from the five major seafood waste producers in the area for 1990 was 8,440 mt, composed primarily of whiting, groundfish, and shrimp waste (Exhibit 20).
The total amount of waste produced in the Pacific County region is expected to increase by four percent in 1991 over the volume produced in 1990, to nearly 8,760 mt, due mainly to expected increases in hagfish processing waste. A further increase in seafood waste production of one percent to 8,880 mt is expected by processors in 1992 over 1991 volumes. Exhibit 21 shows the expected percent of waste produced within each species group by month for processors in the Pacific County region. Appendix V gives average monthly volume and percent composition of seafood waste generated by seafood processors, within 10 miles, 10 to 25 miles, 26 to 50 miles, and greater than 50 miles of a proposed seafood waste composting plant at Raymond, Washington. Estimates are based on Washington Department of Fisheries seafood product production estimates by port during the 1987 through 1989 period.
Processors reported sales of 45 percent of their seafood waste products in 1990. Seafood waste was sold as animal and fish food supplements and for direct field application as fertilizer. The remaining 55 percent, or 4,630 mt of the seafood waste in 1990, was disposed of in public or private landfills and would have been available for alternative disposal, including composting. Processors expected a 7 percent increase in the amount of seafood waste available for alternative disposal methods in 1991, and an additional 3 percent increase in 1992 to over 5,000 mt. This estimated waste production is consistent with the 5,000 mt seafood waste capacity of the proposed composting plant.
When questioned about the likelihood of using alternative disposal methods over their existing non-sales disposal methods, four out of the five seafood processors indicated they would use an alternative method if it did not significantly increase their disposal costs. No
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 32
mention was made by the interviewer of purchasing seafood waste for composting. The single processor which responded negatively, produced a total of 42 mt of waste in 1990 and mixes seafood waste with other waste which is transported and disposed of by the local public waste disposal utility. All processors responded that they would likely be willing to transport the seafood waste to an alternate disposal site if the site were not significantly farther than their current transport distance for disposal, which averaged 39 miles and ranged from 0.5 to 180 miles during 1990.
When questioned about whether they would be willing to sell their seafood waste to a composting operation, all five seafood processors responded positively. They would sell seafood waste they are currently not selling and might sell waste they are currently selling for other purposes if the purchase price for composting were more than they currently receive for these products, which averaged (adjusted by volume sold) $46.60/mt and ranged from $45/mt to
$90.70/mt.
C. Dissemination of Project Results
1. Public Access
Products available to the public from the project were the compost samples and information on their performance. This project required participation by various segments of the public, including education and training, labor, and public and private sectors. The participants gained a more complete understanding of the factors
affecting the production and disposal of seafood waste and the
potential for the development of a value-added product from seafood
wastes.
Providing compost samples to persons representing potential users or markets was also part of the project's design. Compost samples were provided for use and anecdotal reporting to a local nursery and a cattle rancher in Pacific County, Washington. The Land Grant Extension System was involved with compost production through
participation by Washington State University personnel. Compost samples were also provided to The Weyerhauser Corporation for
analysis and comments, which were oriented towards timber industry concerns.
Considerable interest was shown in the seafood compost project. The
steering committee of the Pacific County Economic Development
Council, project participants, and other interested parties received
technical reports and updates during the project. Interest was not
confined to the Pacific County participants and local seafood
processors, but extended throughout seafood processing
communities on the West Coast.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 33
The results of the project in the form of this final report will be dispersed to all parties requesting information, including seafood processors in Maine, Oregon, and Florida, and Oregon, Washington, California, and Wisconsin Sea Grant offices. Additional copies will be available on a national scale through the Saltonstall-Kennedy bibliography and the Land-Grant Extension Service.
An example of the geographic scope of interest was an enquiry from the Provincial Government of British Columbia, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Provincial government asked the Saltonstall-Kennedy seafood compost project participants to be their guests in Vancouver, British Columbia, at an international round table to discuss mutual interests in seafood compost and its benefits. These talks have led to an informal agreement to share information and assistance. Considering that the Provincial Government has awarded over $750,000 to a British Columbia university for seafood compost work, this agreement is an unforeseen benefit from the Saltonstall-Kennedy Pacific County seafood compost project.
During this roundtable, participants reviewed all the formal seafood compost projects currently underway or completed on the North American continent in the past five years. To date, the Pacific County Seafood Waste Compost project has produced some of the most extensive data, particularly when comparing seafood compost performance to other soil amendments already commercially available in the Pacific Northwest. Additional data will be available from British Columbia seafood compost research in early 1992. Although composts tend to be site specific in nature, this cooperation will likely benefit seafood processors in both countries through the information exchange.
To disseminate the findings of this project, the Pacific County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) will coordinate a meeting between coastal Washington and other seafood processors. Project results will be presented at this meeting and copies of the final project report distributed to interested parties. The PCEDC will also ensure that copies of the report are distributed to participants in the current project, including seafood processors who cooperated with seafood waste stream interviews and nursery owners who assisted with compost growth analyses. Additionally, copies of the report will be provided to the Pacific Seafood Processors Association for dissemination to their member processors. Still photographs, slides, and a rough-edited video tape recorded the progress of the compost project and is available for loan from the PCEDC office.
A scientific article and a Washington State University research bulletin are being prepared by Dr. Kuo and Mr. Jellum. These publications will distribute information to the seafood processing
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report April 30, 1991 Page 34
VII.
industry, and composting industry, as well as the scientific
community.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER WORK
1. Comparisons of cost-benefit analyses of different composting technologies (traditional versus automated), use of alternative equipment, and possibly other species mixtures of seafood waste and other timber waste such as chipped clearcut slash or hog fuel wastes.
2. Additional field work to analyze multi-year plant growth
impacts. Plant growth and soil nutrient characteristics after
one season are encouraging, but little is known about the longer term effect of seafood compost applications on growth
and soil condition;
3. Experiments to attempt to increase the recovery of nitrogen in
the composts;
4, Further estimates of the cost of production for various
production scenarios and operational strategies (i.e. large
plant, small plant, co-op, farm based);
5. In-depth analyses of the markets for seafood/sawdust waste
compost, including foreign and domestic markets, market
channels, total market volume and percent of the market that
can be captured by compost, and pricing, nutrient, and growth
characteristics of potential key competitors.
