Science/Technology survive.

Water is the key element that helps • Vermicomposting

transports substances within the compost pile and
Understanding the Composting Process
makes the nutrients in organic material accessible to • Aerated (Turned) Windrow Composting
One of the most the microbes. Organic material contains some • Aerated Static Pile Composting
important steps for moisture in varying amounts, but moisture also might
evaluating come in the form of rainfall or intentional watering. • In-vessel Composting
composting After reviewing the science of composting above, select an
options is to • Oxygen flow. Turning the pile, placing the pile on a appropriate method or combination of methods that will best
become familiar series of pipes, or including bulking agents such as meet your needs. Will backyard composting suffice for
with how the wood chips and shredded newspaper all help aerate reducing residential volume, or should you invest in equipment
composting the pile. Aerating the pile allows decomposition to and labor for larger volumes from restaurants or other
process works. occur at a faster rate than anaerobic conditions. Care businesses? Selecting the right composting equipment at an
Before you begin must be taken, however, not to provide too much affordable price also requires careful research. Hundreds of
composting or start oxygen, which can dry out the pile and impede the vendors sell composting equipment and there are many
a composting composting process. variations on each type of equipment.
program, you should understand the five primary variables that
must be "controlled" during composting. These include the Top of Page
following: • Temperature. Microorganisms require a certain
temperature range for optimal activity. Certain Man Holding Handful of Compost - Photo Courtesy of Jepson
• Feedstock and nutrient balance. Controlled temperatures promote rapid composting and destroy Prairie Organics
decomposition requires a proper balance of "green" pathogens and weed seeds. Microbial activity can Composting Challenges
organic materials (e.g., grass clippings, food scraps, raise the temperature of the pile's core to at least 140
manure), which contain large amounts of nitrogen, °F. If the temperature does not increase, anaerobic Challenges for the composting industry as a whole include a
and "brown" organic materials (e.g., dry leaves, wood conditions (i.e., rotting) occur. Controlling the lack of consistent product quality, market research and
chips, branches), which contain large amounts of previous four factors can bring about the proper planning, investment, accepted national compost specifications,
carbon but little nitrogen. Obtaining the right nutrient temperature. and sophisticated product marketing. In addition, compost end
mix requires experimentation and patience and is part uses range from city and county landscaping to niche markets
Top of Page such as soil remediation. Government agencies could play a
of the art and science of composting.
Methods of Composting larger role by increasing purchases and promotion of compost
products. New technologies allow compost companies to tailor
• Particle size. Grinding, chipping, and shredding Composting takes on many forms, from simple and inexpensive their products to specific end-uses, increasing the market value
materials increases the surface area on which the backyard or onsite composting methods to more expensive and of the material. In fact, more and more compost producers are
microorganism can feed. Smaller particles also high-tech methods such as in-vessel composting. Composting engineering multiple compost products for applications as
produce a more homogeneous compost mixture and varies as much in its complexity as in the range of organic diverse as bioremediation of contaminated soil and erosion
improve pile insulation to help maintain optimum materials recovered. The most common composting methods control at construction sites. Many composting companies are
temperatures (see below). If the particles are too are listed in order of increasing costs and levels of technology packaging and marketing compost in home repair, garden
small, however, they might prevent air from flowing required and are described in greater detail on the following center, and other retail outlets. Some companies use compost to
freely through the pile. pages: control odors through new process technologies such as
• Moisture content. Microorganisms living in a
• Backyard or Onsite Composting (including biofilters, while still others are using compost as a filter in
Grasscycling) water treatment systems.
compost pile need an adequate amount of moisture to
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