Session Code: 2A

Track: Operations

Session Name: Fire Safety

Session Time: Wednesday, February 7, 1:45 – 3:15 PM

Presentation Title: Preventing Fires Before They Start

Presentation Description: Veteran compost facility operator Kurt Schoppe will present practical tips and techniques compost operators can use to mitigate the risk of fire at large processing facilities. Before joining Viably, Mr. Schoppe was the General Manager at SA Recycling, Thousand Palms, where he managed a 90,000 ton per year composting facility. Temperatures in Thousand Palms can routinely exceed 115° F during the day, providing substantial evaporation in a dry climate, making fires an almost an inevitability when handling large piles of organic material. Kurt will provide practical knowledge on managing fires before they happen through design and management.