VUI. CONCLUSIONS
Within the past ten years, there have been fewer than eight formal
seafood compost investigations on the North American continent,
including both coasts of Canada and the United States. Within the
past three years, a Saltonstall-Kennedy grant was issued for
manufacture and analysis of seafood compost on the East Coast of the
United States. Compost is a site-specific product, since various
combinations of ingredients will have very different effects on plant
growth. For this reason, manufacture of seafood composts from
seafood wastes produced locally was needed to provide information
more specific to the needs of West Coast seafood processors.
The purpose this project was to discover if two solid wastes, seafood
and timber waste, which often pose disposal problems, could be
combined to form a useful product and benefit to seafood processors
in seafood waste disposal. The seafood and timber wastes used in the
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 35
four compost test samples are readily available throughout the West
Coast of the United States. In particular, bottomfish waste is
produced on a year-round basis. A steady waste supply is important
for commercial compost production.
Seafood compost is not a new idea, and seems logical as a waste use,
but compost is not a viable product unless the compost has
measurable benefit to plant growth. Based upon this study, it
appears that high quality compost can be made by combining
groundfish with either alder or hemlock/fir sawdust. The fertilizer
value of both groundfish composts and the hemlock/Protan compost
was equal, or even superior, to many municipal waste composts, but
had considerably lower heavy metal concentrations. The composts,
applied at rates up to 5 percent, improved corn and grass yields.
The results of this study demonstrate that a locally produced seafood
compost is of sufficiently high quality to justify manufacture. In fact,
the analysis provided by this study shows that seafood compost
produced on the West Coast is a viable, if not superior, product
compared to soil amendments currently available.
This information provides valuable input for seafood processors or
others making an initial decision to produce seafood waste compost.
The market value of seafood waste compost is directly related to its
agronomic value which is described in this study. With the thorough
investigation by Washington State University soil scientists, scientific
data are now available to use in promoting West Coast seafood waste
compost for use in commercial markets.
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 36
SOIL AND PLANT LABORATORY, INC.
“NR PLANT FAR
Co te Eat Sty Cod
SOIL & PLANT LAB SATISH & RYESPASS ele Rome]
ie a a]
ete ds os
5 November 1990
Lab. No. 36912
Northwest Office
SOIL AND PLANT LABORATORY, INC.
WEYERHAEUSER TECHNICAL CENTER
32901 Weyerhaeuser Way S.
Federal Way, WA 98003
Attention: Jay Handley
FISH COMPOST ANALYSES
On attached data sheets are results of fertility and micronutrient, organic amendment
and agricultural suitability analyses. Data interpretations and comments follow.
The four samples submitted represent blends of alder sawdust/protan waste or fish waste
and hemlock sawdust with protan waste or fish waste. In all instances, the composts
are slightly acid in reaction except for the alder/protan waste blend where a
moderately acid reaction is noted. Salinities are moderately high in all four composts.
Variable water content as received is noted, but in each instance considered lower than
ideal for optimum composting requirements. Bulk densities vary and, in general, are
higher for the alder blends while beirg lower for the hemlock blends. Organic percent
is in a fairly high range, the lowest being 61.4% in the alder/protan compost and
highest at 75% in the hemlock/protan compost. Particle size distribution data indicate
a desirable fraction of fine sized particles passing the 0.5 millimeter sieve. In
general, the composts appear to be moderately coarse in texture and within desirable
size ranges for use in amending of native soils or container mixes. The highest total
percentage of nitrogen was found in the hemlock blends while a lower percentage was
found in the alder blends.
Available nutrient analyses indicate nitrogen to be almost deficient in the alder/
protan blend. For materials of their respective textures we note total available
nitrogen to be five times normal in the alder/ground fish compost, four times normal in
the hemlock/ground fish compost, and two and one-half times normal in the hemlock/protan
compost. Availabilities of phosphate phosphorus are considered sufficient to support
the needs of plants grown in these composts. Potassium is close to ideal for materials
of this texture in both alder composts while being about twice what would normally be
required in the two hemlock composts. Calcium and magnesium are each in excellent
supply ranges in both alder blends while only magnesium is optimum in the hemlock
blends. Calcium, on the other hand, is slightly low for each of the hemlock blends.
No excesses of minor elements are noted in any of the composts but we do note
significantly higher iron levels in the protan composts whether blended with alder or
hemlock. Sulfate sulfur is considered lower in the alder/ground fish compost but is in
a good supply range in the remainder of composts tested.
Through agricultural suitability analyses the sodium adsorption ratio was determined for
each of the composts. The sodium adsorption ratio denotes the potential hazard with
regard to sodium. For the alder/ground fish compost and the hemlock/protan compost we
P.O. Box 6566, Orange, California 92613-6566 (714) 282-8777 Telex Number: 5101000505 ANSBK: Soil Plant SA FAX Number: 714-282-8575
PO. Box 153, Santa Clara, California 95052-0153 (408) 727-0330
FAX Number: 408-727-5125
&) Soil and Plant Laboratory, Qnc.
WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY
32901 Weyerhaeuser Way S.
Federal Way, WA 98003
SOIL FERTILITY AND
MICRONUTRIENT ANALYSIS
(AO1 OR A17)
22 October 1990
Samples received: 15 Oct. 1990
Sam Half Parts Per Million Dry Soil
ple Sat. |
# % pH ECe | NO3-N NH4-N PO4-P = K Ca Mg Cu Zn Mn Fe
|
1 135 1329-341 173 725 5650 743 6 28 50 158
2 105 4 13. 250 926 «695926 774 8 40 62 516
3 «138 780 981 263 1543 3554 826 4 14 30 102
4 182 15 1577 364 2555 4745 1018 8 30 70 490
| ppm
P.O. Box 6566. Orange, California 92613-6566 / (714) 282-4777 /FAX (714) 282-6575
PO. Box 153, Santa Ciara, Caiitornia 95052-0153/(408) 727-0330/FAX (408) 727-5125
PO. Box 1648, Bellevue, Wasnington 98009-1648 /(206) 746-6665
Sat. Extract_
Me/1l | B soy | SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
|
0.8 ALD/GF
11.1 ALD/PRO
11.8 HEM/GF
2.4 HEM/PRO
Half Saturation %=approx. field moisture capacity. ECe (mmhos/cm @ 25 deg. C.) by sat. extract method. Major elements by sod
acetate and sodium bicarbonate extraction. Micronutrients by DTPA extraction except boron by saturation extraction.
