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Wanu Organics PLLC introduces its Pad Planner, a tool to speed up your composting facility design process. One of the first challenges in developing a composting facility is figuring out how much space is needed and how to lay out the site. Traditionally, this involves running calculations in spreadsheets and manually sketching multiple layout scenarios. The process can take weeks or even months, especially if you are working with others to create CAD drawings, with drafts going back and forth before they are ready for client review. Pad Planner was created to make this process much faster. This free online tool provides a simple, fast way to generate conceptual layouts in minutes. By entering just a few key details (e.g. annual throughput, pile type and dimensions, and retention time), users instantly receive a pad layout and a downloadable summary report. The model can be run for different parts of a composting operation (e.g. receiving, active composting, curing, compost storage, overs storage) and then combined to create a complete conceptual facility layout. Users should have a solid understanding of the inputs, especially key concepts such as bulk density and retention time. For full site development, knowledge of mass balances and volume reduction is essential. Additional considerations must also be factored into a complete facility design, such as stormwater management, truck turnaround areas, parking, office, scalehouse, equipment maintenance, grinding, screening, and more. Pad Planner is particularly valuable in early-stage planning. It can model both small and large operations and supports a variety of pile shapes and configurations, including windrows, aerated static piles, and bays. The tool is mobile-friendly but works best on a desktop screen. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.wanuorganics.com/padplanner.