Aim Environmental: Composting Facility for Green Bin Program

Welcome to the City of Hamilton Central Composting Facility operated by Aim Environmental Group. This facility was designed to process 60,000 tons of source separated organic material per year by incorporating some of the worlds most innovative composting technologies. The design team at Maple Reinders, Aim Environmental Group and our partners at van Kaathoven Group and Christiaens Group collaborated to bring the finest in European, in-vessel tunnel technology to produce a system known for rapid decomposition of organic feedstock and the production of Ontarios highest grade compost.

The material that is brought to our facility is inspected before being loaded into a shredder. The material is conveyed under a cross belt magnet to remove any metal contaminants before it is loaded into one of the ten Phase 1 tunnels. The shredded waste is distributed in uniform layers over the tunnel, which is equipped with a heating system, an aerated floor and a sprinkler system to nourish the microorganisms responsible for decomposing the organic matter. It will remain in the Phase 1 tunnel for 10-14 days.

The material is then moved to one of six Phase 2 tunnels, where the material is further broken down and pasteurized in order to meet strict regulations. This second phase takes 7 to 10 days, and after cooling, the material is ready to be screened.

The highly efficient screening plant is able to extract plastics, stones and other ferrous material from the compost in one pass. It also separates the finished compost from organic material that wasnt fully broken down. The screened, finished compost is transported to the curing building for maturation, while the unfinished compost is added to the incoming waste.

The facility has an advanced computer system which is able to monitor and control all elements of the process such as water and air flow, leachate collection, and temperature. The process computers also control all of the air entering and exiting the building. To maximize odour control, negative air pressure is maintained on the plant floor and all exhaust from the building is passed through a biofilter before it is released to the outside environment.

This state-of-the-art composting facility has been in operation since 2006 and is still recognized as one of the most advanced compost facilities on the continent. Together, Maple Reinders and Aim Environmental Group outlined the facility to ensure it had a modular design to allow for future expansion to address emerging opportunities. All facilities are custom-designed in order to meet the demands of their market.

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Science & Technology

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