How to Home Compost - Revision history

Admin: /* References and further reading */

2010-02-19T18:04:36Z

‎References and further reading

Admin: /* BINS */

2010-02-19T18:00:04Z

‎BINS

Show changes

Admin: /* Home composting methods */

2010-02-19T17:26:12Z

‎Home composting methods

Admin: /* Home composting methods */

2010-02-19T17:25:53Z

‎Home composting methods

Admin: /* (a) Home composting methods */

2010-02-19T17:25:39Z

‎(a) Home composting methods

Admin: /* Optimum conditions for composting Oxygen / aeration */

2010-02-19T17:23:57Z

‎Optimum conditions for composting Oxygen / aeration

Admin: /* The Composting Process */

2010-02-19T17:09:12Z

‎The Composting Process

Admin: /* Introduction */

2010-02-19T17:08:33Z

‎Introduction

Admin: /* Introduction */

2010-02-19T17:05:11Z

‎Introduction

Admin: /* The Composting Process */

2010-02-19T16:58:53Z

‎The Composting Process

@@ Line 334: / Line 334: @@
 '''Practical Action South Asia '''
-No 5, Lionel Edirisinghe Mw, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka Tel: +94 (11) 282 9412 Fax: +94 (11) 285 6188 E-mail: <u><font color="#0000FF">general@practicalaction.lk </u><font color="#000000">Web: <u><font color="#0000FF">www.practicalaction.org </u>
+No 5, Lionel Edirisinghe Mw, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka Tel: +94 (11) 282 9412 Fax: +94 (11) 285 6188<br>
 For specific training details please contact the Project Officer at Practical Action:
-Hambantota (Tel: 047-4379339 E-mail: <u><font color="#0000FF">southern.staff@itdg.slt.lk</u>) Ampara (Tel: 063-2224932 E-mail: <font color="#0000FF">eastern.staff@itdg.slt.lk) <br>
+Hambantota Tel: 047-4379339 E-mail:southern.staff@itdg.slt.lk<br>

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 The ideal particle size is around 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches). In some cases, such as in the composting of kitchen waste, the raw material may be too dense to permit adequate air flow or may be too moist. A common solution to this problem is to add a bulking agent (straw, dry leaves) to allow for proper air flow. Mixing materials of different sizes and textures also helps aeration the compost pile.
-==='''Home composting methods'''===
+=='''Home composting methods'''==
 Large scale, commercialised composting facilities (Ex. Windrows, Static piles and Reactor systems) use sophisticated technologies and equipments to handle the composting process. Home composting depends on traditional or small scale simplified composting technologies at low cost. (Ex. simple pit method, heap method, bins, rotating drums). But each method uses the same scientific principle though it differs in procedures and equipments used. Appropriate/most suitable home composting systems may differ from place to place depending on climate conditions, economic conditions and social factors of the people. In Sri Lanka, space limitation has been a critical issue for many local authorities that have crippled the implementation of home composting programmes.

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 The ideal particle size is around 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches). In some cases, such as in the composting of kitchen waste, the raw material may be too dense to permit adequate air flow or may be too moist. A common solution to this problem is to add a bulking agent (straw, dry leaves) to allow for proper air flow. Mixing materials of different sizes and textures also helps aeration the compost pile.
-===='''Home composting methods'''====
+==='''Home composting methods'''===
 Large scale, commercialised composting facilities (Ex. Windrows, Static piles and Reactor systems) use sophisticated technologies and equipments to handle the composting process. Home composting depends on traditional or small scale simplified composting technologies at low cost. (Ex. simple pit method, heap method, bins, rotating drums). But each method uses the same scientific principle though it differs in procedures and equipments used. Appropriate/most suitable home composting systems may differ from place to place depending on climate conditions, economic conditions and social factors of the people. In Sri Lanka, space limitation has been a critical issue for many local authorities that have crippled the implementation of home composting programmes.

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 The ideal particle size is around 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches). In some cases, such as in the composting of kitchen waste, the raw material may be too dense to permit adequate air flow or may be too moist. A common solution to this problem is to add a bulking agent (straw, dry leaves) to allow for proper air flow. Mixing materials of different sizes and textures also helps aeration the compost pile.
-===='''(a) Home composting methods'''====
+===='''Home composting methods'''====
 ===='''Most common home composting systems in Sri Lanka '''====

