ZENV0121 - Composting Operations (Online)
Course Description
This comprehensive course on composting meets or exceeds requirements for the educational components of certification and/or licensing for solid waste professionals.Course Outline
Lesson 1: Science of Composting
- Understand similarities between composting and farming.
- Identify primary organisms responsible for organic decomposition and where they thrive.
- Describe chemical and physical parameters of composting.
Lesson 2: Composting Processes
- Describe composting processes and explain how they vary.
- Describe proper preparation of waste or compost feedstock.
- List physical and chemical adjustments made to feedstock prior to composting.
- Identify operating parameters associated with rapid decomposition.
- List high, low and optimum range for each parameter.
- Identify process and benefits of properly curing compost.
- Identify processes and benefits of compost refining.
- List multiple end users for compost.
- Describe various end uses and different degrees of refining for each.
Lesson 3: Feedstock and Compost Technologies
- Understand waste source and match to best composting technology.
- List categories of potential compost feedstock and understand concerns associated with each.
- List primary categories of composting technologies and their advantages/disadvantages.
Lesson 4: Compost Quality and Classification
- Explain lack of standards classifications and regulations in the compost industry.
- Identify compost qualities and the ranges that make for a quality product.
- Identify methods used to test compost.
- Explain basic element of a compost quality assurance program.
Lesson 5: Facility Development
- Explain how design and process complexity of a compost facility relates to the type and quantity of feedstock it handles.
- Explain why siting a compost facility is a complex, controversial and important part of development.
- Identify basic components of a complete facility design.
- Explain state and local requirements compost facilities.
- Explain basic requirements for operating a composting facility.
Lesson 6: Environmental Concerns and Control
- Describe primary causes of odor and their controls.
- Identify areas of concern for water quality and their controls.
- Identify areas of concern for air quality and their controls.
- Identify causes and controls for noise pollution.
- Identify causes and controls for vectors and pests.
Lesson 7: Compost Regulations
- Understand why no federal standards govern compost unless biosolids are used.
- Understand that environmental laws may govern certain aspects of composting.
- Understand that many states have developed compost/composting standards through their solid waste agency.
Lesson 8: State Programs
- Determine and describe the two types of composting facilities.
- Determine and explain regulations and operation requirements for all composting facilities.
Notes
Participants have 12 months to complete this self-paced online course.
All necessary materials included.
Internet Connectivity Requirements:
- Cable and DSL internet connections recommended.
Hardware Requirements:
- Minimum Pentium 400 Mhz CPU or G3 Macintosh. 1 GHz or greater CPU recommended.
- 256MB RAM minimum. 1 GB RAM recommended.
- 800x600 video resolution minimum. 1025x768 recommended.
- Speakers/Headphones to listen to Dialogue streaming audio sessions.
- A microphone to speak in Dialogue streaming audio sessions.
Operating System Requirements:
- Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 9, 10
- Mac OSX 10 or higher.
- OpenSUSE Linux 9.2 or higher.
Web Browser Requirements:
- Google Chrome is recommended.
- Firefox 13.x or greater.
- Internet Explorer 6.x or greater.
- Safari 3.2.2 or greater.
Software Requirements:
- Adobe Flash Player 6 or greater.
- Oracle Java 7 or greater.
- Adobe Reader 7 or greater.
Web Browser Settings:
- Accept cookies
- Disable pop-up blocker.