NAME: COMPOSTING: FEED THE LANDSCAPE NOT THE
LANDFILL
AIM OF THE PROJECT:
In this project, we will show that compost is an essential soil conditioner, richer than
anything we can buy for our gardening and landscaping purposes. This can be produced through
the recycling of organic household wastes which is almost 30% of the garbage we throw out
each day! This process -composting- can be done easily and inexpensively by every household.
INTRODUCTION:
WHAT’S IN WASTE?
It is estimated by Statistics Canada that;
383 kg — The amount of waste generated in Canada, per person, by the residential component of
solid waste in 2002.
30 — The number of green garbage bags this represents, per person.
12 million tonnes — The weight of solid waste generated by the residential component in Canada
in 2002.
About 2 million tons of garbage a year produced only from Toronto which is only one city
with about 5 million residents.
From these garbage
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30% of all residential garbage is "wet" waste or organic waste which is suitable for
composting comes from our Kitchen and Garden wastes.
18% paper and textiles
22% comes from plastic, glass, and metal recycles and
19% mixed garbage goes to landfill.
That’s a huge amount of garbage. Whether one consider it is a crisis or not, it is impossible
to deny that current waste production and disposal process should be addressed. If it is not crisis
today, it will be in the future. Dealing with the issue now is the only way to prevent future disaster.
One way of reducing wastes is composting.
WHAT’S COMPOSTING: Nature’s Own Recycling
Composting is natures own recycling system. Composting is a process where organic
materials such as yard and kitchen wastes are broken down through the actions of various
microorganisms including worms, insects, bacteria and fungi, into humus (finished compost), a soil
enhancing material. The nutrients released from the compost can be reused by plants.
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPOSTING:
30-50% of our garbage is organic material such as food scraps, garden waste, and soiled
non-recycled paper. Composting is the recycling of these materials into a valuable soil
enhancement that improves plant and root growth.
Composting: The best way to reduce food and garden waste
Since approximately 30-45% of the waste stream is organic matter, composting can play a
significant role in diverting waste from landfills thereby conserving landfill space and reducing the
production of production of leach ate and methane gas. It has the potential to manage most of the
organic material in the waste stream including kitchen wastes such as fruit and vegetable peels and
trimmings, egg shells, coffee grounds and tea bags (including restaurant wastes) and yard wastes
(leaves, grasses).
Composting is not a mysterious or complicated process. It is relatively simple to manage
and can be carried out on a wide range of scales in almost any indoor or outdoor environment and
in almost any geographic location.
Best of all, composting is cheap. You can make it without spending a cent. It can be done
inexpensively by every household in backyard even in balcony.
Among composting many benefits are:
 Reduce waste sent to landfill.
 Prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water
pollutants
 Reuse organic materials
 Recycle natural nutrients
 Improves soil without chemicals
 Produce rich humus for plants
 Save money on chemical fertilizers
METHODS AND TECHNIQUES:
COMPOSTING BIOLOGY:
Composting creates the ideal conditions for the natural decay or rotting processes
that occur in nature.
Compost is a living system. There are millions of tiny animals that live, feed and
breed in compost. They all help break down food and garden wastes and turn them into
rich soil or fertilizer.
The essential elements required by the composting microorganisms
(earthworms, bacteria, fungi, single celled organisms (protozoa), mites, etc.) are;
 WATER AS MOISTURE:
For successful composting the right amount of water needs for keeping the biological and
chemical processes functioning. Microorganisms living in a compost pile need an adequate amount
of moisture to survive. Water is the key element that helps transports substances within the
compost pile and makes the nutrients in organic material accessible to the microbes. Organic
material contains some moisture in varying amounts, but moisture also might come in the form of
rainfall or intentional watering.
If the compost pile is too dry (below 10% moisture) the microorganisms will not be able to
function. Adding moisture to a dry pile increases activity and will cause an increase in temperature.
The moisture level in the compost pile should meet the needs of the microorganisms.
If the compost pile becomes too moist, the tiny air spaces fill with water. This replaces the
necessary air pockets that help maintain an aerobic state. Moisture content can easily be adjusted
by adding more water or by aerating (turning) the pile.
Composting microorganisms thrive in moist conditions. For optimum performance, moisture
content within the composting environment should be maintained at 45 percent. Too much water
can cause the compost pile to go anaerobic and emit obnoxious odors. Too little prevent the
microorganisms from propagating.
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OXYGEN AVAILIBILITY (AERATION):
Composting can be done with or without oxygen but oxygen is required by many of the
microorganisms responsible for successful composting. Aerobic composting is done with
oxygen and it is more efficient process. An aerobic compost heap needs to be able to breathe.
Sufficient air space needs to be left to allow a flow of oxygen throughout the heap and the
escape of carbon dioxide. Adding materials of larger particle size, such as wood chips, to
compost pile or turning the compost heap can help aeration. Turning the the compost heap
helps to eliminate airless patches, which commonly develop even in a compost heap which has
been carefully built. In aerobic composting, plenty of air is essential to develop the high
temperatures that kill pathogens and speed the process of decomposition.
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TEMPERATURE:
Heat is a by-product of the normal metabolic activity of the microorganisms.
Temperature is directly proportional to the biological activity within the composting system.
Microorganisms require a certain temperature range for optimal activity. As they eat, the
organisms responsible for composting generate large amounts of heat, which raise the
temperature of the pile or compost bin and speeds up decomposition. A compost pile that is
working well will produce temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees Celsius. Certain temperatures
promote rapid composting and destroy pathogens and weed seeds and plant diseases. This
means that the finished compost can be safely used as a soil conditioner. In a cool environment,
the composting process slows down. Moisture content, oxygen availability, and microbial
activity all influence temperature. As the composting process nears completion and the
microbial activity slows down, the temperature drops (about under 40 degree) and the compost
begins to mature.
