9213_RaleighYW_opsplanapplic_20180507

From: Gainer, Timothy <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, May 7, 2018 8:43 AM
To: Wilson, Donna
Subject: [External] Raleigh Yard Waste Center Operations plan
Attachments: City of Raleigh Yard Waste Center Operations Plan.pdf
Donna,
Attached is the updated Operations Plan that I mentioned below. This will replace the current plan that is included in
our Application for Permit Renewal for 'Permit No. 92-13-YW'. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Tim Gainer
Superintendent
City of Raleigh Yard Waste Center
900 N New Hope Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919)-625-3175 Cell
(919)-250-2728 Office

The City of Raleigh
CITY OF RALEIGH
YARD WASTE CENTER
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
OPERATIONS PLAN
Revision 6
Prepared in Accordance with:
15A North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC)
13 B Section .1400 — Composting
CITY OF RALEIGH YARD WASTE CENTER
900 NEW HOPE ROAD
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27602
[phone]
October 2017
May 2018 (Revision 6)

City of Raleigh Yard Waste Center
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Facility Background Information.......................................................................................3
1.1
Introduction......................................................................................................... 3
1.2
Composting Principles........................................................................................ 3
1.2.1 Definition................................................................................................. 3
1.2.2 Oxygen.................................................................................................... 4
1.2.3 Water.......................................................................................................4
1.2.4 Nutrients: Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio......................................................... 4
1.2.5 Temperature............................................................................................5
1.2.6 Curing......................................................................................................5
1.3
Flow Chart of Typical Composting Operation...................................................... 6
1.4
Common Problems at Composting Facilities....................................................... 7
1.4.1 Odors...................................................................................................... 7
1.4.2 Inadequate Composting Rate.................................................................. 7
1.4.3 Leachate..................................................................................................7
1.4.4 Other Issues............................................................................................ 8
1.5
Importance of Quality Control.............................................................................. 8
1.6
Final Products and Their Uses............................................................................ 9
2 RALEIGH YARD WASTE CENTER...................................................................................11
2.1
Site Layout.........................................................................................................11
2.2
Equipment..........................................................................................................11
2.2.1 Existing Equipment.................................................................................11
2.2.2 Additional Equipment Needs...................................................................11
2.3
Site Personnel...................................................................................................12
2.4
Emergency Operations......................................................................................13
2.4.1 Inclement Weather.................................................................................13
2.4.2 Fire.........................................................................................................13
2.4.3 Emergency Contacts..............................................................................13
2.5
Materials Flow....................................................................................................13
3 FINAL PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING.....................................................18
4 REGULATORY ISSUES AND RECORDKEEPING............................................................19
5 TROUBLESHOOTING.......................................................................................................20
6 SAFETY AND HEALTH PRECAUTIONS...........................................................................21
7 ACCESS AND RUN-OFF CONTROL MEASURES............................................................22
8 OTHER OPERATIONAL INFORMATION..........................................................................23
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Facility Background Information
1.1 Introduction
Yard waste, including limbs, leaves, and clippings, which is typically thought to comprise 15 to
20 percent of the total solid waste stream, is collected and handled separately to further their
recycling or waste reduction goals. In North Carolina, as in many other states, yard waste was
prohibited from sanitary landfills effective January 1, 1993. In addition, the State of North
Carolina banned open leaf dumps, creating an even greater demand for yard waste capacity at
the yard waste processing facilities in the region. The City of Raleigh opened the Raleigh Yard
Waste Center in 1991 in response to these bans and in pursuit of its waste reduction goals.
City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services began curbside collection of yard waste from Raleigh
households in 1992, with the material delivered to the Raleigh Yard Waste Center. In July 2005,
the City began weekly curbside yard waste collection each Tuesday through Friday. Raleigh
Streets Maintenance delivers leaves it vacuums up from City streets to the Raleigh Yard Waste
Center.
Most of the material brought to the yard waste center is a mixture of grass clippings, leaves,
brush, tree trimmings, and other landscape or garden waste. Untreated wood pallets are also
processed. The amount of each type of material will vary greatly according to season. Most of
the grass clippings, for example, will be generated between March and July, while most of the
leaves will be generated between November and January. This mixture of materials is
processed by the City after it is brought to the Yard Waste Center and turned into wood chips,
mulch or compost which can then be used by the City in its parks or street maintenance and
other operations, as well as by home gardeners and commercial landscapers
In addition to the mixed yard waste, some loads entering the yard waste center are pure wood
or pure leaves, delivered by the City Street Maintenance or Solid Waste Services Divisions
through the City's curb -side vacuum or truck collection programs. Other sources for the yard
waste include Wake County residents who haul their own material, commercial landscape
companies, arborists, right-of-way crews, etc. In addition, other Wake County municipalities can
haul yard waste to the facility through agreements with the City of Raleigh. Some of the leaf -
only waste will be stockpiled on -site for later use in the composting process as required. A
smaller portion of the leaf waste will immediately go into the composting process. Most of the
wood -only waste is processed into a ready -to -use mulch product by grinding it to a uniform size.
Some of the wood waste, however, will also go into the composting process. Composting, a
process by which the mixed yard waste can be turned into a soil amendment, is described in the
next section.
1.2 Composting Principles
1.2.1 Definition
A basic understanding of the compost process can help produce a high -quality product, while
preventing many common problems. Composting is the process involving the natural decay of
organic materials by various microorganisms. These microorganisms have a few basic
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requirements which need to be met: proper levels of air, water, food, and temperature. The yard
waste composting operation is designed to provide these requirements in the proper amounts to
speed up the natural decaying process of the yard waste. The desired outcome is to turn the
yard waste into a relatively stable, humus -like material (called compost) which can be used as a
soil amendment.