. P.O. Box 6566, Orange, California 92613-6566 /(714) 282-8777 / FAX (714) 282-4575 Ol an ant a onaton ne PO. Box 153, Santa Clara, California 95052-0153/(408) 727-0330/ FAX (408) 727-5 9 e PO. Box 1648, Bellavue, Washington 98009-1648 / (206) 746-6665
WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY AGRICULTURAL SUITABLITY ANALYSIS 32901 Weyerhaeuser Way S. (A02) Federal Way, WA 98003
22 October 1990
Samples received: 15 Oct. 1990
Sam Half Saturation Extract Values ple Sat. | Ca Mg Na K B | QUAL. # 4 pH | ECe Me/1 Me/1 Me/l Me/1 Ppm | SAR LIME SAMPLE DESCRIPTION | |
1 6.4 6.2 21.5 8.2 15.0 3.6 2.05 3.9 LOW ALD/GF
2 5-7 5.3 7-3 5.9 23.8 6.0 0.51 9.3 LOW ALD/PRO
3 6.3 5.4 8.4 7.2 18.4 5.1 0.99 6.6 LOW HEM/GF
4 6.3 6.3 25.1 8.4 15.6 2.9 0.43 3.8 LOW HEM/PRO
Half Saturation %-Approximate field moisture capacity. ECe-mmhos/cm at 25 degrees C. SAR-Sodium Adsorption Ratio.
t
e PO. Box 6566, Orange, California 92613-6566/(714) 282-6777/FAX (714) 282-4575 Ol an ant a orator C PO. Box 153, Santa Clara, California 95052-0153/(408) 727-0330/FAX (408) 727-5125
U, i" e PO. Box 1648, Bellevue, Washington 98009-1648/(206) 746-6665
WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY ORGANIC AMENDMENT ANALYSIS 32910 Weyerhaeuser Way S. (A407) Federal Way, WA 98003
23 October 1990
Samples received: 15 Oct. 1990
Values based upon dry weight
Sam H20 | Bulk ercent passing Total H+ Soluble Half I ple % as | Density Org 19.51 +35 4.75 2.38 1.00 -500 | Nitrogen Iron Saturation |} # pH ECe Received |} lbs/yd3 4% | mm mn mn nn nm nm % % $ |
' ' ee
—
1 6.4 6.2 33.8 543 69.7 99.6 95.7 91.9 79.5 51.2 32.6 0.79 0.186 135
2 5-7 |5.3 46.0 570 61.4 75.4 72.4 70.0 58.1 35.0 19.2 0.98 0.415 105
3 6.3 5.4 27.4 466 73-5 94.7 92.1 87.7 71.4 39.2 21.6 1.13 0.235 138
4 6.3 6.3 45.2 385 75.0 99.5 96.9 94.3 78.6 42.2 22.9 2.63 0.206 182
Half Saturation %=approx. field moisture capacity. ECe (mmhos/cm @ 25 deg. C.) by saturation extract method. (1) ALD/GF
(2) ALD/PRO
(3) HEM/GF
(4) HEM/PRO
Corporate Headquarters A Weyerhaeuser ra 208) 92078
November 12, 1990
Ms. Lee Ann Bonacker
Pacific County Economic Development Council
1408 - 31st Street
Port Townsend WA 98368
Dear Ms. Bonacker:
RE: SAWDUST/SEAFOOD WASTE COMPOST
Please find enclosed a copy of the report and analysis result prepared by Soil and Plant Laboratory, Inc. This report does not include the results of the growth study. An additional report from the Soil and Plant Laboratory will contain the growth study results.
When we receive an invoice from the Soil and Plant Laboratory, I will prepare for you an accounting of the costs incurred by Weyerhaeuser in supporting the project.
When complete, Weyerhaeuser would appreciate copies of the study report.
I will continue to coordinate with you as the balance of information becomes available. Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at (206) 924-6549.
Best regards,
WL Led
wb — 4
Jay J Handley
JJ:kj/103.DOC
Enclosure
APPENDIX III
RESULTS OF PLANT GROWTH TRIALS USING SEAFOOD WASTE COMPOSTS AT THE PLANTER BOX, LONG BEACH, WASHINGTON
Lawn & Garden Supplies
The Planter Box
Route 1 Box S25 Long Beach, Washington 98631
December 20, 1990
To: Pacific County Economic Development Council.
Subject: Results of study using fish waste in our container mix in our Nursery.
Duration of study: 6 months.
Quantity of material used: 25%-50%-753%.
Types of plants used: Irish Yews, Juniper Tams, Alberta Spruce, Rhubarb, and Red Maple.
All the plants responded to the 25% and 50% mix with good growth and little need for additional fertilizer during the fest period. The 50% material gave slightly better color and more growth (4 to 1") depending on variety. The 75% material dried out too rapidly and was discontinued.
The Rhubarb was a surprise giving growth in 6 months equal to about 18 months of normal growth. The plants were compact with very good color.
I also used some material as a mulch around some potatoes in my garden. Those hills treated, yield twice as many potatoes as those not treated.
I could see little difference between the alder mix and the hemlock mix.
My costs were: 750.00 50 Hrs. labor at $15./uHr. Pots(100) 50.00 Plants (100) 100.00 Water-fertilizer-soil, etc. 100.00 Total $1000.00 Thank you for including me in the project.
