New World Survival · Community Capacity Field Manual

Community Compost System Operations Workbook

Operate a shared compost site from legal/site approval through feedstock intake, contamination control, carbon reserve, active processing, curing, finished release and annual capacity review.

Intake stop rule: Pause incoming food scraps whenever regulatory authority, carbon reserve, active capacity, trained labor, curing space, nuisance control or finished-compost release is not under control.

1. Host / site / authority

Host organization

Landowner / site authority

Program owner

Backup

2. Regulatory gate

Question	Answer / requirement	Authority / source	Date verified
Solid-waste / compost permit, registration or exemption?
Zoning / land-use approval?
May off-site household food scraps be accepted?
May business food scraps be accepted?
Feedstock restrictions?
Odor / vector / litter requirements?
Runoff / stormwater / water protection?
Fire / carbon-stockpile requirements?
Testing / product distribution / sale?

3. Process / maximum scale

☐ Three-bin / bay system

☐ Tumbler / enclosed batch

☐ Windrow

☐ Aerated static pile

☐ Vermicomposting

☐ Other approved process

Maximum active capacity

Maximum curing capacity

Maximum weekly intake

Measurement unit

4. Five-zone site map

Zone	Location / size	Owner / access	Key control
Intake / contamination check
Dry carbon reserve
Active processing
Curing
Finished / release

5. Accepted / rejected feedstocks

Material	Accept / conditional / decline	Reason / local rule	Sign example

6. Contamination management plan

Contaminant	Likely source	Prevention	What operator does if found
Plastic bags / film
Produce stickers
“Compostable” serviceware
Glass / metal
Treated / painted wood
Pet waste / litter
Unknown chemical / herbicide material

7. Carbon reserve

Brown material	Supplier	Approx. stock	Dry / protected?	Restock trigger
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Operational rule: Do not accept more food scraps than the current dry-brown reserve can promptly cover and structure.

8. Weekly capacity dashboard

Constraint	Current capacity	Current demand / use	Healthy / Watch / Correct / Stop
Legal / permitted feedstock
Carbon reserve
Active processing space
Trained operator labor
Curing space
Finished compost outlet

9. Intake log

Date	Source / group	Volume / weight	Contamination found	Brown added	Operator

10. Active batch record

Batch	Start	Feedstocks / recipe notes	Moisture / structure	Last action	Status

11. Temperature / turning log if used

Batch	Date / time	Probe location	Temperature	Turn / aerate / other action	Operator

Temperature documents process activity. A single hot reading does not prove all material met a pathogen- or weed-seed-reduction process.

12. Troubleshooting

Observation	Likely process issue	Correction	Recheck
Sour / putrid odor
Strong ammonia odor
Too wet / slimy
Too dry / inactive
Compacted / low air
Rodents / flies
Contamination visible
Runoff / leachate / standing liquid

13. Odor / vector / complaint log

Date	Observation / complaint	Location / weather	Likely cause	Immediate action	Resolved?
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14. Batch closure / curing log

Batch	Active intake closed	Curing location	Last strong reheat / turn	Target review	New feedstock blocked?
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15. Finished-compost release screen

Check	Pass	Evidence / note
Batch closed / curing complete for process	☐
No strong reheating after mixing	☐
No recognizable food scraps except resistant woody pieces	☐
Earthy / non-offensive odor	☐
No visible physical contamination	☐
No unresolved prohibited-feedstock / flood / chemical concern	☐
Intended use appropriate to evidence / regulation	☐

16. Finished compost allocation

Date / batch	Quantity	Use / recipient	Plot / landscape / other	Released by

17. Operator / volunteer shift matrix

Function	Primary	Backup	Training / proof	Frequency
Intake / contamination
Carbon reserve
Active pile / turning
Temperature / process log
Curing / release
Site cleaning / pests
Neighbor / complaint response

18. Annual dashboard

Measure	Result	Healthy / Watch / Correct / Stop	Action
Feedstock volume / participation
Contamination frequency
Carbon reserve interruptions
Batches closed / finished
Average batch cycle / backlog
Odor / vector / runoff incidents
Volunteer/operator coverage
Finished compost produced / used
Neighbor / host complaints

19. Annual legal / site / capacity review

☐ Local/state composting rules rechecked

☐ Feedstock/source changes reviewed

☐ Site drainage / runoff / pests reviewed

☐ Carbon supply agreement / source renewed

☐ Active / curing / finished zones still adequate

☐ Complaint / nuisance patterns closed

☐ Finished compost outlet remains adequate

☐ Expansion does not exceed weakest capacity link

20. Succession / proof

☐ Host/land/regulatory records are stored

☐ Accepted/rejected feedstock policy is current

☐ Site-zone map is current

☐ Carbon source/restock trigger is documented

☐ Batch and troubleshooting records are current

☐ Temperature claims are appropriately limited

☐ Curing/release process is documented

☐ Backup can run intake and pause it when needed

☐ Annual health/capacity review is complete

☐ Expansion waits until existing batches close reliably