Composting as tool to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Organic Solid Waste

Composting as tool to 3 R on Organic Solid Waste

Composting is an easy way to recycle your garden and kitchen waste. It provides a useful means of transforming biodegradable waste, such as fruit, vegetables, teabags and garden waste, into a product that can improve soil structure and nutrient levels. Even if you are not into gardening, you are reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill so you are still helping the environment as well as your pocket. It can be easier and cheaper than bagging these wastes or taking them to the transfer station.

Composting is a natural process, so natural, it happens everyday around you. Organic materials rot or biodegrade naturally into a brown/black crumbly material that can be used in your garden as a soil improver or natural fertilizer. This change occurs thanks to the insects, worms (‘chompers’), fungi and bacteria. Then other microorganisms (‘heaters’), which the human eye cannot see but live in the soil, start their work. Their combined efforts help turn organic waste into the compost. Compost provide a number of benefits to soil, including:

i)   Improved soil fertility

ii)  Improved soil structure

iii) Improved water-holding capacity

iv) Reduced erosion

      v)  Reduce levels of plant pathogens, insects and weeds

How to start Composting?

The choosing of composting methods will determine what you need to start a composting. If you prefer to use a holding unit method (bins), there has a different bins you can work with (plastic bin, drum can, wire, wood posts, etc.) and its availability will depend on the market.

Locate the compost bin (or heap) in a position that is convenient to your house — make using it easy for yourself! Try to choose a sunny spot and the soil should be free of draining. This will ensure your compost will be moist but well aerated and will encourage insect activity and ultimately better compost (In hot countries, compost bins can overheat and dry out – something that we do not have to worry about!) Loosen up the soil first and place bird cage wire on the ground (this is available from most hardware and DIY stores) and locate the compost bin on top of this.

How to make good compost?

Then it is all in the mix, so you must get the right balance between the green waste and brown waste, i.e. nitrogen and carbon rich material. Brown materials are usually dry and include eggshells, sawdust and wood shavings, dry leaves, etc. Brown materials are slow to decompose and are rich in carbon. Green materials are usually moist and include green leaves, grass cuttings, vegetable and fruit peelings, tea bags and flowers. Green materials act as natural activator and help to speed up the composting process.

 A good mix of brown and greens achieves the best balance and helps with aeration and amount of water in the pile. Too much of one or the other and you won’t make a good compost. For best results, place the ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ in alternate layers about ten inches thick. It is important to get the mix right – usually 1/3 of nitrogen (green) material and 2/3 carbon (brown) material gives the best results.

The finished product

The brown/green mix previously mentioned usually gives the best results. But as with most things, getting the correct mix comes with experience! When compost is ready to use you will not be able to recognize any of the original ingredients.

It should be dark brown/black and feel like topsoil in your own garden. To harvest your finished compost, simply open the lid at the base of the compost bin and shovel it out. Replace the lid when you are finished. Use your compost as mulch around plants, as a top dressing over your lawn to fertilize the soil or as a soil improver in vegetable or flower beds.

References

Cornell Waste Management Institute (2005). Home Composting. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. 4pp. This brocure is available on our Small Scale or Backyard Composting site: http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/smallscale.htm.

De Koff, J. P.; Lee, B. D.; Mickelbart, M. V. (2007) Household Composting: Methods and Uses for Compost. Home & Environment. 5pp.