ee Vappab TAtb
Raymond T. Millner
APPENDIX IV
NOTES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEAFOOD WASTE COMPOSTING YEAR ONE PLANT OPERATIONAL PROFORMA
Product Insurance
Buking Agent Purchases
Miles Buking Agent Transported
Salarles/Labor Estimates
Land Purchases (price per acre)
Tractor with front loader
Tuming Machine
Utilities
Equipment, land and construction Insurance
Liner
Handling, storage, labeling
Building construction and grading cost
Equipment
Benefits
NOTES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEAFOOO COMPOSTING PLANT OPERATIONAL PROFORMA
Product Buk Shipping Rate ($/100 weight)
Product Packaged Shipping Rate ($/100 weight)
Building Insurance ($/$ of replacement cost)
Equipment insurance ($/$ of replacement cost)
Quote from Fedderiey Marion Freight 1/10/91, Assumes shipping to Seattle
Quote from Peninsual Freight 1/10/91 Rates vary from $3.40/100 (5,000 pound load) to $1.39/100 (40,000 pound load) Rate changes to 1.04/mile if have a 44,000 pound load
Quote from Craig Brandt, Sedgewick and James Insurance, 1/10/91
Quotes ranged from $3 to $5 per dollar of replacement cost
Equipment quotes further increased by 25%
While in transport, covered by shipper
For co-generation, Quote from Lee Bonacker, 1/10/91
Quote from Lee Bonacker, 1/10/91. Could be as iow as zero if Weyerhauser cooperates
Profite of Aquatic Farming in the Willapa Region: Economic Costs and Benetits of Selected Crops Lee Bonacker and D. P. Cheney
October, 1988 pp. 18 - 20
Century 21, Linda Hoskinson, 1/10/91. For high, flat land.
Unimproved farmiand or pastureland Is $1,500 to $2,000
Summer Tractor, 1/11/91, John Deere 4255, 120 HP, 4 wheel drive
Model CX700, Time and Tide Report
Estimated: First Neration = Alyeska Seafoods Plant * 5%
Seafirst Bank, 1/11/91: Prime = 9.5%, Prime + 1 - 3 points
$0.24/square foot, Seattle Tarp, 1/11/91
$0.24/square foot + $1,176 for shipping, Northwest Lining and Geotextile, 1/11/91
Estimated: First eration = Alyeska Seafoods Plant * 5%
Wak Williams, High Country Construction Ray Monahan: Steel Structure with Cement Floor: $581,000
Tractor wiloader, turning machine, lab and enviro equip, truck
20% of annual saiary
APPENDIX V
AVERAGE MONTHLY SEAFOOD WASTE PRODUCTION BY SPECIES GROUP AND DISTANCE FROM A PROPOSED SEAFOOD WASTE COMPOSTING PLANT IN RAYMOND, WASHINGTON
Exhibit V.1. | Average monthly seafood waste production (pounds) by species group and distance from Raymond, Washington, based upon 1987 to 1989 landings data. Source: Washington State Department of Fisheries and NRC, Inc.
1987 - 1989 AVERAGE SEAFOOD WASTE PRODUCTION (POUNDS)
LESS THAN 10 MILES
October ___ November __ December
| 593] 275,830{ 356,048] Pe 28] Int 72
Januai Februai August September October __ November _ December pf safe 2 956f 490] aa] =i] ~—=Sd'S 7 107,201 116,954 = 127,887 113,880 = 125,557 122,226 ~=—.217,065 +9543 65,234 1.165.464 TOTAL 63,929 45,535 30,452
D a June Jul f October __ November _ December
ti 0) iii 30) ilk. Ina 6.997] 4,915] 20,860] 14,602] 2.675{ 470] t.gagt ot P1,005.315] 947.157] 920.348{ 956.215] 763.715] 783,733) 1.082.495] 970.492] 719.529] 157.775] 379,392] 901,690] 652,063] 350,567] 325,326] 233,959] 85.559) 59.170 39,086] 21,029] 5.132] BY 705,758] SE) ) eT) 77,150] 1,354,848] 1,094 476] 1.448.646] 940.466] 792,096] 169271 Of
August September
|__23.654f 36,367] 42.392" 26.345[ 6.331 10,573] 34.733] 281,986 63.830] 1,937] 2.445] 1,933,446 1,652,600 1,333,716 2,276,201 2,360,414 2,207,264 2,013,147 2,044 7,781, 185,367 1,089,620
August September October November December
jn ge NO We Ol Ts Of ii of Wo) mo) soli 1, 9]
|___13.292] 24.493] 29.680 4.e59[ 4.958] 4.228] 2,199] oat 97 OE OY WT ON Wh VOT i in =O O))_a 0 Pa oaif 5,143 4 7a} avo a saat 6 eae) 857] 6,519] 5,724 TOTAL 92,154 76,056 83,241 100,633. 179,954 = 231,076 300,825 = 286,071 303,604 379,282 119,144 62,025 2.214.065
Exhibit V.2. | Average monthly seafood waste production (pounds) by species group from seafood processing plants located within ten miles of Raymond, Washington, based on 1987 through 1989 landings data. Source: Washington Department of Fisheries and
NRC, Inc.
Pounds of
Seafood Waste
450,000
360,000
270,000
180,000
90,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
OTHER 1) sHrimp EA cra (1 GROUNDFISH [ll SALMON
Exhibit V.3. | Average monthly seafood waste production (pounds) by species group from seafood
processing plants located between 10 and 25 miles of Raymond, Washington, based
on 1987 through 1989 landings data. Source: Washington Department of Fisheries
and NRC, Inc.
Pounds of
Seafood Waste
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
3 oTHER {1 sHRimp El craB (1) GROUNDFISH [ll SALMON
Exhibit V.4. | Average monthly seafood waste production (pounds) by species group from seafood processing plants located between 26 and 50 miles of Raymond, Washington, based on 1987 through 1989 landings data. Source: Washington Department of Fisheries and NRC, Inc.
Pounds of
Seafood Waste
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
| & omer (1 sHRIMP El CRAB Ed GROUNDFISH [CI WHITING HB SALMON |
Exhibit V.5. | Average monthly seafood waste production (pounds) by species group from seafood processing plants located greater than 50 miles from Raymond, Washington, based on 1987 through 1989 landings data. Source: Washington Department of Fisheries and NRC, Inc.
Pounds of
Seafood Waste
400,000
320,000
240,000
160,000
80,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
3 OTHER Ea crass (C1 GROUNDFISH_ Mill SALMON
APPENDIX VI
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
Allison, F. E. 1973. Soil organic matter and its role in crop production. Developments in Soil Science. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, NY.
Bonacker, L. A., Natural Resources Consultants, and A. D. O'Rourke. 1989. Adding value to seafood products and processing wastes: Insights and recommendations for Pacific County, Washington. Pacific County Economic Development
Council. May 30, 1989. .
Bremner, J. M., and C. S. Mulvaney. 1982. Nitrogen-total. In A. L. Page et al. (ed.) Methods of Soil Analysis. Agronomy 9:595-624.
