Compost Operations

The Texas Organic Products composting pad design meets the TCEQ’s 30 TAC Chapter 332 Composting Rules construction requirements under the “Registration Tier” level of regulation. These construction criteria include protection of the underlying groundwater as well as storm water run-off protection. Although a 25-year storm event pond is required by the state, a 100-year storm event pond was designed and installed. Paved working areas and the storm water retention pond are compacted to meet the state requirements of having the hydraulic conductivity of two (2) feet of clay compacted to a permeability coefficient of 1 x 10-7 cm/sec or less.

One unique feature of the compost pad is that it is constructed of clay soils excavated from a cell expansion of the TDS landfill, thereby making good use of soil that would otherwise be stockpiled or hauled off-site. Approximately one million cubic yards of the clay fill were utilized to construct the facility to the exact design needed. The design also includes a visual berm that was planted with grass to maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance from the highway while blocking the view of the operations.

The facility encompasses approximately 30 acres total, where approximately 18 acres are used as compost pad surfaces, grinding and soil blend areas. The design includes specific areas for feedstock receiving, active windrow composting, curing, screening, wood waste grinding, and product storage. The site is one of the largest conventional windrow composting operations in Texas.

	Rows of Compost
	TOP Compost Pad
	Turning a windrow after all components have been mixed.
	Hot windrow after turning.
	Compost is screened to 3/8" particle size prior to marketing.