1.2.2 Oxygen
Composting is an aerobic process, meaning it occurs in the presence of oxygen. Oxygen is
provided in a composting operation by grinding up the yard waste to a uniform size, forming the
ground up material in long rows (windrows), and periodically "turning" the rows to ensure
thorough contact of oxygen with all the material. When a pile gets too little oxygen it will go
anaerobic (lack of oxygen), which can cause offensive odors.
1.2.3 Water
In addition to oxygen, the composting microorganisms need an adequate supply of water.
Ideally, the moisture content should be between 40 and 60 percent. If the piles get too wet,
anaerobic conditions can occur. If the piles get too dry, the decomposition process will slow
down significantly.
Water can be added to the windrows by turning windrows in the rain, by spraying the windrows
as they are being turned, or by spraying the rows using a water truck when the windrows get too
dry. With experience, the moisture content of compost can be determined with reasonable
accuracy by grabbing samples and feeling them. A more accurate way to determine moisture
content is to weigh a sample before and after it has been dried at 215OF for 8 hours. The
formula used to calculate the moisture content is:
Moisture Content (percent) = original weight- dry weight
original weight
1.2.4 Nutrients: Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio
Bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms get their energy from carbon sources, such as
leaves, brush, or wood chips. Nitrogen is also necessary for microorganisms to grow. High
carbon materials present in yard waste are leaves, wood, and bark. The most important single
source of nitrogen in yard waste is grass clippings.
The difficulty in providing optimum conditions for the microorganisms in yard waste is getting the
right ratio of high carbon materials to high nitrogen materials (this is referred to as the C:N ratio).
Excess nitrogen in the yard waste can generate ammonia and other odors. When there is too
little nitrogen, the microbial population will not grow to its optimum size, and composting will
slow down. The optimum ratio of carbon to nitrogen is 25 or 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen
(C:N = 25-30 to 1). When the yard waste is fully decomposed, it has a typical carbon to
nitrogen ratio of about 15 to 1.
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Yard waste materials can be blended to improve the C:N ratio and accelerate the rate at which
composting occurs. When high nitrogen such as grass clippings are predominant in the yard
waste (as in the spring), they should be mixed with a carbon source (such as leaves or wood
chips) to balance the C:N ratio. For example, leaves alone are typically in a ratio of 60-80 parts
carbon to 1 part nitrogen (60-80 to 1). This is a relatively high C:N ratio, and the composting
process will occur at a very slow pace. Adding grass clippings or nitrogen fertilizer to leaves
balances these nutrients and helps speed up the process. Because of the potential odor
problem caused by excess nitrogen in the spring when yard waste has the greatest amount of
grass clippings, it is wise to have a ready supply of high carbon materials (leaves or wood chips)
stockpiled to balance the C:N ratio. While it is difficult to know exactly what the C:N ratio is at
any given time, experience in dealing with the materials will allow the operators to predict when
it is necessary to blend additional materials. No yard waste center operator can keep the C:N
ratio exactly at the optimum value; the critical thing is to know when the balance of
carbonaceous materials to nitrogen bearing materials is way off, and to know how to blend the
materials to prevent odor generation or other problems.
1.2.5 Temperature
Microorganisms generate heat as they decompose the yard waste. Decomposition is most rapid
when the temperature is maintained between 900 and 140OF (32°-60°C). Below 900C (320C),
the process slows down considerably, while at temperatures above 140°F (60°C), most
microorganisms start to die. In addition, extremely high temperatures can start the process of
spontaneous combustion, which might lead to the outbreak of a fire. The temperature in the
windrows is moderated by the amount of heat lost through surface cooling or mechanical
aeration. Therefore, turning the pile when temperatures reach the critical point (140°F) will
release excess heat.
Temperature monitoring is very important for managing the composting process. Regular
temperature measurements indicate how fast material is composting, and whether there are hot
or cold spots in the windrows. Turning the compost when temperatures get above or below the
optimum range will help produce the best compost in the shortest amount of time. Typical
compost temperatures vary over time. After an initial period (of a few days to several weeks),
the temperatures in the windrows gradually drop. When the windrows are turned, the microbial
population is revived by the oxygen provided by turning, and temperatures again begin to rise.
A sustained temperature below 70OF (21 °C) indicates that the composting process is nearly
complete; however, it could also indicate that the windrows have cooled down because of
inadequate levels of moisture or oxygen. If the compost is properly moist, and turning does not
cause temperatures to rise, the compost is probably ready for curing.
1.2.6 Curing
As microorganisms consume the food source in the yard waste, the process will gradually slow
down. Temperatures will drop and remain below 70OF (21 °C), and the compost takes on a dark,
granular texture. This is the point at which compost is ready to be removed from the active
windrow area and taken to the curing area or be allowed to cure in -place. The curing process
stabilizes the compost, and is generally complete within 30 days of putting material into the
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curing pile: Once cured, the compost should not generate foul odors. Temperature monitoring
of the curing piles will reveal when the compost is ready for final use.
