Published Thursday, November 20, 2008

Newnan Utilities going green with its composting site

The Times-Herald

Since 2007, Newnan Utilities has provided a resource for area contractors and developers to dispose of tree debris in an economical and environmentally-friendly way.

Newnan Utilities' composting site -- located at 2034 West Hwy. 34 in Newnan -- is a state-of-the-art facility opened to allow the organization an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to dispose of biosolids.

Use of the site alleviates pollution by providing the city utility, area developers and construction businesses alternatives to the burning of wood wastes and the use of landfills. The process combines biosolids from Newnan Utilities' two wastewater treatment plants -- Wahoo and Mineral Springs -- with wood waste disposed of by developers.

Over time, this mixture goes through a multi-step biological decomposition process that turns it into a safe and viable soil bi-product that is useful as a soil additive good for landscapes and topsoil remediation applications.

Not only does the facility provide Newnan Utilities a way to dispose of its biosolids, but it provides an alternative for contractors and developers to dispose of wood wastes. With the facility's paved driveways, exit and entry is easy and free of rain delays. The site's data collection system provides for quick turnaround, and large hauls can be easily accommodated.

Composting is an environmentally-friendly alternative to using landfills or burning, which releases harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.

For more information on the compost site, visit www.NewnanUtilities.org or call Katie Alexander at 770-683-6217.