0086-138 3838 9622Sawdust and Agricultural Waste Organic Fertilizer Processing Plant in Colombia
RICHI MACHINERY
Overview
Colombia, with its diverse agricultural landscape and rapidly expanding organic farming initiatives, presents a growing demand for high-quality organic fertilizers. In response to this market need, a new sawdust and agricultural waste organic fertilizer processing plant has been established. This project is designed to transform locally sourced wood residues, crop residues, and other agricultural by-products into high-value extruded organic fertilizer, supporting sustainable agriculture while addressing waste management challenges.
The project, spearheaded by a Colombian agritech enterprise, was initiated in 2024. The company leased an existing industrial plot in the municipality of Villavicencio, Meta Department, strategically located near agricultural production zones. The facility occupies 35 acres and is designed to produce 50,000 tons per year of extruded organic fertilizer, operating for approximately 4,800 hours annually with a two-shift system.
The sawdust and agricultural waste organic fertilizer processing plant in Colombia is equipped with advanced extrusion technology, providing uniform granulation, high nutrient retention, and fully enclosed dust collection systems to minimize environmental impact.
The plant’s main feedstock includes sawdust, agricultural residues, straw, wood ash, ammonium sulfate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride, urea, monoammonium phosphate, potassium chloride, attapulgite clay, and fermented organic matter. All raw materials are sourced locally or transported from nearby pre-fermentation facilities.
15T/H
capacity
$450,000
investment
Colombia
location
Fertilizer
project type
RICHI MACHINERY
Project Background and Client Profile
The client is a Colombian agribusiness company specializing in sustainable fertilizer production and distribution. The company identified an opportunity to leverage abundant agricultural residues in Meta, Casanare, and other central departments to produce organic fertilizer with a consistent nutrient profile.
Motivation for the Project:
- Resource Utilization: Colombia produces substantial sawdust, sugarcane bagasse, and crop residues annually, much of which is underutilized or disposed of by open burning.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Increasing organic farming practices in Colombia require certified organic fertilizers meeting local standards for nutrient content and pathogen safety.
- Market Demand: With government incentives supporting organic fertilizer use and soil quality improvement, a reliable source of high-quality organic fertilizer is strategically beneficial.
The production line is designed with a capacity of 15 tons per hour (extrusion), converting raw material inputs into 50,000 tons of extruded organic fertilizer annually. Primary applications include soil conditioning, nutrient supplementation, and supporting organic crop production.
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Construction Components
The sawdust and agricultural waste organic fertilizer processing plant in Colombia project comprises the following components:
| Category | Facility | Description | Notes |
| Main Plant | Production Workshop | 1F steel structure, 10,000 m², includes extrusion line (extruder, feeder, granulator), raw material area, finished product area | New construction |
| Auxiliary | Office Building | 1F, 30 m², administrative and operational offices | New construction |
| Storage & Transport | Raw Material Area | 4,500 m² within the workshop, stores sawdust, straw, wood ash, ammonium sulfate, urea, etc. | New construction |
| Finished Product Area | 2,500 m² within the workshop, for storing packaged fertilizer | New construction | |
| Warehouse | 1F steel structure, 5,000 m², for raw materials and finished products | New construction | |
| Utilities | Water Supply | Municipal water, ~300 t/year | Connected to municipal supply |
| Wastewater | Domestic wastewater treated in septic tanks, periodic emptying | Closed system | |
| Electricity | 1 million kWh/year, supplied by local grid | Connected to municipal grid | |
| Environmental Protection | Exhaust Gas | Dust captured via bag filter system, discharged via 15 m high exhaust chimney | New construction |
| Wastewater | Domestic only, treated onsite | New construction | |
| Noise | Low-noise equipment, vibration reduction, and soundproofing measures | New construction | |
| Solid Waste | Temporary storage of general industrial waste (20 m²), hazardous waste storage (10 m²), domestic waste collected by local sanitation | New construction | |
| Environmental Risk | Hazardous waste storage with anti-corrosion and anti-leakage measures | New construction |
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Product Scope and Standards
The facility produces pelletized ed organic fertilizer. Specifications:
| Product | Annual Capacity | Size | Operating Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelletized Organic Fertilizer | 50,000 t | 2.5–4.5 mm, bulk bags | 4,800 h |