1.3 Flow Chart of Typical Composting Operation
The following diagram represents the major process steps for the yard waste compost
operation:
Delivery To Site
Pallet
IDdiai Source Sise
Yard wasi Niatrial
pallets Processing
Reduction
pile
Log Sle ! eat
■
Leaf Stockpile
Is There
Enough Materia
Ta Places
Add To windrows
Routinely Thratign
The Year
yes
Shred Material Foi
t:ons[ruct V Indrt�ws
Wood Chas
cornpost Turn Rows Bl-weekly
Temperawre Log Active & M6nitor Moisture
(weekly) Cam ao s ti na
LeV21$
Add Tn Windfaws I I Screen Finished I I Wood Chips
Windrow S=kpde
Mulch Needed -*Uve f�tllch or cornpest Compost
avers Stac4ile
Mulch
Regrind to Iuiulch MOO Marketing I Disirihutiorf
Sale Stockpile (End use)
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No

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1.4 Common Problems at Composting Facilities
1.4.1 Odors
Odor is a potential problem at yard waste composting sites. Preventing odor problems usually
requires avoiding prolonged anaerobic conditions. Under anaerobic conditions, certain
compounds are produced that can smell very unpleasant. High nitrogen wastes also can result
in odors. For example, too high a proportion of grass clippings in the windrow can result in the
release of ammonia vapors. Proper sizing of windrows is important in preventing odor formation.
With a dedicated windrow turner, the windrows can be maintained at the proper size. In
addition, if temperatures are monitored carefully, windrows turned at the proper time, and the
C:N ratio is maintained above 15:1, the odors should be kept to a minimum.
If odors remain a concern, their off -site impact can be minimized. Windrows should be turned
only when wind conditions are favorable, i.e., when the site is downwind of residences and other
sensitive neighboring land uses.
Yard Waste Center staff have minimized odors related to large quantities of grass clippings by
mixing grass clippings with wood waste (high C) soon after the materials are unloaded. In this
way, the higher percentage of grass clippings received in the spring and early summer are more
suitable for composting.
1.4.2 Inadequate Composting Rate
Inadequate composting rates can occur for a variety of reasons. The most common is that the
windrow is too dry. Windrows with wide, flat, or concave tops and steep sides, such as those
formed using the Windrow Turner, will maximize the collection and infiltration of precipitation.
Water added initially, before or during windrow formation, and during combining and/or turning
windrows will ensure adequate moisture levels.
1.4.3 Leachate
Water that comes into contact with waste material and then runs off the site is commonly
referred to as leachate. Leachate from yard waste may contain organics, low levels of pesticides
or heavy metals which, if present in significant quantities and allowed to enter streams, could
result in water quality degradation. In order to prevent this from occurring, the existing and
proposed yard waste center was designed with diversion structures and a wet detention pond
as a Best Management Practice (BMP) to minimize the risk that contaminants will enter surface
waters.
Ideally, the composting process will consume most of the available moisture within a windrow,
resulting in minimal excess liquids. Ponded water is common where windrows or piles block
surface water runoff or where heavy equipment operates on soft surfaces, and can result in
odor generation. Standing water also can serve as a mosquito breeding environment, and
muddy conditions can interfere with operations on the site. Prevention, in the form of careful site
grading or paving, is the best remedy. Windrows are formed generally parallel to the grade, as
opposed to across the grade, to enable water to flow between the rows instead of through them.
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If ponding occurs and odors are released, adding pulverized limestone may be considered as a
temporary remedial measure. Localized re -grading during operations will be used as needed to
correct areas where surface water is accumulated. The City plans to pave additional windrow
areas as funding becomes available. This minimizes the need for repairs in highly trafficked
areas.
1.4.4 Other Issues
Other potential problems at yard waste composting facilities include: refuse mixed with the yard
waste, noise, dust, illegal dumping, and safety hazards.
The presence of refuse or litter in the raw or processed yard waste can become a problem,
especially if the yard waste cannot be completely inspected by curbside collectors or inspection
crews at the yard waste center. Since yard waste is now collected curbside on the same days
as refuse and recycling, mixing of refuse and yard waste has been significantly reduced and the
quality of the yard waste loads has been consistently high.
Refuse is not allowed to be dumped at the yard waste center. Suspect loads will be rejected by
the scale operator. The customer will be referred to a suitable disposal facility. The City
maintains suitable containers on site to dispose of refuse and other non -acceptable wastes.
Once full the containers are hauled to the City of Raleigh Solid Waste Transfer Station for
proper processing and disposal.
Because of the location of the center and the existing buffers between residences, businesses
and the processing areas, the noise generated by heavy equipment on the existing site and the
proposed areas has not resulted in any resident complaints to date, and continued operation of
the facility is not expected to impact neighbors.
Excessive dust generated by the windrows can be minimized by proper wetting of the feed stock
and spoil piles. Dust from roads and aisles may remain a problem unless they are paved, but
can be minimized by spraying as needed using a water truck.
Appropriate signage and access control will be maintained to prevent unauthorized entry and
dumping during off hours.
1.5 Importance of Quality Control
The finished compost and mulch produced from the Yard Waste Center are made available for
many different uses. The quality of the end product will determine how well the material will be
received by the users. If the product is consistently free of debris, with no unpleasant odor, and
relatively uniform in size and color, the demand for the product will be stable and users will pay
a fair price, tell their friends, and keep coming back for more. If, on the other hand, the product
has an offensive odor, contains pieces of debris, or has other undesirable qualities, then the
product will be difficult to even give away. In addition to the effect on final product quality,
contaminants present in the incoming yard waste loads can cause damage to the processing
equipment.
