Kurtz Brothers Inc. of Independence, Ohio, has its roots in the production of topsoil but has pursued opportunities that have carried it into several recycling markets and now the alternative energy sector.
The company’s Tom Kurtz, in a presentation given at the United States Composting Council (USCC) 2009 Annual Conference, says Kurtz Brothers still sells some 300,000 to 400,000 cubic yards of topsoil each year, as well as some 500,000 cubic yards of mulch (about 80 percent of which is colored with dye) and a large amount of compost.
The company also operates a C&D landfill in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, that has evolved into more of a recycling facility that has landfill space available if needed.
According to Kurtz, the two separating and sorting lines at the landfill site are highly effective at producing marketable products, ranging from scrap metal to blended soil products. “We’re pulling out 90 to 95 percent, which has helped make our C&D landfill, in effect, perpetual,” said Kurtz.
While the environmental aspects of the operation are beneficial, as an officer with a for-profit corporation, Kurtz commented, “At the end of the day, the only green that matters is the one with the picture of Ben Franklin.”
The company has further diversified with the development of its compost facility on the grounds of the Akron, Ohio, sewage treatment plant. For two decades, the company has treated biosolids and other material from the plant to create a compost product for area farmers.
Within the past two years, Kurtz Brothers has invested to diversify this operation with the addition of an energy production plant using technology licensed from a German company.
Schmack BioEnergy is the Kurtz subsidiary that uses technology designed by Schmack AG of Germany. Schmack AG has more than 300 such plants operating in Europe, according to Kurtz.
Tom Kurtz calls it “reliable, proven technology” that will use “local, renewable resources” to help provide energy.
Should the Schmack anaerobic digestion system prove workable in Akron, Kurtz Brothers will also explore bringing the technology to other nearby cities, with a facility near Columbus, Ohio, possibly being next in line.
Tom Kurtz commented that beyond biosolids other potential feedstocks include agricultural and food processing wastes, restaurant grease and some industrial residues.
The USCC 2009 Annual Conference took place in Houston in late January.