Compost Monitoring

The States of Guernsey have introduced a wireless temperature and humidity monitoring system at compost sites on the island produced by suppliers of data logging technology Signatrol.

The technology, SpYdaq, consists of a base station, which is connected to a computer, and a number of probes which are placed in the windrows. The probes wirelessly send a signal to the control box allowing staff to access the data and monitor the temperature of the compost.

Commenting on the technology, Bob Fisher, landfill and recycling manager at States Works – the organisation responsible for the States’ landfill and recycling sites – said: “As well as the accuracy of the data, which is essential for the production of quality soil conditioner, the wireless aspect of SpYdaq provides considerable advantages over a wired system, both in terms of cost saving at installation and operational flexibility, and it has been particularly beneficial to us, since we are now able to easily monitor temperature in the long windrows. Previously staff had to manually record temperature data which was time consuming. This frees staff to get on with other work on site and so helps with the efficiency of the whole landfill and recycling site.”