Food scraps and other compostables sent to the landfill break down in an anaerobic environment and create methane gas, which is 25 times worse than carbon dioxide as a harmful greenhouse gas. Compost used on farmland reduces the need for artificial, chemical-heavy fertilizers.
In addition, compost improves soil structure and density which provide a better environment for plant roots and produce to grow, increases moisture in soil which reduces erosion, improves and stabilizes soil pH, and supplies a variety of nutrients.
The economic benefits associated with compost involve the reduction in the need for water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Help us improve your experience on this website. Please complete this 2-minute survey. All rights reserved. Commercial starters are available but should not be necessary for compost piles that have a proper carbon to nitrogen ratio 1 part green organic material to 1 part brown organic material.
In addition to bacteria, larger organisms including insects and earthworms are active composters. These organisms break down large materials in the compost pile. The amount of time needed to produce compost depends on several factors, including the size of the compost pile, the types of materials, the surface area of the materials, and the number of times the pile is turned. For most efficient composting, use a pile that is between 3 feet cubed and 5 feet cubed cu. This allows the center of the pile to heat up sufficiently to break down materials.
Smaller piles can be made but will take longer to produce finished compost. You may also want to have two piles, one for finished compost ready to use in the garden, and the other for unfinished compost. If the pile has more brown organic materials, it may take longer to compost. You can speed up the process by adding more green materials or a fertilizer with nitrogen use one cup per 25 square feet.
The surface area of the materials effects the time needed for composting. By breaking materials down into smaller parts chipping, shredding, mulching leaves , the surface area of the materials will increase.
This helps the bacteria to more quickly break down materials into compost. Finally, the number of times the pile is turned influences composting speed. By turning more frequently about every weeks , you will produce compost more quickly.
Waiting at least two weeks allows the center of the pile to heat up and promotes maximum bacterial activity. The average composter turns the pile every weeks. When turning the compost pile, make sure that materials in the center are brought to the outsides, and that materials from the outside edges are brought to the center. With frequent turning, compost can be ready in about 3 months, depending on the time of year. In winter, the activity of the bacteria slows, and it is recommended that you stop turning the pile after November to keep heat from escaping the pile's center.
In summer, warm temperatures encourage bacterial activity and the composting process is quicker. Last, compost is lighter and has less volume than raw waste, which means we need fewer vehicles to move it, an environmental and economic benefit. Once the compost is produced it can be moved long distances, from areas of high nutrients—where we have lots of livestock, for example—to areas with nutrient-poor agricultural soils. As well, compost can be used in land reclamation and soil restoration projects.
Just like any method of waste management there are possible downsides to composting. If compost is improperly managed there can be issues with odor, methane production, and heavy metal build up in the final compost. However, if compost is managed properly these risks are greatly reduced. On the contrary, waste that is left untreated also emits greenhouse gases and can produce harmful leachate that can seep into precious water sources.
As well, the land space used for compost can be reused again and again once the compost is removed and used, whereas landfill spaces stay relatively full.
Essentially, any costs associated with composting are generally outweighed by the benefits. The great thing about composting is that just about anyone can do it. In doing so, you can help reduce what goes into a landfill and use fewer artificial fertilizers, reducing your environmental impact and saving you a little money!
Compost on a large scale is becoming more and more popular as we realize the benefits of composting sewage, food waste, manure, and more. Cities, towns, and farms worldwide have increased the effort of composting on a large scale, and hopefully the trend continues.
Research on compost optimization improves every day, especially on how we can better implement large-scale compost and continue to reduce the waste that ends up in our landfills. The below photo is composting at the North Carolina Zoo. A good example of compost on a large scale is the composting process that takes place at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, NC.
At the NC Zoo, they process tons of compost every year! They manage to compost a huge percentage of the waste from the zoo, including manure from their large grazing animals.
In fact, the main ingredients in their compost are rhino and elephant manure, and there is a lot of it. Check out the video to see the process from start to finish.
She was born in Yukon Territory, and is currently living in Ecuador, where she is working on various projects and exploring as much as she can before she figures out the next big adventure. She is passionate about the outdoors, about nature and conservation, and of course, science! She loves writing, art and photography and strives to share the wonders of our big mysterious world with as many people as she can.
The Science of Compost The practice of composting is becoming more widely used on both small and large scales as we begin to realize its amazing range of benefits.
What is compost? How does compost happen? Aerobic Biodegradation The compost process requires oxygen in order to be effective, because the organisms involved are mainly aerobic, meaning they require oxygen to live and therefore to break down substances. Organisms Involved in Composting There are thousands of tiny organisms that are involved in the compost process, including fungi , microbes, actinomycetes a unique type of bacteria that look like fungi , and invertebrates.
Thermal Phases Compost goes through three distinct thermal phases: the initiation phase or initial activation phase , the thermophilic phase, and the maturation phase. What makes a good compost? Size of Particles difficult to measure -Need small enough particles for good amount of surface area to volume ratio that is easier to break down.
Why should we compost? Compost on a Small Scale The great thing about composting is that just about anyone can do it. Choose one of the following categories to see related pages: Ecology. Share this Page. You can follow Kirstynn Joseph Twitter.
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