Brinton, W. F., and M. D. Seekins. 1988. Composting fish by- products: A feasibility study. Time and Tide RC&D, Waldodoro,
Maine.
Frankos, N. H., F. Gouin, and L. J. Sikora. 1982. Using woodchips of specific species in composting. BioCycle. May-June, 1982.
Frederick, L., R. Harris, L. Petersdon, and S. Kehrmeyer. 1989. The compost solution to dockside fish waste. University Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, Madison, WI.
Hay, J., H. Ahn, S. Chang, R. Caballero, and H. Kellogg. 1988. Alternative bulking agent for sludge composting. BioCycle. November-December, 1988.
Iritani, W. M., and C. Y. Arnold. 1960. Nitrogen release of vegetable crop residues during incubation as related to their chemical compositions. Soil Sci. 89:74-82.
Mathur, S. P., J. P. Daigle, J. L. Brooks, M. Levesque, and A. Arsenault. 1988. Composting seafood wastes. BioCycle 29:44-49.
Morisaki, N., C. G. Phae, K. Nakasaki, M. Shoda, and H. Kubota. 1989. Nitrogen transformation during thermophilic composting. J. Ferment. Bioeng. 67:57-61.
Murphy, J., and J. P. Riley. 1962. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Anal. Chim. Acta 27:31-36.
Olsen, S. R., and L. E. Sommers. 1982. Phosphorus in A. L. Page et al. (ed.) Methods of Soil Analysis. Agronomy 9:403-430.
Terman, G. L., J. M. Soileau, and S. E. Allen. 1973. Municipal waste compost: Effects on crop yields and nutrient content ina greenhouse pot experiment. J. Environ. Qual. 2:84-89.
Walkley, A., and C. A. Black. 1934. An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 37:29-37.
Willson, G. B. 1989. Combining raw materials for composting.
BioCycle. August, 1989.
EXHIBITS
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 37
Exhibit 1. Average daily internal temperature (centigrade) of four
types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste.
(HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish,
HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
80 ]
0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1
8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 66 73 80 87 94 101
DAYS AFTER COMPOST INITIATION
—— AGF —'-HGF —*- AP -—& HP
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 38
Exhibit 2. Total inorganic nitrogen content (microgram of nitrogen per gram of compost) for four types of compost produced
from seafood/sawdust waste. (HGF=hemlock/fir- groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir- Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
ug/g
———
6000 ™ Po
4000 — |
3000F
7000
2000;
1000 =
63 68 73 78 83 88 93 98 103
DAYS AFTER COMPOST INITIATION
—— AGF -—+~HGF —*-~ AP -—& HP
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 39
Exhibit 3. Total ammonium-nitrogen content (microgram of nitrogen per gram of compost) for four types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste. (HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
7000
6000 PN
5000+ \
4000}- Nt
ee
3000F
| ~e——__ | 2000}
a)
1000;
0 1 L 1 4 1 si .- —t
63 68 73 78 83 88 93 98 103
DAYS AFTER COMPOST INITIATION
—— AGF —+~HGF -*-AP - HP
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 40
Exhibit 4. Total nitrate-nitrogen content (microgram of nitrogen per gram of compost) for four types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste. (HGF=hemlock/fir- groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir- Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
2500 2% |
20005 Z NU ae"
1500+
1000; .
a
0 4 1 1 i kT 63 68 73 78 83 88 93 98 103
DAYS AFTER COMPOST INITIATION
—— AGF -—+—HGF -—- AP -@ HP
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report April 30, 1991 Page 41
Exhibit 5. | Characteristics of four seafood/sawdust waste composts at the termination of the composting process in June 1990. Elemental analyses are presented on a dry matter basis. (HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, and AP=alder-Protan). T66T ‘Og [udy qyodey [eulg Apnyzg ysoduioyD a}sBp4 pooyeas
Moisture* Watertretention Bulk Compost Cc N P K Zn Q Qi C:N ~~ Content capacity Density pH EC Q % % g cc-1 mmhos cm-1
HGF 32 1.3 0.73 0.19 47 2.3 : 27 41 382 0.20 8.1 3.0
AGF 35 1.9 0.84 0.19 67 3.2 : 18 42 351 0.25 6.7 3.3 HP 34 1.3 0.35 0.16 76 3.2 - 26 48 445 0.18 5.5 3.8 AP 33 «1.3 0.29 0.15 59 3.2 - 25 41 388 0.22 5.5 2.4
“ Moisture content is expressed as % of total weight of compost.
t Water retention capacity is expressed as % of dry matter weight. GP eBEg
Exhibit 6. Carbon to nitrogen ratios for four types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste. (HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish,
HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
1 1 1 L 1 1
0 1 im |
63 68 73 78 83 88 93 98 103
DAYS AFTER COMPOST INITIATION
‘—— AGF —-HGF —*-AP —& HP
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report April 30, 1991 Page 43
Exhibit 7. Total nitrogen content (microgram of nitrogen per gram of compost) for four types of compost produced from seafood/sawdust waste. (HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
%N
3.0
2.55
2.05
0.5 F 1 1 1
0 1 1 1 1 1
63 68 73 78 83 88 93 98 103
DAYS AFTER COMPOST INITIATION
—— AGF ——HGF -*-AP - HP
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 44
Exhibit 8. Inorganic nitrogen and NaHCO; extractable phosphorus
content at the termination of the composting process in
June 1990 for four types of seafood/sawdust waste
compost and three types of commercially available
composts. (HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish, AGF=alder-
groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, AP=alder-Protan,
SL-1 and SL-2= commercial sludge compost, and ST=
commercial steer manure compost.)
Inorganic N
— ee Compost NH -N NO -N Total
4
cae ext. P
HGF 2737 1305 4042 611
AGF 4068 371 4439 443
HP 1619 1692 3311 221
AP 163 63 226 144
SL-1 4329 85 4414 361
SL-2 51 72 123 100
ST 2400 30 2430 298
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 45
Exhibit 9. Silage corn dry matter yield, tissue nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium concentrations, nitrogen
uptake, inorganic nitrogen added, and residual
inorganic soil nitrogen in the greenhouse experiment on
nitrogen availability for four types of seafood/sawdust
waste compost. (HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish,
AGF<=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, and
AP=alder-Protan.)
a
Tissue conc.