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The easiest way to keep debris out of the product is to keep it from entering the center to begin
with. An effective inspection at the front end requires education and training of the yard waste
collection crew, yard waste center scale operator, the staff stationed at the yard waste receiving
areas, and the operators of the loader and the grinder. The scale operator conducts an initial
screening on each load hauled by residents and businesses. The operator can visually observe
the contents of pickup trucks and small trailers typically entering the site. If an excessive amount
of unacceptable material is observed, the entire load is rejected. The presence of small amounts
of unacceptable material will prompt the operator to contact the spotter by radio to assure the
material is not unloaded. Unsuitable material can be stored in on -site waste containers and
disposed in a landfill.
A full-time spotter visually observes each load as it is being unloaded. The spotter will direct the
customer to remove unacceptable material from the yard waste and take it off site for proper
disposal.
From an operational standpoint, extra effort to remove contaminants before they are loaded into
the tub grinder will minimize equipment maintenance due to damage. Large pieces of metal,
wire, etc. can break or excessively wear down the hammers in the tub grinder. An excessive
fraction of soil mixed in with yard waste can increase maintenance requirements and wear on
the equipment.
The quality of the finished compost product is enhanced using a star screen. Screening
equipment produces more uniform compost and removes oversize or extraneous debris which
made its way through the composting process. Oversized material segregated by the star
screen may be returned to the windrow for further processing, processed thru the grinder to
produce mulch or distributed to customers requesting the larger size. A trommel screen remains
at the Yard Waste Center to supplement the star screen at periods of high production when
required.
1.6 Final Products and Their Uses
As previously discussed, several products are currently produced at the Yard Waste Center,
including leaf mulch, wood chips, compost and mulch. More than one grade of each can be
produced with additional processing to meet market demand.
Leaf mulch is a product which requires very little processing when compared to compost. When
delivered to the center in clean loads (such as from the Street Division's vacuum collection
program), leaves can be stockpiled or formed into windrows with or without grinding, and used
after a period of composting or curing. Some landscapers favor the use of leaves as a mulching
material. Leaves can also be used to balance the C:N ratio in the composting operation when
large amounts of grass clippings are entering the center. The City's Parks and Recreation
Division utilizes unground leaf mulch on a large-scale basis. They are the main consumer of
stockpiled leaf mulch.
Wood chips are produced by separate processing of clean wood waste. Many loads enter the
center that consist of only wood, such as tree trimmings, branches, stumps, broken, untreated
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wood pallets, etc. The tub grinder is especially efficient at grinding wood alone, and in fact can
operate at a faster production rate when doing so. The products of grinding wood alone can be
graded by using different size screens on the tub grinder. Landscapers use wood chips as
mulch in many different applications. Wood chips can also be used by some industries as boiler
fuel, although the City does not currently sell any material for that use. Wood chips are
especially high in carbon and, like leaves, can be stockpiled and used when necessary to
balance the C:N ratio.
Compost is a humus -like material which results from the decomposition process that takes
place in the windrows. Compost can be used as a soil amendment in gardens, lawns,
landscaping, etc. Different grades of compost can be made by screening the product after it is
cured. At the current time, individual residents are purchasing the screened compost at
approximately the same rate as it is processed.
Mulch is produced by separating the ground yard waste after it has completed the composting
process. Different grades of mulch can be made by screening the product after it is cured.
Landscapers, residents and city departments use mulch in many different applications. As
demand grows, additional staff and equipment can be added to process additional material or
grades of product.
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2 RALEIGH YARD WASTE CENTER
2.1 Site Layout
The "Operations Layout Plan", Drawing G-3 presented in Appendix 3.1 of the Application for
Permit Renewal shows the entire Yard Waste Center. The drawing indicates the location of
existing scales, roads, fire hydrants, parking area, yard waste delivery, processing, active
composting (windrow), leaf receiving/storage, compost curing and final wood chip, mulch, and
compost product storage and distribution areas. Drawing G-3 also shows proposed limits of
storage and processing areas, as well as access and erosion and sediment control devices.
2.2 Equipment
2.2.1 Existing Equipment
The following equipment has been allocated for dedicated use at the yard waste center:
• Tub Grinder - 2008 Morbark 3800 Wood Hog
• Tub Grinder - 2013 Morbark 1300B Tub Grinder
• Windrow Turner - 2015 Backhus 21.50 Turner
• Front End Loader- John Deere 755D Track Loader
• Front End Loader- 2012 CAT Model 930K
• Front End Loader- 2014 CAT Model 930K
• Dump Truck
0 2008 Chevrolet Tandem Axle Dump Truck Model C8500
0 2010 Freightliner Tandem Axle Dump Truck
0 2017 Freightliner Tandem Axle Dump Truck
• Trommel Screen - 2009 Wildcat 516
• Trommel Screen - 2016 Doppstadt 617
• Dozer - 2014 CAT Model D6N
• Excavator - 2015 CAT Model 323F
• Tractor - 2008 Kioti Model DK90
In addition, other equipment such as excavators, dozers and backhoes, is currently available on
an as -needed basis from other City operations or from equipment rental agencies.
Equipment manufacturer's information and specifications are provided in Attachment A of this
Operations Plan.
2.2.2 Additional Equipment Needs
Immediate needs - Efficient maintenance of the equipment at the Yard Waste Center is
extremely important to its proper operation. The windrow turner and the tub grinder are critical
components in the operation requiring daily maintenance. Down time must be avoided to the
extent possible in order to process incoming materials and avoid a material backlog which could
cause problems with odor, storage space and/or traffic flow. Because of the heavy maintenance
requirements of the equipment at the center, especially the tub grinder and windrow turner, a
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service truck with 4-ton crane is available for both routine and unscheduled maintenance of the
tub grinder. The crane will be used to remove the drum, belts, rollers, etc. from the tub grinder
assembly.
