Elements and Performance Criteria
- Identify and characterise raw materials
- Raw materials are visually identified and categorised against established enterprise criteria.
- Raw material characteristics are entered into enterprise compost recipe calculator to achieve a balanced recipe.
- Where raw material identity or characteristics are uncertain or, designated personnel are requested to take representative samples of material for laboratory analysis.
- Receivable and handling requirements for raw materials are determined.
- Establish production objectives
- Calculate compost recipe
- Raw material characteristics are recorded in enterprise compost recipe.
- Raw material proportions or ratios suitable for composting by the enterprise by a particular technology and method are specified by weight in resulting compost recipe.
- Pre-processing requirements of raw materials, feasible volumes of compost upon formation, and compost production plan are determined.
- Composting batch management procedures are reviewed and any required variations to standard management procedures are defined and documented as a new procedure.
- Compost production schedule is estimated and documented.
- Compatibility of resulting compost recipe and production schedule is confirmed against documented customer requirements and priorities.
- Density of pre-processed raw materials is quantified, and weight-based recipe is translated into volume-based recipe for production.
- Volumetric compost recipe and production procedures are recorded as operational batch or bucket recipe and procedure.
- Validate compost recipe
- Raw materials are pre-prepared and mixed according to new compost recipe to form feedstock for composting.
- Composting batch is managed according to revised enterprise procedure.
- Composting process is monitored for efficiency in relation to estimated production schedule and enterprise requirements.
- Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) aspects and impacts are monitored for compliance with enterprise plan and regulatory requirements.
- Faults, variations or problems observed at any stage of process are identified and remedial action is carried out to maintain effective compost production.
- Sampling and testing of material during composting is conducted to determine completion of production process.
- End product quality is evaluated against established product specifications.
- Compost recipe, production schedule and procedures are revised to improve process efficiency and reliability, and product compliance with defined specifications.