Just off busy Rt 301 in Southern Prince George’s County is a 21st century waste facility that few people know about. Yet it’s one of the best examples in the region of how to recycle organic material on a large scale. The Prince George’s County Organics Composting Facility opened in the late 1990s to process yard waste. In 2013, it started to accept food scraps from businesses and the University of MD, and is expanding a pilot residential curbside program as well.
Today it’s the largest organic waste processing plant on the East coast.
In May a group that included elected County officials, toured the facility, hosted by the Sierra Club PGC Group.
Nearly 17,000 tons of food scraps are processed annually, according to facility manager Steve Birchfield, about half of what can be handled when it reaches full capacity. It’s mixed with 33,000 tons of yard waste that ultimately produces a trademarked, high quality compost called Leafgro GOLD. Birchfield says they aren’t producing nearly enough to meet demand for the product, citing a long waiting list of potential buyers.
Delivery of food scraps from University of MD (left) and MOM’s Organic Grocery chain (right). Food waste may not contain plastic or non-compostable bags - deliveries are returned if contamination is an ongoing problem with senders
Yard waste pile awaiting processing. In addition to producing high quality compost, the Prince George’s facility has large quantities of mulch available for free to anyone who wants it.
Organic waste is processed using the GORE Cover System. After grinding and blending food scraps and yard waste, it’s piled into 600-ton heaps, or bunkers and covered with a cloth material that allows the temperature and moisture content to be monitored, and for leachate to be collected. The composting process is greatly accelerated using the GORE system; instead of 9 months, it takes just 8 weeks, from raw material to rich Leafgro GOLD.
Each bunker is monitored for ideal oxygen levels. Temperatures are maintained at a minimum 131 degrees F and as high as 160 degrees - enough to kill pathogens and prevent odors from escaping into the environment. Birds and animals are notably absent from the facility as well.
The County just completed a successful pilot program involving 140 residents, and is expanding curbside food scrap collection over the next few years county-wide. Participants are provided with the necessary materials, including a 35-gallon-wheeled cart, a kitchen bin, a one-time supply of compostable liners, and instructions.
The Maryland Environmental Service manages the Prince George’s County Composting Facility
Organic waste makes up as much as 30% of a community’s waste stream. Prince George’s County is demonstrating that diverting it away from the landfill into a high-demand product is Zero Waste theory put into practice. For more information, and to join a future tour of the Composting facility contact the Prince George’s Sierra Club Group Chair: martha.ainsworth@mdsierra.org