Dry matter N Inorganic
Compost Rate Yield N P K uptake soil N
ee
%o mg pot-1 ug g-1
1.12 HGF 1 1.38 0.337 5.12 16 6
2 1.28 1.46 0.301 4.58 19 4
5 2.30 1.35 0.368 5.11 31 7
10 1.86 2.12 0.253 5.14 39 22
25 1.81 3.46 0.368 5.17 59 134
100 2.30 4.27 1.180 6.99 98 985
AGF 1 1.16 1.30 0.283 5.29 15 5
2 1.32 1.48 0.333 4.92 20 . 17
5 1.90 1.55 0.313 5.07 30 17
10 1.83 2.38 0.226 4.73 44 24
25 1.95 3.66 0.512 5.51 71 298
100 1.58 - 4.16 0.871 - 66 1537
HP 1 0.86 1.39 0.274 5.08 12 5
2 1.03 1.33 0.214 5.09 14 6
5 1.65 1.91 0.197 4.67 27 15
10 1.65 1.91 0.197 4.67 32 14
25 2.87 2.20 0.341 5.19 63 147
100 2.73 2.18 0.419 4.75 60 614
AP 1 0.40 1.12 0.396 4.87 5 14
2 0.28 1.15 0.403 4.72 3 5
5 0.24 1.21 0.366 4.20 3 2
10 0.26 1.18 0.414 4.24 3 2
25 0.25 1.10 0.407 4.00 3 1
100 0.26 1.27 0.495 4.17 3 5
NH4NO3 kg N
ha-1
0 0.70 1.13 0.272 - 8 2
56 1.57 2.30 0.195 4.69 36 42
112 2.28 2.10 0.233 4.47 71 95
224 1.98 3.20 0.231 4.32 63 229
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 46
Exhibit 10. Orchardgrass/ryegrass dry matter yield, tissue
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations,
nitrogen uptake, and residual inorganic soil nitrogen in the greenhouse experiment on nitrogen availability for
four types of seafood/sawdust waste compost.
(HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish,
HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
Tissue Concentration
Dry matter N Inorganic
Compost Rate yield N P K uptake soil N
% 9 Mg pot-1 Hg g-1
HGF 1 0.94 3.33 0.564 5.10 31 3 2 1.19 3.44 0.598 5.20 41 1
5 1.91 3.95 0.639 5.91 75 2
100 3.64 5.56 0.770 4.98 202 724
AGF 1 1.10 3.18 0.579 5.15 35 1
2 1.38 3.39 0.646 5.32 47 3
5 2.29 3.90 0.674 5.65 89 4
100 4.10 5.40 0.788 5.06 221 884
HP 1 0.89 3.11 0.487 4.76 28 1
2 1.05 3.30 0.501 5.06 35 0
5 1.65 3.69 0.512 5.38 61 2
100 3.77 4.96 0.657 4.31 187 96
AP 1 0.58 2.37 0.501 4.32 14 2
2 0.59 2.60 0.557 4.43 15 4
5 0.37 2.14 0.493 3.73 8 2
100 0.60 2.45 0.605 6.67 15 16
NH NO kg N ha-1
4 3
112 2.97 4.99 0.337 5.38 148 2
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 47
Exhibit 11. Comparison of dry matter yields and tissue nitrogen and phosphorus contents of corn and grass in the four fish waste composts and the three commercial composts at the 100 percent application rate. (HGF=hemlock/fir-
groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir- Protan, AP=alder-Protan, SL-1 and SL-2=commercial sludge compost, and ST=commercial steer manure
compost.)
Tissue Concentration
Dry Matter Yield Nitrogen Phosphorus
Compost Corn Grass Corn Grass : Corn Grass
HGF 2.30 3.64 4.27 5.56 1.18 0.77
AGF 1.58 4.10 4.16 5.40 0.87 0.79
HP 2.73 3.77 2.18 4.96 0.42 0.66
AP 0.26 0.60 1.27 2.45 0.50 0.61
SlI-1 2.03 1.74 3.19 4.08 0.57 0.83
ST 1.99 2.35 2.68 4.46 0.72 0.84
SL-2 0.27 0.44 1.13 2.18 0.49 0.58
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 48
Exhibit 12. Silage corn dry matter yield, tissue concentration,
phosphorus uptake, and NaHCO; extractable
phosphorus in the greenhouse experiment on
phosphorus availability for four types of seafood/sawdust
waste compost. (HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
Dry matter Tissue P P NaHCO 3 Compost Rate yield concentration uptake ext. P
% Se Mg Mg kg-1
HGF 1 0.57 0.174 0.99 26
5 0.64 0.350 2.24 58
10 0.98 0.631 6.18 125
AGF 1 0.52 0.196 1.02 26
5 0.99 0.452 4.47 77
10 0.74 0.681 5.04 75
HP 1 0.53 0.166 0.88 19
5 0.72 0.188 1.35 34
10 0.85 0.245 2.08 45
AP 1 0.52 0.156 0.81 16
5 0.50 0.203 1.02 22
10 0.31 0.260 0.81 28
Control 0.41 0.182 0.75 16
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 49
Exhibit 13. Silage corn dry matter yield, tissue nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium concentrations, nitrogen
uptake, inorganic nitrogen (NH4j-N, NO3-N) added in
compost or fertilizer, and the inorganic nitrogen in the
surface 30 cm of soil on August 9, 1990, in the field
experiment on nitrogen availability for four types of
seafood/sawdust waste compost. (HGF=hemlock/fir-
groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir-
Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
Tissue Concentration
Dry matter N Inorganic N Inorganic
Compost Rate yield N P K uptake added soil N
HGF 1 10.9 1.20 0.195 1.42 131 182 43
2 13.0 1.39 0.223 1.58 181 363 100
5 14.4 1.34 0.214 1.64 193 908 155
AGF 1 12.1 1.14 0.188 1.58 138 280 82
2 11.3 1.27 0.212 1.62 144 399 105
5 15.6 1.35 0.219 1.72 211 998 146
HP 1 11.0 1.16 0.198 1.50 128 149 112
2 11.6 1.29 0.195 1.54 150 298 106
5 13.6 1.44 0.197 1.60 196 744 204
AP 1 11.0 1.28 0.207 1.59 141 10 93
2 10.2 1.14 0.213 1.52 116 20 89
5 10.4 1.22 0.193 1.46 127 51 87
NHNO kg N ha-1 4 3
0 9.5 1.18 0.202 1.51 112 0 75
56 12.0 1.43 0.204 1.62 172 56 89
112 10.9 1.29 0.187 1.51 141 112 133
168 10.2 1.44 0.199 1.36 147 168 128
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 50
Exhibit 14. Orchardgrass/ryegrass dry matter yield, tissue
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations,
and nitrogen uptake in the field experiment on nitrogen
availability for four types of seafood/sawdust waste compost. (HGF=hemlock/fir-groundfish, AGF=alder-
groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir-Protan, and AP=alder-
Protan.)
