Dillo Dirt expands its pad

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The completion of a new 15-acre compost pad will make room for Austin Water to produce more  Dillo Dirt , the soil conditioner made from wastewater sludge.

The additional space will gradually expand Dillo Dirt production from 40,000 cubic feet to 80,000. The pad was finished six months ahead of schedule and almost $6 million under the estimated construction cost.

All yard trimmings collected curbside across the city, as well as treated sewage sludge (also known as biosolids) are combined and composted to create Dillo Dirt. After active composting for over a month, the compost is "cured" for several months, then screened to produce finished Dillo Dirt.

Composts add to the organic matter in soil, which reduces watering. Organic matter feeds the microbes in the soil as well as plants, making a more healthy environment. Dillo Dirt canbe used in landscapes and vegetable gardens.

The compost pad is the first major step in green infrastructure improvements at the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant . In February last year, Austin Water received $31.8 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to implement the improvements.

If you would like to find out more or sign up as a vendor to buy the compost, contact Jody Slagle at 512-972-1954.