Additionally, due to the frequent need to replace the fixed hammers in the tub grinder, a welding
machine has been purchased for the yard waste operation. The abrasive nature of mixed yard
waste necessitates weekly turning, resurfacing and/or replacement of the fixed hammers.
Future needs - As the Yard Waste Center is developed to the extent that all windrow areas are
in service, additional dump trucks and possibly more equipment tasked to turning windrows will
be needed.
The City has funds budgeted to rent or lease equipment to support development of the Yard
Waste Center or to replace equipment taken out of service for repair.
2.3 Site Personnel
Proper, safe operation of the yard waste center as proposed requires adequate staffing.
Occasional use of additional personnel may also be required to meet the production rates
required to run a center which is compliant with its permit, manage the projected quantities of
incoming yard waste, and to make a suitable end product.
Currently, the center has one full-time Scale Operator who monitors and tabulates quantities of
incoming loads of yard waste and public pick up of finished product, collecting the tipping or
product fees, and giving out receipts. Nine Equipment Operator/Spotters are on -duty full time to
direct incoming yard waste deliveries (guiding their dumping) and load finished products,
including compost, mulch, wood chips and leaf mulch into private trucks. During the leaf
collection season (roughly early November through mid -February), an additional equipment
operator is available full or part time at the yard waste center to receive and construct windrows.
The Operations Manager oversees windrow formation, monitors the piles and the composting
process. The Superintendent the overall site administration. Windrow turning and site
maintenance is performed by personnel designated by the Superintendent and Operations
Manager as needed.
Mr. Fred Battle, Solid Waste Services Director (telephone [phone]), is currently
responsible for overall operation of the Raleigh Yard Waste Center, while site supervision is
provided by Mr. Tim Gainer, the Yard Waste Center Superintendent (telephone [phone]).
• Staffing: - The following is a summary of current dedicated staff:
• Yard Waste Center Superintendent (1)
• Yard Waste Center Operations Manager (1)
• Scale Operator (1)- qualified for initial visual screening of loads
• Equipment Operator III (7)- qualified to operate all equipment on site
• Equipment Operator I (Spotter) (2)- qualified to operate some of the equipment, and
direct truck and public traffic on -site
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2.4 Emergency Operations
2.4.1 Inclement Weather
The Yard Waste Center is designed to operate on a year-round basis. In the event of severe
weather, the Facility can shut down on a temporary basis without impacting health and safety.
Processing equipment can be shut down during severe rain, wind, or cold conditions. In this
case, haulers will be directed to drop off material at the designated location until processing can
begin. Under severe conditions, such as thunder storms, threats of tornado or hurricane, the
entire Facility can be shut down at the direction of the Director. In the event of such a shutdown,
City collection crews will not haul yard waste to the facility. All equipment will be properly
secured and personnel directed to shelter as appropriate.
The City (the Director or designated Emergency Management staff) will notify the scale operator
by telephone or radio in the event of a National Weather Service severe weather warning and
direct Yard Waste Center staff to take necessary measures. Inclement weather conditions that
cause the City to suspend curbside collection services will likely result in the temporary closure
of the Yard Waste Center.
2.4.2 Fire
In the event of fire at the facility, the Supervisor will contact City emergency management
personnel. The Raleigh Fire Department will be contacted in the event of any unconfined fire.
For fires in processed or unprocessed yard waste, Facility personnel can manage the fire by
spreading out the affected material, covering it with soil, or a combination of the two techniques.
The Fire Department will determine the need for direct water application onto the fire.
Equipment should be used to isolate the impacted material from the rest of the yard waste to the
extent practical. The Supervisor will determine to what extent the fire can be managed by Yard
Waste personnel and heavy equipment.
2.4.3 Emergency Contacts
FIRE, POLICE, MEDICAL (City of Raleigh) 911
Solid Waste Services Director [phone]
City Manager [phone]
NCDEQ Solid Waste Section (Raleigh) [phone]
Hospital — Wake Medical Center, New Bern Ave. 911
2.5 Materials Flow
General - The following discussion of existing flow of material does not vary significantly from
the original Operational Plan {dated November 1992), however, additional description is
provided, where appropriate, to discuss any proposed additions or changes to the current flow
necessitated by the facility expansion.
Material Enters Facility - All vehicles enter the center from New Hope Road. The entrance road
to the center, which will be accessible during operating hours (see below), leads all traffic to the
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scale house. Scale operators instruct drivers where to unload their material. Participants in the
Warmth for Wake program are directed to the designated area, bypassing the yard waste center
tipping area without paying a tipping fee. All other vehicles are weighed and charged according
to the current tipping fee.
Operating Hours (Subject to Change)
Monday- Saturday 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday Closed
City Solid Waste Services collection vehicles bring the curbside yard waste on Tuesday through
Friday of each week. Street Maintenance vehicles begin bringing loads of leaves (from the fall
street leaf vacuuming program) to the Center from early November through mid -February. It is
estimated by City staff that during the fall months, there are approximately 10 to 15 leaf trucks
making deliveries to the Center per day. Each of the trucks makes several trips to the Center
daily. City trucks unload at the receiving or storage areas. Personnel assignments on Tuesdays
through Fridays and during the months of November -February reflect the additional incoming
activity to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow and material unloading.
Raleigh residents bringing yard waste in cars or small trucks are weighed at the scale house,
assessed a fee based upon weight, and directed to the Public Receiving Area, where they will
unload their yard waste. Businesses and all other non -City vehicles will be weighed, charged
the appropriate tipping fee, and directed to the Public Receiving Area.