Tissue Concentration
Dry matter N
Compost Rate yield N r K uptake % Mg ha-1
HGF 1 0.52 1.84 0.319 2.98 9.6 2 0.60 1.81 0.318 3.28 10.9 5 0.97 2.00 0.394 4.39 19.4
AGF 1 0.39 1.90 0.332 2.75 7.4 2 0.62 1.97 0.326 2.96 12.2 5 0.79 2.28 0.439 4.25 18.0
HP 1 0.49 1.90 0.316 3.05 9.3 2 0.55 1.77. 0.287 3.11 9.7 5 0.70 1.80 0.296 2.89 12.6
AP 1 0.32 1.97 0.314 2.39 6.3 2 0.35 1.99 0.329 2.46 7.0 5 0.39 2.01 0.324 2.01 7.8
NHNO kg N ha-1
4 3 0 0.38 1.88 0.319 2.45 7.41 56 0.73 1.91 0.320 3.94 13.9 112 1.13 2.07 0.316 4.32 23.4 168 1.08 2.80 0.313 4.80 30.2
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 51
Exhibit 15 Proforma start-up and first year operating costs for a
large-scale, bulk product, shoreside seafood/sawdust
waste composting plant in Pacific County, Washington.
(See Appendix IV for notes associated with cost factors.)
ASSUMPTIONS
Volume of Seatood Waste Purchased (MT) Price per MT of Waste
Volume of Chips & Sawdust Purchased
Price per MT of Chips/Sawdust
Mix Ratio (Sawdusv/Waste)
Final to Beginning Product Weight
Final Product Weight (MT/Year)
Density (VMT)
Final Product Volume (Liters)
COST FACTORS:
Cost of Transportation (S/MT/mile)
Miles Waste Transported Miles Bulking Agent Transported
Product Insurance Rate (% of Saies) Product Bulk Shipping Rate ($/100 weight)
Product Packaged Shipping Rate ($/100 weight) Fuel Surcharge (% of Shipping Cost)
Number of Laborers Salary/Laborer ($/hour)
Number of Skilled Laborers Salary/Skilled Laborer ($/hour)
Salary/Manager (S/Year)
Number of Staff Salary/Statt/Person ($/hour)
Land Purchases (price per acre)
Number of Acres Purchased
down payment (20% of cost)
loan (80% of cost)
interest rate (prime + 2%) loan period (years)
Building construction cost (w/liner)
Square Feet down payment (20% of const. cost) Joan (80% of const. cost) interest rate (prime + 2%) loan period (years)
Equipment Purchases down payment (20% of cost) loan (80% of const. cost)
interest rate (prime + 2%)
loan period (years)
Building Insurance ($/$100 of replacement cost)
Equipment insurance ($/$100 of replacement cost)
Additives (S/MT of product) packaging ($/40 Ib plastic bag) Administration (% of sales)
Maintenance (% of purchase price)
3
0.7
14,000
4,000.26
56,003,655
25
30
5.00%
$0.71
$2.20
3.00%
1
$6.75
1
$8.50
$19,320.00
1
$6.00
$2,500.00 10
$5,000.00
$20,000.00
11.50%
$581,776.00 40,000 $116,355.20
$465,420.80 11.50%
10
$158,000.00
$31,600.00
$126,400.00
11.50%
5
$4.00
$5.00
$0.00
$0.25
1.50%
10.00%
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report April 30, 1991
DIRECT COSTS
Fish Waste Purchases Fish Waste Transporation Costs
Bulking Material Purchases$225.000 Buking Material Transportation Costs Composting Labor and Benelts Packaging Material Additives Product insurance Product Shipping Handling, storage, labeling
TOTAL DIRECT COSTS
INDIRECT COSTS
Salaries & Benefits (mgt) Wages & Benefits (all other non direct) Utilities Equipment Purchases Facilities Purchases Maintenance
equipment faciities Insurance Equipment Building Interest Equipment Building Land Advertising and Promotion
TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS
TOTAL COSTS:
COST PER METRIC TON OF PRODUCT
COST PER POUND
COST PER LITER
COST/YEAR
$75,000
$18,750
$67,500
$36,600
$225,711
$1,850
$650,411
$23,184 $14,400
$15,000
$31,600
$121,355
$15,800
$58,178
$7,900
$23,271
$34,631
$80,693
$5,480
$5,000
$436,492
$1,086,903
$78
$0.035
$0.019
Page 52
Exhibit 16. Increase in the cost of compost production ($/liter) with increasing costs of seafood waste ($/metric ton.)
Compost Cost per Liter
$0.030
$0.020
$0.010
$0.000
° 10 20 30 40 50
Seatood Waste Cost per Metric Ton
Exhibit 17. Increase in cost of compost production ($/liter) with increasing costs of bulking sawdust or wood chips bulking agent ($/metric ton.)
Compost Cost per Liter
$0.030
$0.020
$0.010
$0.000
° 10 20 30 40 50
Buking Agent Cost per Metric Ton
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 53
Exhibit 18. Increases in cost of compost production ($/liter) with increasing costs of transporting seafood waste and/or bulking agents ($/metric ton.)
Compost Cost per Liter
$0.030
$0.020
$0.010
$0.000
oO 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
Transportation Cost per Metric Ton Mile
Note: Zero transportation costs assumes bulking agents available locally with no transportation necessary.
Exhibit 19. Changes in the cost of compost production ($/liter) with changes in the annual volume of compost production
(metric tons.)