Quality Standards (NY525-2021, adapted for Colombian certification):
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Organic Matter (%) | ≥30 | Technical |
| Total Nutrients (N+P2O5+K2O) (%) | ≥4 | Technical |
| Moisture (%) | ≤30 | Fresh sample |
| pH | 5.5–8.5 | – |
| Germination Index (%) | ≥70 | Seed test |
| Mechanical Impurities (%) | ≤0.5 | – |
| Arsenic (mg/kg) | ≤15 | Safety |
| Mercury (mg/kg) | ≤2 | Safety |
| Lead (mg/kg) | ≤50 | Safety |
| Cadmium (mg/kg) | ≤3 | Safety |
| Chromium (mg/kg) | ≤150 | Safety |
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Major Production Equipment
The organic fertilizer production line utilizes RICHI Machinery 15 t/h pelleting technology, including:
| No. | Equipment | Quantity | Model/Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pellet Production Line | 1 | 15 t/h |
| 1.1 | Extruder | 1 | V01000 |
| 1.2 | Feeder System | 1 | TH15 |
| 1.3 | Fertilizer Granulator Equipment | 1 | TH15 |
| 1.4 | Screening System | 1 | TH15 |
| 1.5 | Dust Collection System | 1 | TH15 |
| 1.6 | Elevator-630 | 3 | TH15 |
| 1.7 | Elevator-500 | 1 | TH15 |
| 1.8 | Scraper Conveyor | 1 | TH15 |
| 1.9 | Mixer | 2 | TH15 |
| 1.10 | Belt Conveyor | 1 | TH15 |
| 1.11 | PLC Control System | 1 | Includes cables and control units |
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Raw Materials and Energy Consumption
This sawdust and agricultural waste organic fertilizer processing plant in Colombia project primarily uses sawdust, agricultural residues, straw, wood ash, and various inorganic fertilizers. All raw materials, except organic matter from neighboring fermentation plants, are stored onsite in sealed bulk bags. Energy consumption is moderate, with electricity from the grid and minimal water requirements.
| Raw Material | Annual Consumption (t) | Max Storage (t) | Form | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawdust | 2,000 | 200 | Powder | Bulk bag |
| Agricultural Residues | 1,000 | 100 | Powder | Bulk bag |
| Straw | 27,000 | 600 | Powder | Bulk bag |
| Wood Ash | 1,000 | 100 | Powder | Bulk bag |
| Ammonium Sulfate | 200 | 5 | Powder | Bulk bag |
| Ammonium Bicarbonate | 4,800 | 300 | Granules | Bulk bag |
| Ammonium Chloride | 2,000 | 200 | Powder | Bulk bag |
| Urea | 1,000 | 100 | Granules | Bulk bag |
| Monoammonium Phosphate | 1,000 | 100 | Powder | Bulk bag |
| Potassium Chloride | 5,000 | 300 | Granules | Bulk bag |
| Attapulgite Clay | 500 | 50 | Powder | Bulk bag |
| Organic Matter (manure, sludge) | 4,619.41 | – | Solid | – |
| Bulk Bags | 50,000 | 800 | Solid | – |
| Lubricating Oil | 0.6 | 0.1 | Liquid | 15 kg/barrel |
| Water | 300 t/year | – | – | – |
| Electricity | 1,000,000 kWh | – | – | – |
Physical and Chemical Properties of Key Materials
| Material | Properties and Use |
|---|---|
| Ammonium Sulfate | White crystalline, decomposes above 280°C, insoluble in ethanol/acetone, relative density 1.77 |
| Ammonium Bicarbonate | White granular, ammoniacal odor, density 1.586 g/cm³, decomposes at 105°C |
| Ammonium Chloride | White or slightly yellow crystals, used as base fertilizer in compound fertilizers |
| Monoammonium Phosphate | White crystalline powder, slightly soluble in ethanol, used as fertilizer |
| Potassium Chloride | White crystalline powder, soluble in water, used as fertilizer |
| Lubricating Oil | Yellow viscous liquid, flash point 120–340°C, combustible |
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Utilities and Operation
Water: Domestic water only, 300 t/year. Wastewater treated in septic tanks; no discharge to rivers.
Electricity: Supplied from local grid, 1 million kWh/year.
Workforce: 20 employees, 2 shifts per day, 8 hours each, 300 days/year.
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Layout and Plant Design
The facility layout is optimized for material flow, with raw materials entering the north-side warehouse, transported via enclosed conveyors to the pellet production line in the east-side workshop, and finished products stored in the south-side finished goods area. Offices are located on the north side, providing supervision and administrative support. This design minimizes material transport, improves efficiency, and complies with local safety and fire regulations.
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Process Flow and Pollution Management
The extrusion process is fully enclosed, minimizing dust and odor. The production process for this sawdust and agricultural waste organic fertilizer processing plant in Colombia is as follows:
- Feeding: Raw materials unpacked and loaded into the extruder via mixer and feeder. Dust (G1), packaging waste (S1), and noise (N) are managed.
- Extrusion: Materials are compressed into cakes; noise generated but minimized with soundproofing.
- Granulation: Extruded cakes are granulated; dust and noise managed.
- Screening: Two-stage screening ensures particle size control; fines are returned to extruder. Dust and noise are captured.