Clean wood waste, including untreated pallets, stumps, logs and trunks, can be unloaded at the
Public Receiving Area or, at the discretion of the Supervisor, stockpiled in another area in the
Center for later processing. The Supervisor will instruct scale operators as to what kinds of
wood waste to accept and where to direct such loads. Pallets and other untreated wood will be
closely managed. Wood debris, as well as storm debris consisting mainly of trees, does not
have to be composted.
Pre -Processing: Receiving/Inspection of Yard Waste - More than half of the material entering
the yard waste center is from residential curbside collection hauled by the City. The collection
vehicles will complete their routes on Tuesdays through Fridays, at which time they will bring the
load to the center, proceed through the scale house, and dump in the Collection Vehicle
Receiving Area. At least one person will be on location at the receiving area to ensure proper
placement of the loads and to inspect them for unacceptable materials. Training of the collection
crew emphasizes the importance of rejection of unacceptable materials at the curbside. To
facilitate the inspection/removal of contaminants from incoming loads, the collection crews are
assigned the responsibility of removing any contaminants found in their own loads. Unsuitable
materials removed from loads are disposed by the City at an appropriate facility, such as the
Wake County Landfill.
Inspection of material delivered to the Public Receiving Area includes a contaminant rejection
policy. Unacceptable materials will be removed by the hauler if possible. Signs at the site clearly
indicate acceptable and unacceptable materials. Personnel assigned to inspect material being
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City of Raleigh Yard Waste Center
received from the public are instructed in the proper procedures for dealing with the public and
the rejection policy of the Center. Rejected material may be temporarily stockpiled, but should
be removed from the Center at least weekly and taken to the Wake County Landfill or other
approved disposal area.
Clean loads of leaves may be taken directly to the Leaf Receiving/Storage Area(s) without pre-
processing, or taken directly to the Public Receiving/Grinding Area, and either formed into
windrows of leaves only, or mixed with other materials in the composting operation to balance
the C:N ratio. Leaves must be stockpiled and allowed to reach a temperature of at least 131 OF
for at least three days before this material can be removed from the site and used as mulch.
Windrows which are made of ground or whole leaves only can, at the discretion of the
Supervisor, be made available for use as leaf mulch after as little as a month (if the temperature
requirements outlined above are satisfied). The City Parks and Recreation horticulturist has
indicated strong interest in using leaf mulch ("partially decomposed" leaves) in its landscaping
projects. The quantity of the material available depends on the quantity which enters the center
in clean form.
Processing: Grinding Mixed Yard Waste - Mixed yard waste (including some quantities of
leaves) are fed into the tub grinder after it has been inspected in the receiving areas. A working
pile may be formed by the loader, taking previously inspected material from the receiving areas
to the grinding area. The personnel responsible for loading and operating the tub grinder should
also be alert for contaminants which may have been missed during the inspection.
Specially trained maintenance personnel (mechanic/welder) will be available for routine
equipment maintenance and troubleshooting. Downtime created by routine or other
maintenance of the tub grinder can be spent by other personnel inspecting material, forming
working piles for later grinding, or other tasks needed at the center.
Material is passed through a screen as it is ground or shredded to reduce the size of mixed yard
waste uniformly as desired. The size of the product (9 inches or less) can be controlled by
installing different screens. The smaller the screens, the finer the product produced.
A magnetic pulley is located across the conveyor belt, removing any ferrous metals as the
material moves out. Material exits the grinder via conveyor belt, which drops material either into
a pile on the ground or into a waiting dump truck.
Windrow formation - The primary method of windrow formation is by dump trucks, which have
been loaded with material coming off the grinder conveyor, transporting the material to the
active composting area, and laying out consecutive loads of ground yard waste until the desired
windrow length is obtained. The optimum windrow dimensions are 15 feet wide and 8 feet high.
Loaders can be used, if necessary, to better shape the windrows.
Stockpiles consisting only of leaves do not have to be formed into windrows having the
dimensions listed above. The Site Supervisor can determine the proper stockpile size and
geometry required to meet time and temperature requirements.
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Windrow maintenance - Record keeping is especially important in the phasing of windrow
operations. Records should reflect the date of initial windrow formation, estimated composition
and moisture content of each windrow, temperature readings, dates of combining, turning and
adding water to windrows, and date moved to curing pile.
Windrow maintenance includes monitoring of temperature and moisture, and wetting and
turning windrows as necessary according to temperature and moisture conditions.
If material is very dry when first formed into a windrow, it should be wetted using a water truck
or other available water source. A reasonable scenario would be to wet the windrow as soon as
it is formed and then turn the windrow using the Windrow Turner or loader to blend. The
windrows may be turned once or twice a week, but should be turned more in accordance with
the temperature readings rather than a set schedule. Turning windrows during rain is a good
way to incorporate moisture throughout the material. Because most of the site is unpaved,
caution should be practiced when turning windrows in the rain because of possible difficulty
maneuvering equipment. Proper phasing will become easier with practice, and accurate record
keeping is essential to monitor the composting process.
Temperature measurements should be made and recorded at least once a week to monitor the
compost process and to determine when the compost is stable. There should be at least six
monitoring points along a windrow, since material coming onto a site can be quite varied in both
its moisture content and mix of yard waste. See the earlier section on temperature readings for
a discussion on how to determine when to turn windrows.
Record windrow temperature using a 4-foot long thermometer specially designed and marketed
for this purpose. Insert thermometer to full depth in the windrow to receive consistent
measurements. After each reading, allow the thermometer to cool down to 80°F. For Type
facilities, State Solid Waste Regulations require that windrows remain at a temperature of 131 OF
for at least three days. Windrows should be aerated as required to maintain elevated
temperatures.
