XACT Systems, Inc.

XACT Systems manufactures and markets composting equipment. The XACT BioReactors are large scale in-vessel, rotating drum composters that convert huge volumes of solid organic waste into compost in as little as 3 to 7 days. It is able to do so by tightly controlling the parameters for successful aerobic composting. Specifically, the slow rotation of the drum allows each and every bacteria naturally occurring in the organic waste material to be exposed to oxygen present in the ambient air in the vessel. Typically, the BioReactor will fully rotate 6 to 10 times in one hour, which results in the material being turned 144 to 240 times per day. The optimal temperatures for pathogen kill and fast composting of the material are tightly controlled again by the speed of rotation and the ventilation system. XACT Systems process recommendations follow the EPA standards of Time and Temperature for pathogen kill. In practice, this means that the waste material is kept in the BioReactor vessel for 72 hours at temperatures of 55 degrees to 65 degrees Celcius. Upon discharge, the compost is pathogen free, insect larvae free, weed seed free and virtually odourless. The XACT BioReactor is available in 5’ to 10’ diameters and in lengths from 10’ to 60’. The waste material mixture must have a C:N ratio in the neighbourhood of 25 to 1, and the moisture content must be close to 65% in order to compost successfully. The waste materials can include food waste, green yard waste, sludge, manure, biosolids, organic waste from commercial processing plants, mortalities, and so on. Amendments can include wood chips, saw dust, rice hulls, paper, cardboard, dried vegetative waste and so on. The XACT BioReactor Composting System includes the BioReactor, infeed and outfeed conveyors, and a mixer (for blending the waste materials prior to loading in the vessel. As stated earlier, the organic material remains in the BioReactor for 4 to 7 days and is then discharged. If required, the compost is then stored for final curing for an additional 14 days at temperatures 40 degrees celcius (this final maturation step is required dependent upon use of compost).

Statement of benefits: List or describe the performance benefits of the technology:

Odour control, pathogen free compost, fast composting time, less manpower requirement, low land requirement, low power requirement, controls vectors, VOC’s, emissions (with a BioFilter), eliminates weather concerns, neighbourhood friendly, provides the ability to produce “designer compost”.