- Packaging: Final pellets transported via belt conveyor into bulk bags.
Material Balance Table (t/a)
| Input | Quantity | Output | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sawdust | 2,000 | Pelletized Organic Fertilizer | 50,000 |
| Agricultural Residues | 1,000 | Dust | 119.41 |
| Straw | 27,000 | – | – |
| Wood Ash | 1,000 | – | – |
| Ammonium Sulfate | 200 | – | – |
| Ammonium Bicarbonate | 4,800 | – | – |
| Ammonium Chloride | 2,000 | – | – |
| Urea | 1,000 | – | – |
| Monoammonium Phosphate | 1,000 | – | – |
| Potassium Chloride | 5,000 | – | – |
| Attapulgite | 500 | – | – |
| Organic Matter | 4,619.41 | – | – |
| Total | 50,119.41 | 50,119.41 | – |
RICHI MACHINERY
Project Prospects in Colombia
Colombia’s agricultural sector is increasingly adopting sustainable practices, and organic fertilizer demand is rising steadily. This sawdust and agricultural waste organic fertilizer processing plant contributes to:
- Environmental Benefits: Reduces open burning of agricultural residues, lowers chemical fertilizer dependence, improves soil health.
- Economic Benefits: Generates employment for 20 local staff, creates a profitable product for local and regional markets.
- Sustainability: Supports circular economy principles by converting waste into high-value fertilizer.
- Market Growth: Growing organic farming in Meta, Cundinamarca, and Antioquia ensures stable demand; government policies favor domestic organic fertilizer production.
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Consulting and RICHI Machinery Services
The organic fertilizer production project was fully supported by RICHI Machinery:
- Feasibility study and technical planning
- Customized equipment selection and installation guidance
- Staff training for operation and maintenance
- Environmental management consultation
- Continuous post-installation support
RICHI Machinery’s expertise ensured that this plant achieves high production efficiency, stable operation, and compliance with environmental standards, making it a benchmark project for organic fertilizer production in Colombia.
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Project Conclusion
The sawdust and agricultural waste organic fertilizer processing plant in Colombia demonstrates an effective combination of modern extrusion technology, sustainable raw material utilization, and robust environmental management. With an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons and highly automated processes, the facility ensures consistent quality, high nutrient retention, and environmentally responsible operations.
The project is expected to operate at full capacity by mid-2026, serving both domestic and regional markets. The Colombian government’s push for sustainable agriculture and growing demand for organic fertilizers position this project as a profitable and socially responsible investment. RICHI Machinery’s role in equipment supply, engineering, and technical support ensures that clients gain maximum operational value from the plant.
● RICHI MACHINERY
RICHI Service
● Consulting
Customer Consultation
We want to have a deep understanding of your industrial process, to know your exact needs of feed, wood, biomass, fertilizer or other pellet processing.
● Design
Fertilizer Pellet Plant Design
Based on your unique situation and industrial process, we will tailor complete pellet plant you need, and inform you of every additional detail that could facilitate operation, minimize total cost.
● Manufacturing
Equipment Manufacturing
The critical components of the of the complete pellet production line equipment are built in our own workshops in Asia. Additional equipment is manufactured by our worldwide network of reliable partners.
● Testing
Quality Inspection & Testing
Before leaving the factory, all equipment will be inspected by the quality inspection department. We can also provide customers with testing services from a single machine to a complete pellet plant system, and provide you with real actual data for “worry-free use.”
● Delivery
Equipment Delivery
In equipment boxing and packaging, we adopt professional packaging and modular solutions to ensure the safe and non-destructive delivery of pellet plant equipment.
● Installation
Installation & Commissioning
Whether you choose your own subcontractor for the erection phase or you want to install everything together with us, a Richi supervisor will be around to make sure everything is mounted in a safe and thorough way.
● Training
Staff Training
We provide comprehensive training for the technicians of each project. We can also continue to provide support for the technicians during latter project operation.
● After-sales
Project Follow-Up
When everything is up and running our Richiers will help you further whenever needed. We are ready to answer your call 24/7.We’ll also visit you regularly to learn about your needs.
Who we are
RICHI Machinery is one of the world’s leading suppliers of technology and services for the animal feed, aqua feed and pet food industries, also the largest pellet production line manufacturer in China.
Since 1995, RICHI’s vision to build a first-class enterprise, to foster first-class employees, and to make first-class contributions to society has never wavered.
In the past three decades, we have expanded our business to a wide range of areas, including animal feed mill equipment, aqua feed equipment, pet feed equipment, biomass pellet equipment, fertilizer equipment, cat litter equipment, municipal solid waste pellets equipment, etc.
1995
RICHI Established
2000+
Serving More Than 2000 Customers
120+
RICHI Employees
140+
Exported To 140 Countries
