Compost Drum — Controlled Aerobic Composting in a Rotating Reactor
The compost drum is a closed rotating reactor in which organic waste is aerated, mixed and biologically heated in a controlled way. Compared to open windrow composting it shortens the intensive rotting phase, controls odour, and delivers a homogeneous, sanitised output — independent of weather.
How Drum Composting Works
Prepared organic material — shredded and adjusted for moisture and carbon-nitrogen ratio — is fed into the slowly rotating drum. Rotation continuously mixes the material and renews its surface, while a controlled air supply keeps the process aerobic. Microbial activity raises the temperature into the thermophilic range, sanitising the material and accelerating decomposition.
Material moves gradually from inlet to outlet over a retention time of several days, leaving the drum as fresh compost that continues maturation in a shorter, better-controlled post-rotting step. Exhaust air can be collected and treated, which is decisive for odour-sensitive locations.
Suitable Input Materials
- Cattle, poultry and other livestock manure
- Municipal organic waste and separated biowaste
- Food processing and market waste
- Slaughterhouse waste in combination with structure material
- Agricultural residues and green waste (shredded)
- Fish and aquaculture processing waste
Technical Features
Controlled aeration
Air volume adjusted to keep the process aerobic through the intensive phase.
Retention design
Drum volume and speed set the days of intensive composting for your input mix.
Robust internals
Mixing elements and wear protection selected for abrasive, corrosive organic mixes.
Odour management
Closed reactor with collectable exhaust air for biofilter or scrubber treatment.
Feeding solutions
Shredding, mixing and dosing equipment upstream matched to your waste streams.
Process monitoring
Temperature tracking along the drum for sanitisation documentation.
Data Required for Compost Drum Design
| Design input | Role in the calculation |
|---|---|
| Waste types and daily quantities | Drum volume and feeding concept |
| Moisture and structure material availability | Mix recipe and pre-treatment scope |
| Retention target (days) | Drum length, diameter and speed |
| Site odour constraints | Exhaust air collection and treatment |
| Final product target | Post-maturation and refining steps (screening, drying, granulation) |
Composting behaviour depends on the input mix; retention and aeration are engineered from your specific waste data.
Why Pro Makina
Manufactured in Turkey
Design and fabrication are carried out in our own facility in Eskişehir, Turkey, with full in-house engineering control.
Project-based engineering
Every machine is sized around your raw material, moisture content and capacity target — not sold from a fixed catalogue.
Export experience
We prepare international technical proposals, shipping documentation and commissioning support for overseas projects.
Single point of responsibility
Process design, fabrication, automation and commissioning are managed by one engineering team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does material stay in the drum?
The intensive phase in the drum typically takes several days depending on the input mix and target; exact retention is defined in the project design and completed by post-maturation.
Is drum composting better than windrows?
It is faster, weather-independent, better for odour control and easier to document for sanitisation. Windrows remain cheaper at very large land availability; many plants combine a drum with short post-rotting windrows.
Can the compost be turned into granular fertilizer afterwards?
Yes. Matured compost can be dried, screened and granulated — with or without mineral nutrient addition — using our drying and granulation drums. This is a common complete line we deliver.
What about the exhaust air?
The drum is a closed reactor, so exhaust air can be collected and routed to a biofilter or scrubber. We include this in the plant design where required.
Related Machines & Solutions
Share Your Project Details
Send us your raw material, capacity and process data. Our engineering team will review your requirements and prepare a project-specific technical proposal.
Compost Drum — Controlled Aerobic Composting in a Rotating Reactor
Final dimensions, capacity and drive power are determined per project, based on your raw material analysis, moisture content and process calculations.