Curing - When material reaches sustained temperatures of about 90°F, the material is ready for
the curing pile. The loader may be used to load a dump truck, which can transport the material
to the curing area. Records should reflect the date that a windrow was removed. Material in the
curing area should be ready for use after about 30-45 days. Curing can take place in one or
more piles, which can be much larger than the windrows. The curing piles do not have to be
turned, but should have periodic temperature readings to monitor the microbial activity.
Final storage - Once cured, the compost is similar to soil and can be stored indefinitely without
limits on the height or length of the curing pile. The site plan shows two separate areas
designated for final product storage and loading: one for wood chips/mulch and leaf mulch, and
the other for final compost.
Site maintenance - The site should be maintained to comply with approved Grading and Erosion
Control Plans. Ruts, gullies, etc. should be monitored after each storm and repaired immediately
to prevent ponding on -site and to appropriately direct site run-off. Diversion structures and storm
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water management ponds should also be checked regularly for proper operation. The site is
monitored at least weekly by the Supervisor to ensure proper operations and site maintenance.
Access roads, site grading, and drainage controls will be monitored and maintained as required.
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3 FINAL PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING
Users of the product include the City of Raleigh, businesses and residents.
City of Raleigh - The Yard Waste Center provides an internal source of material for various City
applications, including compost as part of the maintenance of the final soil cover of landfill
closure areas; wood mulch for erosion control in landfill operations; and compost and leaf and
wood mulch in public parks, planting beds, right-of-way's, etc.
Businesses and Residents - The compost and wood mulch product is also available to private
businesses and Raleigh residents for landscaping, gardening, and other uses.
Material which has cured for at least 30 days can be moved into the Final Product Loading
Areas near the entrance for loading. A sign indicating the price of each material, as well as
instructions on how to get and pay for the material, is posted at the entrance.
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4 REGULATORY ISSUES AND RECORDKEEPING
Yard Waste Center Permit - The State of North Carolina Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (NCDENR), Division of Solid Waste Management, issued Solid Waste
Permit #92-13-YW to the City of Raleigh on September 3, 1991 for operating the original 11.5-
acre Raleigh Yard Waste Center on New Hope Road. Expansion of the permit to cover an
additional 53 acres was applied for in the October 1994 Renewal. The total size of the Yard
Waste Center was slightly reduced to 58.5 acres in the April 2000 Renewal as a result of a
property transfer between Pike Electric Co. and the City of Raleigh. No change to the Facility
Boundary has occurred since the 2000 Renewal. For this renewal, the processing area remains
67.9 acres.
This 2017 Renewal will expire in 2022. Ninety days prior to the expiration date, the City must
notify the Solid Waste Section of its intentions to renew or modify the Permit. According to the
Permit, a copy of each of the permits, plans, and operational reports shall be available on site at
all times. This notification is generally provided as part of the Annual Report submitted to
NCDENR in the final year of the current permit.
Regulatory Requirements - The design and operation of the Yard Waste Center shall conform to
operating procedures in Section .1405 of the Solid Waste Management Rules (15A NCAC 138)
for a Type 1 Facility. A copy of this section, entitled "Application Requirements for Solid Waste
Compost Facilities", is provided as Attachment 8 to this Operations Plan.
Annual Report - An annual report must be submitted to the Solid Waste Division by August 1st
for the previous fiscal year which includes the following information:
• Sources, type, quantity (by weight) of waste received at the existing and proposed
expanded center;
• The turning frequency (if applicable) and the timing and amount of water addition (if
applicable);
• Sampling of temperature duration and changes during composting (if applicable);
• The quantity, by weight, of compost or mulch produced;
• The quantity, by weight, of compost or mulch removed from the center;
• A description of the end product and distribution or disposal.
Record keeping of incoming and outgoing materials should be kept on a daily basis to facilitate
the annual reporting requirements. In addition, daily operational logs should be maintained
which indicate activity such as temperature monitoring, turning of windrows, etc. These records
are valuable not only for the required reporting but to monitor the composting process and
troubleshoot as necessary.
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5 TROUBLESHOOTING
Problems encountered with the composting operation can be the result of various situations.
Experience will be the best guide in troubleshooting these problems. The attached
"Troubleshooting Chart", cited in part from Cornell Cooperative. Extension Operator's Fact
Sheet #10, is simply a guide which indicates possible causes and solutions to the most common
problems.
Plan for disposal of any poor -quality compost product produced
It is not anticipated that any of the finished product will be unsuitable for its intended use;
however, if this should occur, any such material will be further processed as required or
removed from the site and taken to the City of Raleigh Solid Waste Transfer Station for
disposal.
PROBLEM
Odor
Low windrow temperature
High windrow temperature
Surface ponding
Vectors
-Rats
-Mosquitos
Fires/Spontaneous
combustion
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Rev.No. 6 - May 2018
TROUBLESHOOTING CHART
CAUSE
-Excess moisture
-Windrow too large
-Temperature > 140°F
-Too much compaction
-Surface ponding
-Windrow too small
-Insufficient moisture
-Poor aeration
-Windrow too large
-Too much compaction
-Depressions or ruts
-Inadequate slope
Incorrect windrow placement
-Presence of garbage (food,
garbage, etc.)
