TASMANIAN TOPTURN: CEA

As Dulverton Waste Management embarks on a three-stage facility upgrade, Project Manager Matthew Layton details stage one: the purchase of a Komptech Topturn.

In February this year, Kentish Council in north-west Tasmania approved a Development Permit Application from Dulverton Waste Management.

The permit allows the company to upgrade its existing compost facility and provide best practice leachate and odour control.

Development plans include the construction of an industrial compost cover and associated mechanical equipment to better manage aeration and moisture of existing compost windrow operations.

According to Matthew Layton, Dulverton Waste Management Project Manager, the improvements will control the effect of rain on organic input material, which includes council green waste and industry input stock from across Tasmania.

“We get 1000 millimetres of rain a year down here, which is very different to a lot of facilities on the mainland,” he says.

Dulverton, which in addition to its organics facility operates an award-winning landfill, collectively processes upwards of 100,000 tonnes of material annually – with 40 per cent processed through an open windrow composting system.

“We’re a regional facility, so unlike many mainland composters, we need to accept everything in our region,” Layton says.

“That includes product residues from food manufacturing and green and municipal waste.”

He explains that the industrial compost cover is just one development in a three-stage facility upgrade plan.

Stage one, he adds, was the purchase of a specialised windrow turner with irrigation, which began operating on Dulverton’s existing open-air compost piles in January.

The Komptech Topturn X63 compost turner, purchased through Australian distributor CEA, has a throughput of up to 4500 cubic meters per hour.

The combination of a large drum with thrower blades and powerful drive ensures the turner leaves a well-mixed windrow in its wake.

Before acquiring the Topturn, Layton says Dulverton used a traditional excavator to turn its compost piles.

With a view of consolidating cost and making its processes as efficient as possible, Dulverton went to market to look for a suitable turner to replace its excavators.

“In the lead up to our facility expansion, we wanted to ensure our operations were more cost effective and efficient,” he says.

“There are a number of turners on the market that could achieve that, but we went with the Topturn primarily because of the service support in regional Tasmania.

“There was also the added benefit of a commonality of parts, especially with the engine.”

The Topturn’s engine meets all relevant emissions standards, with a new cooling system keeping the system running under heavy loads and high outside temperatures.

Komptech’s X63 features a large-dimensioned turning drum for high throughput and complete mixing, with easy maintenance access via ladders and platforms integrated into the body.

Furthermore, CEA offer the turner either wheeled or tracked, with engine power converted efficiently into forward movement.

Since operating the Topturn, Layton says Dulverton has seen a dramatic increase in turning efficiency.

“We’ve seen changes in our processes for the operators working with the machine, but also the biology of the compost,” he explains.

“Not only is the Topturn process faster, but it also creates a better composting environment by introducing air right throughout each compost windrow.

“We are achieving exceptional material shrinkage rates.”

The Topturn purchase, Layton says, was Dulverton’s first commercial dealing with CEA.

“They’ve been really good from a client support perspective, particularly in terms of information sharing and guiding us along the track to where we needed to be,” he adds.

“They also offer significant after sales assistance, which really supports the way we’re trying to modernise our facility.”

A key feature of Dulverton’s Komptech Topturn is the ability to add a lateral displacement device at a later stage, Layton says. He adds that in the future, this will give operators the ability to turn and move more compost at once.

When coupled with the turner, CEA’s lateral displacement device minimises transport distance and improves viability and monitoring. By collapsing two windrows, the decomposition shrinkage is smoothed out, making full use of the space.

“We expect this equipment will continue to deliver environmental benefits by providing full aeration and moisture-balance of the compost to assist the natural decomposition process,” Layton says.

“The windrow turner will continue to be used throughout our upgrade program.”

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