Compost
Gentle mobile handling for green waste, food scraps and digested organics through composting and screening.
SANTO supplies mobile conveying, stacking and loading equipment engineered for compost — from receiving and stockpiling to reclaim and load-out. The notes below cover the properties that matter, the problems that typically appear on site and the machines we recommend.
Why Mobile Conveying Suits Compost
Compost is a moist, biologically active organic matrix with bulk density near 0.4–0.7 t/m³ and high moisture that makes it heavy and sticky. The feeder mobile stacker meters wet organics onto a belt without bridging, keeping the windrow uniform.
- Gentle metering prevents bridging of sticky, wet organics
- Continuous transfer avoids compaction that stalls biology
- Mobile units relocate between windrows and screening lines
- Wash-down frames resist corrosive decomposing material
- Belt scrapers keep moist fines from building up
Physical Properties and Handling Behaviour
The table below summarises the properties that decide belt specification, chute geometry and stacking method for this material. Values are typical ranges — actual figures vary with source and moisture content, so we test your sample before finalising a design.
| Property | Typical Value / Handling Impact |
|---|---|
| Bulk density | 0.4–0.7 t/m³ (wet, fibrous) |
| Moisture | 45–65% — sticky, prone to bridging |
| Abrasiveness | Low, but corrosive from decomposing organics |
| Angle of repose | 40–50° when moist and fibrous |
| Handling note | Avoid compaction; maintain aeration for biology |
Handling Challenges with Compost — and How SANTO Solves Them
Wet compost is sticky and bridges in fixed equipment, while over-compaction smothers the aeration that decomposition needs. Corrosive leachate attacks bearings and frames.
SANTO feeder mobile stackers and wheeled conveyors use aggressive belt scrapers, sealed bearings and wash-down frames to keep wet organics flowing and clean. The mobile train moves between windrows so aeration and turning stay continuous.
- Fit belt scrapers and sealed, wash-down bearings for wet duty
- Meter feed to avoid bridging and over-compaction
- Relocate between windrows to keep turning continuous
Recommended SANTO Equipment
For compost we most often supply the machines listed below. Each can be configured with the belt width, boom length and drive power your tonnage requires, and each is available on wheeled, tracked or crawler chassis.
- Feeder Mobile Stacker — configured for compost duty
- Wheeled Mobile Conveyor — configured for compost duty
- Tracked Stockpiler — configured for compost duty
- Low Feeder Track Stacker — configured for compost duty
Typical Stockpiling and Loading Setups
A well-planned compost yard keeps receiving, stacking and reclaiming on separate paths so trucks never queue behind a loader. In the most common layout, a mobile conveyor receives from the tipper or hopper and feeds a radial telescopic stacker that builds a layered stockpile, while a second conveyor reclaims to the loading point.
- Receiving: hopper or direct truck discharge into a mobile conveyor
- Stacking: radial or telescopic stacking to build layered, drainable stockpiles
- Reclaim: front-end loader feeding a mobile conveyor, or direct reclaim conveyor
- Load-out: conveyor to truck, wagon, barge or vessel hold
Frequently Asked Questions
How is sticky wet compost kept moving?
Aggressive belt scrapers, sealed wash-down bearings and steady metering stop bridging and buildup of moist organics.
Why avoid compacting compost?
Compaction smothers aeration and slows decomposition; gentle conveying preserves the porous structure biology needs.
Can the same equipment serve screening?
Yes. The mobile conveyor links windrow, screen and stockpile, relocating as the composting cycle advances.
Need the right machine for your site?
Send us your material, required capacity and site layout. SANTO engineers will size the equipment and return a configuration proposal within 12 hours — no obligation.