As a result of the Environmental Protection Act of 1992, which drastically curtailed the burning of residues from arboriculture operations, a decision was made in late 1994 to purchase a large shredding machine (Jenz AZ35) capable of processing up to 20 tonnes per hour of woody wastes. It was at this time that KPS Composting Services was formed. Since then we have bought another two Willibald green waste shredders.

Since 1st May 1994, new regulations regarding the disposal of green waste arising from tree surgery and gardening have been in place. The Environmental Protection Act has a target for the year 2000, to recycle 25% of all household waste (almost a third of which is organic) and Local Authorities are seeking out ways to meet this standard. This coupled with commercial advantages make shredding machinery, loading machines, windrow turners and screening equipment a vital part of the composting operation

For the last five years KPS has become well established in the industry of green waste recycling. By having positioned ourselves at the forefront of cost efficient and environmentally sound composting techniques, KPS has found itself in a position whereby we are able to provide Local Authorities, building contractors, waste management companies, site clearance companies estate managers and farmers with a solution to their green waste disposal problems. Last year we recycled 25000 tonnes of green waste and expect this to rise to over 30000 tonnes this year (2001).

The Composting process

Green waste is delivered to one of our twelve sites in Sussex or Hampshire.

Shredding the green waste

The green waste is shredded using one of our Willibald MZA3500 green waste shredders. The Willibald is a fully mobile shredding unit with a capability of shredding green waste at a rate of up to a tonne per minute.

Once shredded the material is put into a windrow. Temperatures within the windrow can get as high as 70 degrees centigrade, as micro and macro organisms break down the green waste. It is important that a ready supply of oxygen is available to these organisms; hence we turn the windrows about every ten days.
After three to four months the composting process is complete enough, for the end product to be spread on fields. First though, it needs to be screened.

Screening the green waste

KPS have two screeners that will grade the end product down to a 25mm at up to 30m3/hr

Leftovers or rejects are returned back through the composting process.

Contract Hire

KPS Composting Services has a range of machinery available for hire.

• Willibald green waste shredders
  
• Screeners
  
• Jenz AZ35 waste shredder (used more on our site clearance contracts)
  
• Excavators
  
• JCB 4CX
  
• JCB telehandlers
  
• JCB 412

All the above are provided with an operator with shredders and loaders available as a package.