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The use of screening in on-farm composting systems allows the quality of the compost to be

improved or the bulking agent to be recovered. The most important characteristics to consider
when choosing a sieve are; The sieve's mouth opening, capacity, efficiency, cost and resistance

to clogging. Clogging is the blocking of sieve openings with particles. Most sieves use
equipment such as brushes or spheres to prevent this. The sieve opening to be used in

composting should be between 0.60 - 1.30 cm, depending on the substances to be separated and
the final use of the compost. Although small openings provide better separation, they reduce

the capacity of the screen and cause clogging. The efficiency of the sieve is determined by its

ability to separate particles in the desired distribution. If the size of the particles passing through
the sieve is larger than desired or if the particles planned to pass through the sieve are retained

in the sieve, the efficiency decreases. Efficiency and capacity are affected by the material fed
as well as the sieve opening. The sieve works better with desiccant. It is generally preferred to

sieve the substances after ripening and drying. To sift the compost without clogging and

material buildup, the moisture content must be less than 50% or 45%. In practice, the maximum
moisture content depends on the specific sieve opening. There are also sieves that can shred

and mix. Such screens use abrasive belts or hammers to break up material residues before
sifting. There are various types of sieves. These are rotary drum sieve, shaking sieve, shaker

sieve, flexible belt sieve, disc sieve, augers and trough sieve, rotary sieves [53].

7.5. Packaging

Packaged compost is more expensive than openly sold compost. Compost customers can also

be increased with packaging. It is not necessary to use special equipment for packaging small

volumes. Although it is laborious, compost can be packed using a shovel. Work can be done
faster by using package holders, package binders or closers. Metered valves, scales, package

closers and conveyors are used in high-volume packaging operations. A packaging machine

may also be required since most vendors package the package. An automatic package line costs
a total of fifty thousands euros. This does not include labor and product storage. In a plastic

package, the moisture content of the packaged compost must be at least 35%. Otherwise, the
compost decomposed in the airtight package may turn sour. In compost labeling, the producer

company/person, the properties of the compost, storage conditions, production code, date,
intended use, instructions for use, and details about public health should be stated on the

package [53].

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