design features
TAP System
Green / Food Waste
Desert Climate
environmental impact
60 Tons Per Year diverted organics
30 Tons Per Year Sequestered CO2
The City of Phoenix was searching for a financially feasible sustainable approach to diverting the city's green and food waste. The solution had to work on an existing 20-acre parcel of land, have a high throughput, work in the dramatic desert climate, and not negatively impact the surrounding community. Composting proved to be the lowest cost solution meeting these criteria. They reached out next to GMT for feedstock feasibility analyses, pilot testing, and facility design and commissioning.
- Integrate into existing site
- Odor control
- Water conservation
Our Solution:
To better understand the feedstocks GMT designed a small pipe on grade system that was installed prior to the 2014 Super Bowl in Phoenix Arizona. Food waste from the event was mixed with green waste and aerated on the pilot aeration pad. Based on the promising results of the pilot study, GMT designed a large Turned Aerated Pile (TAP) composting system capable of handling 110,000 tons per year. The facility utilizes below grade spargers, reverse aeration, and biofiltration for maximal process and odor control. At present the facility is only built out to half of the overall capacity and processing exclusively greenwaste.