-Presence of stagnant water
-Excessive temperature
SOLUTION
-Turn windrow
-Make windrow smaller
-Turn windrow
-Turn or reduce windrow size
-Eliminate ponding
-Combine windrows
-Add water while turning
windrow
-Turn windrow
-Reduce windrow size
-Turn windrow
-Fill depressions and/or
regrade
-Grade site to recommended
slope
-Orient windrows with
surface grade
-Remove
-Eliminate ponding
-Make windrow smaller
-Inadequate moisture -Add water
-Stray sparks, cigarettes -Keep potential fire sources
away from windrows
-If fires do start, break
windrows apart and
extinguish completely

City of Raleigh Yard Waste Center
6 SAFETY AND HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
Proper attention to health and safety concerns can minimize most occupational risks at the yard
waste center. While the processing activities involved with the Yard Waste Center are not
inherently dangerous, certain precautions are necessary to protect against injury and possible
illness. All employees of the center are provided safety training addressing the potential hazards
associated with composting operations, heavy equipment, traffic safety, noise and dust
exposure, etc. Risk management personnel within the City should be able to advise on any
specific precautionary measures needed at the center.
Safety concerns at the Yard Waste Center relate primarily to equipment. Proper operator
training and equipment operation and maintenance are essential to avoidance of serious
personnel injury. All equipment should be inspected daily to ensure proper operation.
Equipment that is not functioning correctly should not be operated and must be repaired
immediately.
If loaders or other standard heavy equipment are used, ear protection and other normal safety
precautions apply. Composting and grinding equipment has additional dangers; typically, they
contain powerful mixing flails, knives, or hammers that rotate at a high rate of speed, and should
therefore be well shielded from human contact. Additional precautions must be followed when
specialized windrow turning equipment is used. As these flails rotate through the compost
windrow, they may eject foreign matter from the windrow. Stones and other foreign objects can
become dangerous projectiles, and can be thrown a long distance in front of or behind the
turning equipment. Thus, equipment operators must insure a safe clearance on all sides of the
operating machinery.
When stockpiling chips or compost, it is important to plan for the possibility of fires. Dry chips
are particularly susceptible to stray sparks from cigarettes or welding equipment. Fires are
rarely a problem in outdoor composting operations. Because the inside of the windrows should
be damp, compost normally burns poorly. However, if the material does dry out and gets too
hot, combustion can occur. Organic material can ignite spontaneously at moisture contents
between 25 and 45 percent. This sometimes happens to stored hay or silage, and can happen
to compost as well. First, however, the material must heat to over 200OF (930C), which typically
requires a pile over 12 feet high. Keeping the windrows less than 10 feet tall, and turning the
compost when temperatures exceed 140OF (600C), not only constitutes good compost
management, but provides fire protection as well. In the event of fire, whether by spontaneous
combustion or vandalism, the site must have available fire hydrants, delivery capacity, and an
adequate water supply. Maintaining clear aisles between windrows and around the perimeter of
the site will provide easy access in case of fire.
Health concerns relating to compost are dependent both on the individual and on the material
being composted. The same precautions advised for employees working near the working face
of a sanitary landfill should be taken at the Yard Waste Center. To minimize respiratory
problems, OSHA approved dust masks or respirators should be worn under dry and dusty
conditions when required under City's Health and Safety Plan.
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7 ACCESS AND RUN-OFF CONTROL MEASURES
Required setbacks and buffers shown on Drawing G-3 will be maintained to minimize
environmental impact. Erosion and sedimentation control structures will serve to minimize the
environmental impact of both erosion and leaching from the compost piles. For existing and
proposed erosion control structures, See Drawing G-3, Appendix 3.1 of the Application.
All erosion control structures will be periodically inspected for sediment build up, additional
erosion, or any other detrimental effects caused by construction or operations. These areas will
be repaired immediately and/or upgraded to control all stormwater runoff. Once construction is
completed, all exposed areas will be vegetated to control stormwater permanently.
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8 OTHER OPERATIONAL INFORMATION
Warmth for Wake - An area north and east of the scale house has been designated for the
Warmth for Wake firewood operation. Wood waste suitable for splitting into firewood is accepted
in this program. Volunteers not associated with the Yard Waste Center facility split, sort, load
and haul the cut firewood. Scale house personnel are instructed to direct participants with
proper identification to the designated area. No processing of yard waste is conducted in this
area.
Swap Shop - A swap shop has been established northwest of the scale house with the purpose
of keeping usable items (not related to materials accepted at the Yard Waste Center for
processing) from the landfill and making them available for reuse. Residents may visit the swap
shop and remove any item as desired without bringing a contribution themselves. Residents
dropping off and/or browsing for items at the swap shop must first check in with the scale
operator onsite.
Pallets - Pallets are made from untreated wood, which is suitable for grinding into wood chips
and used for boiler fuel or mulch. Many North Carolina communities have been grinding pallets
in this way for some time. The Yard Waste Center is equipped and permitted to process yard
waste and untreated wood; therefore, the City has the flexibility to divert selected materials such
as pallets from the landfill to the Yard Waste Center. The tub grinder actually performs best
when processing dry wood and is equipped with a magnetic pulley across the conveyor belt
designed to remove nails. Since processing pallets is secondary to processing yard waste,
pallets can be stockpiled in adjacent areas until the tub grinder is available.
City Streets Department Construction Materials Storage - In support of the City's efforts to
disperse equipment and materials to be located near their end use area, the City stores
construction materials at the northeast corner of the Yard Waste Center at the location shown
on the Site Drawings. Such materials include pipe, gravel, precast concrete manholes, vaults
and similar items. Storage will not be located on top of any yard waste stockpiles, windrows or
curing areas.
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Rev. No. 6 - May 2018