Q & A WITH MILLFAIR ’ S NEW FOREMAN
New , but experienced : Millfair recently appointed a new foreman , Jim Shaffer , reporting to the CRS Director , Jessica Stutzman . Jim is a long-time township veteran with over 15 years of experience mechanically and with Millfair .
The Millfair Compost Center Foreman oversees daily operations and organic processing , manages a team of equipment operators , ensures compliance with safety and environmental regulations , and maintains equipment and facilities .
WHAT DOES MILLFAIR DO ?
JIMMY - At Millfair ( a joint partnership with Fairview Township ) we operate by accepting materials from the community from various outdoor projects and prepare them for reuse via the composting process . Our primary mission is to reduce the amount of organic waste that ends up in our landfill .
WHAT ORGANIC MATERIAL IS ACCEPTED BY MILLFAIR
Jim Shaffer the new Millfair Foreman
Composting allows us to divert organic materials such as brush and leaves away from landfill disposal and reduce methane emissions . It improves soil health , and conserves natural resources by returning organic matter to the soil . Composting is recycling the natural way .
JIMMY - Acceptable organic items that can be dropped off include brush , leaf waste , non-food garden residue , shrubbery , and tree trimmings . These items are processed by us into future products like mulch and compost for personal gardens or landscaping projects .
Unacceptable items for drop-off include large logs , grass , food waste , straw , large root systems , weeds , poison ivy / oak / sumac , bamboo , cornstalks , painted or processed wood , stump grindings , landscape timbers , wood with nails or metal , or concrete and other building materials . We will reject these items upon arrival or discard them if found .
COULD YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE COMPOSTING PROCESS AT MILLFAIR ? illcreek
MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP NEWS
JIMMY - We create compost using only leaves dropped off from residents and landscapers . We begin by forming the leaves into long , narrow rows called windrows . My team then utilizes the straddle windrow turner to mix and aerate the leaves , ensuring optimal conditions for decomposition . We turn the windrow every two weeks to maintain aerobic conditions and even decomposition . Over several months , the compost matures . Curing the compost further enhances its quality . This method yields nutrient-rich compost ideal for enhancing soil health .
Residents and landscapers drop off brush and tree trimming at our staging area behind the check-in booth . The staff then uses high lifts to load the brush into the grinder machine . The grinder has powerful rotating teeth that shred the brush into manageable pieces . Next , the grindings sit for a year in windrows . After decomposing , it passes through a screener machine separating the mulch into fine and coarse screened mulch . Fine mulch is suitable for decorative purposes , while coarse mulch is good for landscaping and erosion control .
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