Give Your Plants an Edge with Jackson Energy Authority Compost

Jackson Energy Authority compost -- now available to the public -- will enrich the growth of your plants, shrubs and lawn. The compost is a controlled blend of wood chips (or leaves and sawdust) and biosolids, which are the excess microorganisms used in the wastewater treatment process.

Our basic compost -- a controlled blend of wood chips and biosolids -- sells for $15 a front-end loader scoop. Our premium compost -- a finer blend of leaves, sawdust and biosolids -- takes longer to make and is available in limited quantities for $20 a front-end loader scoop.

The compost is one result of our Green Scene experiments to find ways to recycle biosolids, which are rich in nutrients. We have been using the compost on our own landscaping for several years.

Our nutrient-enriched looks and smells like potting soil and has a neutral pH. Our basic compost has a rougher texture because of the wood chips.

How do we make the compost?

JEA combines biosolids with wood chips or the leaves and sawdust in a long outdoor bed to make compost. The natural composting process generates heat, which breaks down the wood chips and leaves and kills pathogens. The compost is turned every three days during the 20-day process. The final product meets all requirements for safe handling by the Environment Protection Agency and the Tennessee Division of Water Pollution Control.

The compost is available to JEA customers at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, 167 Miller Ave. off Hollywood Drive, during regular working hours. It also is available on the first Saturday of each month.

Customers first should call the wastewater plant at 731-422-7541 to check on availability and to schedule a pick-up time at the plant.

Wastewater Treatment
Compost
Residential Wastewater Rates
New Wastewater Plant