Compost – Thorlakson Feedyards

Clean and efficient.

TNC is committed to provide clean and efficient large-scale composting to Central Alberta.

Aerobic Compost Rows

In 1987, Thorlakson Feedyards started composting manure. After 10 years of composting on the farm, Nature’s Call was created where we packaged various garden products. It quickly expanded as new products were introduced and more products were packaged. From 1997 to 2016, TNC began to produce and package several product lines, including Loblaws and Scotts. In 2016, we sold our soil blending and packaging facility to Scotts Canada, who now operates adjacent to our compost pad.

TNC is now focused on commercial composting of organic waste. We take organic waste from large organizations and municipalities that collect organic waste from various sources.

Our vision is to provide a clean and efficient composting solution that the community can be proud of.

Our Mission is to be the best land based composting facility in Central Alberta. Being the best means, having a clean composting pad, capable of producing high quality finished compost year-round.

FAQs

Why should you compost? What is the difference between my apple core decomposing in a landfill versus composting?

There are two main kinds of composting: aerobic and anaerobic. Essentially, the main difference is that aerobic composting requires oxygen, while anaerobic does not.

When your apple core ends up in a landfill, it decomposes anaerobically because the apple core stays in a pile and cannot access to oxygen. Anaerobic microbes then start to decompose the apple and they release a greenhouse gas called methane.

If you put your apple core in your green bin, that apple core ends up in compost facilities like ours. We take that apple core and put it in a row of other organic waste. We turn those rows with large machinery, which then allows for oxygen to be present throughout the process. The oxygen prevents the growth of the anaerobic microbes that release methane.

How do you aerobically compost?

When the truck brings in a load of organic waste, we take it and mix it with wood and finished compost. This allows for air movement and gets the composting process started quicker.

The organic waste and wood are then placed in our composting rows. We then use large commercial machinery that turns the compost rows on a bi-weekly basis to make sure that the waste has access to oxygen.

Then, after the compost row reaches the right temperature (55 degrees Celcius) and stays there for 15 days, it has completed it's pathogen kill. We then let the compost mature, which takes a few more weeks, then the row is screened to make sure any debris that is left over is removed. We then assure that our compost meets the Compost Quality Assurance Standards, and then it is either sold or used on our crop fields to provide nutrients.

Can I bring my organics directly to TNC?

We are a commercial composter so we receive our organic waste from large organizations that collect organic waste from various sources. Check out your municipality for information on how you can compost!

How long does it take for my waste to turn into compost?

It really depends on the weather, but typically it takes 2 – 4 months to compost

Plastic and glass cause a lot of problems for composters. Make sure that they are recycled in appropriate ways because your blue bin is going to a different place than your green bin!

What should I put in my compost bin?

1. Food scraps
2. Meat, fish, shellfish, bones
3. Fruit and vegetables
4. Bread, noodles, rice, beans, grains
5. Eggshells, dairy products
6. Jams, sauces, salad dressings, cooking oil
7. Kitchen oils, fats and grease
8. Pastries, cookies, muffins, cakes
9. Nuts, seeds, chips, popcorn
10. Paper plates, napkins, paper towel
11. Coffee filters, coffee grounds, tea bags
12. Animal bedding made of organic and biodegradable materials
13. Pet fur, hair, feathers
14. Kleenex, tissue
15. Cotton balls, dryer lint, popsicle sticks, toothpicks
16. Leaf and yard organic or biodegradable waste
17. Small plant branches less than 1.5 cm in diameter and no longer than 1 meter
18. Grass clippings
19. Compostable pet waste (including cat litter)
20. Compostable animal bedding from household pets
21. Soiled facial tissue

What should I NOT put in my compost bin?

1. Glass jars or glass of any type
2. Plastic Bags
3. Plastic wrap, Styrofoam of any kind, including meat and vegetable trays
4. Plastic containers & cutlery
5. Foil wrap, pouches & pie plates
6. Metal cans or metal of any type
7. Cereal & cracker box liners, waxed paper
8. Chip & cookie bags
9. Pet food bags & other lined bags
10. Butter wrappers
11. Make-up remover pads, cotton swaps & balls
12. Dental floss, rubber bands
13. Bandages & gauze
14. Soiled diapers, baby wipes
15. Sanitary hygiene products, condoms
16. Cigarettes & butts
17. Vacuum contents & bags
18. Fountain drink cups
19. Wood (other than tree trimmings < 1.5 cm), lumber, furniture, appliances of all types
20. Bedding, clothes or similar items of any kind
21. Garden implements, hoses, herbicide/pesticides containers, sprayers or similar implements of any type

Resources

We’ve always got new and interesting things going on. Check out our blog to see our latest horses, cattle news, or FAQ’s of composting.

Let’s talk compost.