COMPOSTING

Varenya : Slide making and content editing

Abhishek : Material Collection Anuj : Moral support Mayank : Overall management Yatin : Material collection
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Introduction to Composting
Composting is nature's process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost Success in composting depends upon sufficient moisture and oxygen as well as proper amounts of carbon and nitrogen

What is composting?

COMPOSTING

List of Composting System

Home Composting(Small scale)
Composting Toilet Container composting German mound Sheet composting Trench composting Vermicomposting

Industrial Composting (large scale)

Aerated static pile composting Anaerobic digestion High fibre composting In-vessel composting Mechanical biological treatment tunnel composting Vermicomposting Windrow composting

COMPOSTING

Reasons for Composting

Waste Management

Reduce waste/ Land fill issues Reuse organic material

Soil and Water Conservation Increases agricultural productivity

Soil amendment Improves soil quality

Reduced production cost so increased revenues
Helps bind nutrients and release slowly
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Types of composting

According to its nature

According to its use

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According to its nature

Industrial Systems
Used as a waste management alternative to landfills Mechanical sorting of mixed waste streams combined with anaerobic digestion or in-vessel composting Treating biodegradable waste before it enters a landfill reduces Global warming by not producing methane

Agriculture
Windrow composting . Production of compost by piling organic matter or biodegradable waste in long rows (windrows) Suitable for producing large volumes of compost Mixing of these rows to improve oxygen and moisture content. Windrow is a commonly used farm scale composting method. COMPOSTING

Home
Easiest way to compost. Composting bins/pile composting Trench / sheet composting Small scale and cheap.

According To Its Use

Aerobic composting
Compost with air. High nitrogen waste grows bacteria This creates high temperatures (160o +) Organic waste will break down quickly Not prone to smell. High maintenance Good for large volumes of compost.

Anaerobic composting
Composting without air. Low maintenance Compacts to the point where no air is available for organisms. Very slow working bacteria growing that does not require air Takes years to break down. Creates awful smell Breaks down organic material into harmful compounds like ammonia and methane.
COMPOSTING

Vermicomposting
Used for composting food waste. includes composting with bacteria, fungi, insects, red worms and other bugs. Oxygen and moisture are required to keep this compost healthy. This is medium maintenance compost
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Advantages/Disadvantages of composting
ADVANTAGES Saleable Product Destruction of pathogens Kills weed seeds Reduces mass and volume Reduces odour Decreases pollutants DISADVANTAGES
Loss of ammonia (N) Time involved Cost of equipment Land required Marketing required for sale

COMPOSTING

Static Pile Composting

Aerated Pile at bottom Oxygen supplied by blower Spread on top of it 21-28 days for composting Additional 30 days or move for cooling 2 2.5 m pile Open system
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Agitated Pile Composting

1 2m pile Dynamic flow condition Min. 5 times turning of pile during 21 28 days time 55o C temp. of grid of pile Open system Composting material mechanically mixed
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Windrow Composting
Open system 1 2m high and 2 4.5 m at base Rows turned and mixed 5 times at 55o C 21 28 days Large scale compost production So, Difficult to maintain aerobic condition So , turning accompanied with odour.
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In-Vessel Composting
Basically used for solving odour problem Closed system Plug-flow condition No mixing Fast output , low labor cost , less area reqd In particles first IN , first OUT principle

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What can be composted?

Yard debris
fallen leaves, grass clippings, tree branches cardboard, shredded paper, etc.

Kitchen Waste
Vegetable and fruit peelings, coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, tea bags

Manure

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What not to compost ?

Meat/Bones Fatty foods Pet litter/manure Human manure Dead Animals

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Conditions that promote Composting

Surface Area:
Increased material surface area allows the microbes to decompose compost materials faster Increase surface area by tearing, shredding, chopping compost material

Temperature:
Idle range is from 122F-140F

Time:
It can take a month to a year or more to produce compost
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Components of Composting
Microorganisms Water Oxygen Carbon (browns) Nitrogen (greens) Surface area Temperature Time
COMPOSTING

Picture From MU Guide

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Components of Composting
Microorganisms:
Decompose organic material

Water:
Needed for microbial activity Compost should be moist

Oxygen:
Microbes need oxygen Prevent odor problems
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Components of Composting
Browns (carbon source):
o Provides air space o Acts like a drying agent o Types of materials rich in carbon:
o Woodchips/Branches o Brown leaves o Shredded Paper o Cardboard

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Components of Composting
Greens (nitrogen source):
Microorganism Food Source
Reproduction and Growth

High moisture content Materials Rich in Nitrogen:

Animal Manure Green Vegetation
Grass Clippings

Kitchen Waste
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Brown to Green Ratio

Recommended Brown: Green ratio
3: 1 (3 parts of Brown for every 1 part of green)

Too much carbon (from browns) slows down the decomposition process Too much nitrogen (from greens) can be lost as ammonia (smell) or by leaching into the aquifer
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Composting Pile
The first layer should be the browns Second layer consists of greens In dry season create a saucer in the middle of the pile to capture water In rainy season
mound the pile Place a tarp over the compost bin, but make sure its not touching the compos

Over time mix the layers together (turning)

adds oxygen
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Managing Compost Pile

Water periodically:
moist but not saturated If conditions are too wet, anaerobic microorganisms (those that can live without oxygen) take over the composting process Turning the pile speeds up the process

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Common problems
Problem
Rotten Odor

Causes
Too much moisture Compacted Food on top of pile

Solution
Mix in dry material Cover pile when it rains Turn pile (aerate) Bury food

Ammonia Odor Too much nitrogen Add browns to balance

Pests: Flies, Rats, Insects, etc.

Food remains of meat and fat

Avoid meat and fatty foods in compost

Nothing Happened
High Temperatures above 150F

Too much moisture Turn pile, add dry material, add water, make a bigger Too dry, or too pile, mix in green material Small of a Pile
Inadequate Aerate compost aeration Mix in carbon COMPOSTING Too much nitrogen Reduce compost size

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Composting Methods
Fast or Active Methods:
Labor Intensive Turn compost every 3 5 days Produced in two months or less Three-bin method is recommended

Passive or slow composting:

Low labor and longer time Six months couple of years Large piles or wire bin or trash can with holes
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Compost Bins
Compost bins can be constructed in many different ways using a variety of materials. Bins should be well suited for the needs and ability of the consumer Bins should be designed to facilitate turning
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Composting Bins

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