Corrpost Cost per Liter
0.08
0.04
0.03
0.01
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
Metric Tons of Seatood Compost Produced Per Year
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 54
Exhibit 20. Expected seafood waste production (metric tons), percent
composition by waste type, and amount available for
seafood waste composting in the Pacific County,
Washington, region, 1990-1992. Source: Natural
Resources Consultants, Inc. 1991.
Seafood Waste % Composition
Type 1990 1991 1992
Salmon 3% 3% 3%
Whiting 32% 31% 31%
Groundfish 38% 36% 36%
Crab 7% 7% 7%
Shrimp 16% 16% 16%
Shellfish 0% Oo% 0%
Hagfish 0% 4% 5%
Herring 3% 3% 3%
Total Waste Produced (mt) 8,440 8,760 8,880
Expected % Annual Increase 4% 1%
Waste Available
for Composting (mt) 4,630 4,950 5,075
Expected % Annual Increase 7% 3%
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report
April 30, 1991 Page 55
Exhibit 21. Expected percent of seafood waste production (metric tons), within species groups by seafood processors in the Pacific County, Washington, region, 1991. Source: Natural Resources Consultants, Inc. 1991.
Percent of Annual Production of Waste —_—_- e——sSsaSaasmabanndnmahc#ion of waste
Species Grou; an Feb Mar Apr M: J 1 Oct Nov Dec
Salmon 0% 0% 0% Oo% 0% 0% 0% 35% 35% 20% 10% 0%
Whiting 0% 0% 0% 0% 5% 10% 20% 20% 20% 15% 10% 0%
Groundfish 5% 5% S% 10% 15% 15% 15% 15% 5% 5% 5% 0%
Crab 45% S% 0% 0% 0% O% 0% 0% 0% 0% S% 45%
Shrimp Oo% 0% 0% 0% 15% 15% 20% 20% 20% 10% Oo% 0%
Hagfish O% 0% 5% 10% 10% 15% 15% 15% 15% 10% 5% 0% (Slime eels)
Other Herring 0% 0% 0% O% 0% 20% 30% 30% 20% 0% 0% 0% (Specify)
Seafood Waste Compost Study Final Report April 30, 1991 Page 56
APPENDIX I
NUTRIENT CHARACTERISTICS OF SAWDUST AND SEAFOOD WASTES USED IN THE COMPOSTING PROCESS
Exhibit I.1. Carbon and nitrogen content (kilogram) of sawdust and
seafood waste and fertilizer used to make four types of
seafood/sawdust waste compost and the resulting
compost carbon:nitrogen ratio. (HGF=hemlock/fir-
groundfish, AGF=alder-groundfish, HP=hemlock/fir-
Protan, and AP=alder-Protan.)
Compost Sawdust Seafood Fertilizer Total C:N
HGF C 1142 _ 439 NA 1581 16.8
N 2 85 7 94
AGC 1386 439 NA 1825 18.1
N 12 85 4 101
HP C 1142 31 NA 1173 69.0
N 2 8 7 17
AP C 1386 31 NA 1417
N 12 8 4 24 59.0
Exhibit 1.2. Physical and chemical characteristics expressed on a
dry matter basis of seafood and sawdust wastes used to
make four types of seafood/sawdust waste compost.
Total Moisture*
Component c N P K Zn GQ Qa content
g %
Alder sawdust 48 0.4 0.004 0.12 14 0.3 : 60
Hem/fir sawdust 52 0.1 0.030 0.02 1 0.2 - 60
Groundfish 43 8.3 3.070 0.51 36 0.2 - 70
Protan sludge 27 6.6 0.810 0.63 74 6.4 - 95
APPENDIX II
RESULTS OF FOREST SOILS AND PLANT GROWTH EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE WEYERHAUSER COMPANY USING SEAFOOD WASTE COMPOSTS
Corporate Headquarters A Weyerhaeuser ra 2061924 7565
a
January 8, 1991
Ms. Lee Ann Bonacker
Pacific County Economic Development Council
1408 31st Street
Port Townsend WA 98368
Dear Ms. Bonacker:
RE: SAWDUST/SEAFOOD WASTE COMPOST
Please find attached a copy of the report on the Growth study performed by the Soil and Plant Laboratory. This is the last piece of information that we were to provide.
When we receive an invoice for this work from the soil and plant laboratory, I will prepare an accounting of costs incurred by Weyerhaeuser in supporting the project.
Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at (206) 924-6549.
Best regards,
Jay J. Handley
JJH:de/323.DOC
Enclosure
SOIL AND PLANT LABORATORY, INC.
3 January 1991
Lab. No. 37117
Northwest Office
WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY
32901 Weyerhaeuser Way S.
Federal Way, WA 98003
Attention: Jay Handley
FISH COMPOST GROWTH TRIALS
Four samples of fish/wood residual composts were utilized for growth trial analyses. Sample desigations refer to the following:
Sample No. Compost Blend
1 ALD/GF
2 ALD/PRO 3 HEM/GF
4 HEM/PRO
Normal growth trial studies were performed in triplicate over a five week period of time. Radish and ryegrass seed were sown into the various composts as received and, again, into the same compost treated with activated carbon at a rate which would
normally tie up any toxic organic compounds. Both radish and ryegrass seed germinated normally and continued to grow normally during the five week growth trial time. The only exception was found in sample 2 (ALD/PRO) where only slight stunting occurred during the three to five week growth trial duration.
On the basis of these data it appears that there is no danger from toxic organic com- pounds in the composts. However, a slight problem may exist in the ALD/PRO blend (sample 2) which may be related to initial very low nitrogen levels as evidenced by previous analytical data.
If you have any questions regarding this report please do not hesitate to contact the
Bellevue office.
Sincerely, \
, i m, /) _-
\ { i- /° if £ i“ r | i A DIRK W. MUNTEAN, M.A. (bere
DWM/bsk
P.O. Box 6566, Orange. California 92613-6566 (714) 282-8777 Telex Number: 5101000505 ANSBK: Soil Plant SA
FAX Number: 714-282-8575 P.O. Box 153, Santa Clara, California 95052-0153 (408) 727-0330
FAX Number: 408-727-5125, P.O. Box 1648, Bellevue, Washington 98009-1648 (206) 746-6665 FAX Number: 206-562-9531
SOIL AND PLANT LABORATORY, INC.
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