Rotary Drum Composting

Unknown

The rotary drum composter uses large amounts of ventilation to reduce composting time to 2–3 weeks.

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

The Rotary Drum Composter reduces composting time to 2–3 weeks. Consistent rotation of the compost and the side air vents allow the organic waste to remain in contact with oxygen, while the drum retains heat. The system is frequently used for organic food waste and yard trimmings.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Worldwide

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

This product is available at retailers in India and in the USA.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

The product ranges from ~77 USD to 300 USD.

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

NADEP composting, vermicomposting, and other organic composting methods.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Gardeners, farmers, schools, institutions, produce markets

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Manufactured by a number of distributors

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Open source designs are available

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Users obtain the product from different distributors.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Input requirement (volume and frequency)

How much organic waste/how often added

25 kg cow dung, 20 kg mixed vegetable waste, 10 kg saw dust, 5 kg compost (bulking agent), 1 time/20 days.

Additives

Needed additives

Saw dust, compost (bulking agent)

Production capacity (kg output per kg input)

Volume out compared to volume in

~42 kg output per 60 kg input

Production duration

Time to decompose

2-3 weeks

Percentage of nutrient recovery

Amount of nutrients recovered at the end of processing

2.1% nitrogen and 3.5% total phosphorus

Complementary treatment needed

Additional disinfection or other processes needed

None

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Rotary drum sizes my vary, but one study of a rotary drum composter used a 250 L capacity drum of 0.92 m in length and 0.9 m in diameter, made up of a 4 mm thick metal sheet. The inner side of the drum was covered by anti-corrosive coating and mounted on four rubber rollers attached to a metal stand. The drum is rotated manually.

40 mm angles are welded longitudinally inside the drum to mix the wastes, and two holes drain excess water. Waste should be shredded and placed inside at 70% of the total volume, with both half side doors of the drum open to allow additional aeration. Initial moisture content was around 61% and the cattle manure, mixed green vegetables and sawdust entered in a 2.5 : 2 : 1 ratio, on wet mass basis.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Rotary drum schematic

Technical support Technical support provided by

There is no technical support provided and users are expected to maintain the product on their own.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

None

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Unknown

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Rapid compost time of 2-3 weeks, pathogen inactivation, nutrient rich fertilizer.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

The rotary drum composter was assessed for temperature, C/N ratio, TOC, coliforms, metals, turning frequency, and nutrient retention.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

IIT Guwahati, IIT Roorkee, ITQUIMA,

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Implementers must take appropriate precautions when working with organic waste, particularly cattle manure, and ensure complete decomposition.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

None

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Kalamdhad, A.S., Kazmi, A.A., 2008, Mixed Organic Waste Composting Using Rotary Drum Composter. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2, pp. 24-36.

Kalamdhad, A.S., et al., 2009, Rotary drum composting of vegetable waste and tree leaves. Bioresource Technology, 100, pp. 6442-6450.

Kalamdhad, A.S., et al., 2008, Stability evaluation of compost by respiration techniques in a rotary drum composter. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 52, pp. 829-834.

Villasenor, J., et al., 2011, Composting domestic sewage sludge with natural zeolites in a rotary drum reactor. Bioresource Technology, 102, pp. 1447-1454.

Singh, J., Kalamdhad, A.S., 2013, Assessment of bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals during rotary drum composting of green waste (Water hyacinth). Ecological Engineering, 52, pp. 59-69.

Kalamdhad, A.S., Kazmi, A.A., 2009, Effects of turning frequency on compost stability and some chemical characteristics in a rotary drum composter. Chemosphere, 74, pp. 1327-1334.

Varma, V.S., Kalamdhad, A.S., 2015, Evolution of chemical and biological characterization during thermophilic composting of vegetable waste using rotary drum composter. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 12, pp. 2015-2024.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

The rotary drum composter was assessed for temperature, C/N ratio, TOC, coliforms, and nutrient retention.

Other information

None

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Worldwide

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

This product is available at retailers in India and in the USA.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

The product ranges from ~77 USD to 300 USD.

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

NADEP composting, vermicomposting, and other organic composting methods.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Gardeners, farmers, schools, institutions, produce markets

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Manufactured by a number of distributors

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Open source designs are available

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Users obtain the product from different distributors.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Input requirement (volume and frequency)

How much organic waste/how often added

25 kg cow dung, 20 kg mixed vegetable waste, 10 kg saw dust, 5 kg compost (bulking agent), 1 time/20 days.

Additives

Needed additives

Saw dust, compost (bulking agent)

Production capacity (kg output per kg input)

Volume out compared to volume in

~42 kg output per 60 kg input

Production duration

Time to decompose

2-3 weeks

Percentage of nutrient recovery

Amount of nutrients recovered at the end of processing

2.1% nitrogen and 3.5% total phosphorus

Complementary treatment needed

Additional disinfection or other processes needed

None

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Rotary drum schematic

Technical support Technical support provided by

There is no technical support provided and users are expected to maintain the product on their own.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

None

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Unknown

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Rapid compost time of 2-3 weeks, pathogen inactivation, nutrient rich fertilizer.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

The rotary drum composter was assessed for temperature, C/N ratio, TOC, coliforms, metals, turning frequency, and nutrient retention.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

IIT Guwahati, IIT Roorkee, ITQUIMA,

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Implementers must take appropriate precautions when working with organic waste, particularly cattle manure, and ensure complete decomposition.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

None

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Kalamdhad, A.S., Kazmi, A.A., 2008, Mixed Organic Waste Composting Using Rotary Drum Composter. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2, pp. 24-36.

Kalamdhad, A.S., et al., 2009, Rotary drum composting of vegetable waste and tree leaves. Bioresource Technology, 100, pp. 6442-6450.

Kalamdhad, A.S., et al., 2008, Stability evaluation of compost by respiration techniques in a rotary drum composter. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 52, pp. 829-834.

Villasenor, J., et al., 2011, Composting domestic sewage sludge with natural zeolites in a rotary drum reactor. Bioresource Technology, 102, pp. 1447-1454.

Singh, J., Kalamdhad, A.S., 2013, Assessment of bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals during rotary drum composting of green waste (Water hyacinth). Ecological Engineering, 52, pp. 59-69.

Kalamdhad, A.S., Kazmi, A.A., 2009, Effects of turning frequency on compost stability and some chemical characteristics in a rotary drum composter. Chemosphere, 74, pp. 1327-1334.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

The rotary drum composter was assessed for temperature, C/N ratio, TOC, coliforms, and nutrient retention.

Other information

None

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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Rotary Drum Composting

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In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors