University of Connecticut Compost Facility
Challenge – Durable, covered compost facilty
Solution – Hercules Truss Arch Building
Size – 83′ wide x 120′ long
Application – Compost building
ClearSpan Fabric Structures is the proud manufacturer of the University of Connecticut’s newly completed 83’W x 120’L composting facility. UConn is known for its continual effort to enhance its facilities and further its students’ education with the latest technology and most up-to-date environmental regulations. According to UConn’s Office of Environmental Policy, the facility and location was “sited by a Compost Facility Site Advisory Committee which considered hydrography, aquifer protection, the slope of the land and population density in the siting process.”
The facility, at maximum capacity, has four 110′ windrows that each contains approximately 80 tons of livestock waste, 15 yards of landscape waste and 1,000 to 3,000 gallons of liquid manure. The liquid manure is added to get the proper level of moisture in the windrow and to add nitrogen. The windrows are combined when the reduction in material allows for two rows to form one. The windrows are moved out of the building and onto a curing pad after approximately 12 weeks. They are covered with a compost blanket during the curing process. The University expects to handle 30 to 40% of its livestock waste and most of its leaves, grass clippings and some wood chips.
ClearSpan recognizes the importance of partnering with the community on environmental projects and looks forward to the opportunity of working with UConn again.
For more on UConn’s Compost Facility, please contact Paul Ferri, project coordinator, at 860.486.9295.