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 All that makes composting a vital component for an integrated waste management plan.
-===='''Optimum conditions for composting Oxygen / aeration '''====
+===='''Optimum conditions for composting'''====
+====='''Oxygen / aeration'''=====
 If there is insufficient oxygen, a different set of anaerobic microorganism dominates the degradation process and produce odorous intermediate products such as methane, organic acids and hydrogen sulphide. A constant supply of oxygen will give the aerobic microorganisms an advantage over the anaerobic micro-organisms. Approximately a 5% minimum concentration of oxygen is required within the pore spaces in the media.
-Aeration is the process of providing oxygen into the composting material. This will also provide a platform to remove water vapour, gases and excess heat trapped within the material. Aeration is common practice with high rate large scale composting facilities.
+Aeration is the process of providing oxygen into the composting material, for example by returning the heap. This will also provide a platform to remove water vapour, gases and excess heat trapped within the material. Automatic aeration is common practice with high rate large scale composting facilities.
 ====='''Moisture content '''=====
+Moisture supports the metabolic processes of the Micro-organisms. Water is the medium for chemical reactions. Biological activity ceases below 15% moisture content and in theory activity is optimal when materials are saturated. Generally '''moisture content of between 40% and 65%''' should be maintained. At moisture content of below 40%, micro-organism activity will continue but at a slower rate and above 65% water will displace much of the air in the pore spaces of the composting material. This will limit the movement of air and lead to anaerobic conditions.
 ====='''Temperature '''=====
+====='''Nutrients and the Carbon to Nitrogen (C:N) ratio'''=====
 The microbes involved in composting use carbon for energy and nitrogen for proteinsynthesis. The proportion of these two elements required by the microbes averages about 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen. Accordingly, the ideal ratio of Carbon to Nitrogen (C: N) is 30 to 1 (measured on a dry weight basis). This ratio governs the speed at which the microbes decompose organic waste. Most organic materials do not have this ratio and, to accelerate the composting process, it may be necessary to balance the numbers by mixing different substrates. (eg.. kitchen waste is rich in nitrogen while garden waste is in poor)
 ====='''Particle size, porosity, structure and texture '''=====
+The ideal particle size is around 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches). In some cases, such as in the composting of kitchen waste, the raw material may be too dense to permit adequate air flow or may be too moist. A common solution to this problem is to add a bulking agent (straw, dry leaves) to allow for proper air flow. Mixing materials of different sizes and textures also helps aeration the compost pile.
 ===='''(a) Home composting methods'''====

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ====''' The Composting Process'''====
-Composting is a natural biological process that carried out under controlled aerobic (requires oxygen) or anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions.<br>
+Composting is a natural biological process that is carried out under controlled aerobic (requires oxygen) or anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions.<br>
 Anaerobic composting is not common due to its slow degradation rate and odorous intermediate products.<br>
 Aerobic composting is widely used and in this process, various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, break down organic matter into simpler substances. The effectiveness of the composting process is dependent upon the environmental conditions present within the composting system i.e. oxygen, temperature, moisture, material disturbance, substrate conditions.<br>

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 *Home based composting compared to the compost produced from mixed waste is of high quality as the waste does not get contaminated with hazardous materials.
 *The separated inorganic materials need less effort for cleaning before recycling.<br>
-Therefore, household composting has been identified as an option to enhance the economic conditions of urban poor people through home-gardening and selling of compost and/or recyclables.
+Therefore, household composting has been identified as an option to enhance the economic conditions of urban poor people through home-gardening and selling of compost and/or recyclables. The collection and composting of organic waste can also become a new income source for the formal or informal economy.
-There are various technical options available as household level composting systems that vary from simple pit /heap methods to complex bin or rotating drum designs. Traditional composting methods (pit, heap, Jeewakotu'') ''have been common practices in many rural/ peri-urban areas with different kinds of organic matters. Most urban dwellers prefer bin composting system due to its convenience and as it has less impact an aestheticism with their very limited space.In Sri Lanka, different set-ups of household composting units can be found and it has been more popularised in some areas.
+There are various technical options available as household level composting systems that vary from simple pit /heap methods to complex bin or rotating drum designs.<br>
 ====''' The Composting Process'''====

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ====Introduction ====
-Home Composting is not a new technology and it has been practiced for many years around the world, as a simple and low cost solution to manage household organic waste at source. In Sri Lanka, different set-ups of household composting units can be found and it has been more popularised in some areas. Compost offers several benefits such as enhanced soil fertility and soil health-thereby increased agricultural productivity, improved soil biodiversity, reduced ecological risks and a better environment. Home composting is now being encouraged as a means of reducing the organic waste being discarded and sent to the landfills. In Sri Lanka, organic fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) contributes 70 - 90% of total waste stream in many municipalities. These organic substances are bulky to handle and contributes for numerous liquid and gaseous emissions that deteriorate dumpsite environments. A good home composting programmes can significantly reduce the quantity of organic waste adding to the mainstream (>50%) and subsequent emissions upon final disposal. Valuable products (compost) are produced while reducing the costs incurred for collection, transportation and final disposal at dumpsite. Community participation has been a vital component in most successful integrated solid waste management (ISWM) programmes. Home composting encourages the community involvement on waste management activities and it facilitates easy transferring of source separation concepts to the people. Home based composting compared to the compost produced from mixed waste is of high quality as the waste does not get contaminated with hazardous materials. The separated inorganic materials need less effort for cleaning before recycling. Therefore, household composting has been identified as an option to enhance the economic conditions of urban poor people through home-gardening and selling of compost and/or recyclables.
+Home Composting is not a new technology and it has been practiced for many years around the world, as a simple and low cost solution to manage household organic waste at source.<br>
 There are various technical options available as household level composting systems that vary from simple pit /heap methods to complex bin or rotating drum designs. Traditional composting methods (pit, heap, Jeewakotu'') ''have been common practices in many rural/ peri-urban areas with different kinds of organic matters. Most urban dwellers prefer bin composting system due to its convenience and as it has less impact an aestheticism with their very limited space.
 ====''' The Composting Process'''====