Once cleaned, the material is sorted, put through grinders and passed over screens so material sizes are consistent.
The ground material is placed in long rows that measure 8 to 10 feet wide. It is continually turned and injected with air and water so that microorganisms can break down the waste and turn it into compost.
Temperatures of these rows is kept at an optimum 160 degrees.
The material is screened one more time and tested so to ensure it is free of such pathogens as Salmonella and fecal chloroform. Tests are conducted to measure levels of minerals such as copper, zinc, potassium and calcium, and to ensure the correct balance of nitrogen and carbon. The material is then combined with natural urban wood waste and other virgin materials to create final products such as soil amendments, soil blends and mulches.
The entire process, from start to finish, takes between 60 to 90 days depending on weather conditions.
Note: Agromin processes more than 250,000 tons a year of green waste from 19 cities in Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Counties.
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