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ORGANIC WASTES AS FOOD
GREENS AND BROWNS:
Backyard Composting is primarily a biological process so you must feed your
microorganisms to keep them happy. Microbes need both carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), food
sources to function. All materials contain both C and N. The ratio of carbon to nitrogen within a
material is called the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N).
Materials with favorable proportions of carbon and nitrogen (C:N) offer the decomposer
microorganisms a "complete meal".
"GREENS" - Nitrogen Sources –
Materials that are a good source of nitrogen are called "Greens" and are characterized as
having a low C:N ratio (C:N ratio less than 30:1) and are generally high in moisture and fast to
decompose. Examples of "greens" include manure, inorganic fertilizer, vegetable kitchen scraps,
green leaves, and grass clippings. Not all "greens" are green in color. For example, coffee grounds
are a nitrogen source.
"BROWNS" - Carbon Source –
Materials that are high in carbon relative to nitrogen (i.e., C:N greater than 30:1), are called
"Browns", and are generally dry and slow to decompose. They are generally brownish or darker in
color. Examples of "browns" include: straw, leaves, chipped branches and tree trimmings, paper,
and sawdust. Browns decompose at low temperatures unless combined with a source of nitrogen.
Finding a mix of greens and browns that is in balance can be important. The optimum C: N
ratio for rapid composting is about 30:1
The compost organisms like a good “mix” of organic materials. Woody materials that are
high in carbon (autumn leaves, paper, peat moss, sawdust, cornstalks, hay and straw, etc.) are
called "brown" ingredients. Materials like garden refuse, manure, tea and coffee grounds, feathers
and food scraps are high in nitrogen, or "green." Some materials can actually be both: fresh grass
clippings are "green” but dried grass is "brown".
For successful results, you can use the simple rule that compost needs to be about half
"brown" and half "green" by weight. If the pile doesn't heat up, you know there's not enough
"green" in the mix, while a smell of ammonia means it needs more "brown."
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KITCHEN GREENS
KITCHEN BROWNS
Fruit Scraps, Vegetable Scraps
Houseplant cuttings
Coffee grounds
Rice & Pasta
Egg shells
Tea Bags
● Coffee filters
● Stale bread
● Paper napkins & towels
● Dryer lint
YARD GREENS
YARD BROWNS
Flowers
Vegetables
Plant Trimmings
Grass (small amounts)
Hedge clippings
● Leaves
● Straw or hay
● Small twigs/chips
● Dried grass and weeds
A BALANCING ACT (Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratios)
All organic matter is made up of substantial amounts of carbon (C) combined with lesser
amounts of nitrogen (N). The balance of these two elements in an organism is called the carbon-to-
nitrogen ratio (C: N ratio). For best performance, the compost pile, or more to the point the
composting microorganisms require the correct proportion of carbon for energy and nitrogen for
protein production. Scientists have determined that the fastest way to produce fertile, sweetsmelling compost is to maintain a C: N ratio somewhere around 25 to 30 parts carbon to 1 part
nitrogen, or 25-30:1. If the C: N ratio is too high (excess carbon), decomposition slows down. If
the C: N ratio is too low (excess nitrogen) you will end up with a stinky pile.
Below is the average C: N ratios for some common organic materials found in the compost
bin. For our purposes, the materials containing high amounts of carbon are considered "browns,"
and materials containing high amounts of nitrogen are considered "greens."
Materials to Use in A Compost and Their C:N Ratios:
Estimated Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratios
Browns = High Carbon
C:N
Ashes, wood
25:1
Cardboard, shredded
350:1
Corn stalks
75:1
Fruit waste
35:1
Leaves
60:1
Newspaper, shredded
175:1
Peanut shells
35:1
Pine needles
80:1
Sawdust
325:1
Straw
75:1
Wood chips
400:1
Greens = High Nitrogen
C:N
Alfalfa
12:1
Clover
23:1
Coffee grounds
20:1
Food waste
20:1
Garden waste
30:1
Grass clippings
20:1
Hay
25:1
Manures
15:1
Seaweed
19:1
Vegetable scraps
25:1
Weeds
30:1
Many ingredients used for composting do not have the ideal ratio of 25-30:1. As a result,
most must be mixed to create "the perfect compost recipe." High C: N ratios may be lowered by
adding grass clippings or manures. Low C: N ratios may be raised by adding paper, dry leaves or
wood chips.
NOT TO COMPOST:
 Meat, fish, chicken or Bones: Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and
flies
 Dairy products: Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
 Oils or fats: Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
 Human & pet manure: They carry diseases and parasites, as well as cause an unpleasant
odor
 Disease plants: they can infect the compost pile and influence the finished product.
 Chemicals: they are toxic to the soil microorganisms.
 Mature weeds with seeds
As a summary, Composting is a biological process influenced by a variety of environmental
factors, including the number and species of microorganisms, present oxygen levels, particle size
of composting materials, nutrient levels, moisture content and temperature. All of these factors are
interrelated, and must be monitored and controlled throughout the composting process to ensure a
quality product.
TECHNIQUES
Composting is an extremely easy process. It happens on its own. However, there are a few
things we can do to speed up the composting process.
Chop the Particle Size:
Smaller materials have more surface area available for microbes to attack. Therefore,
reducing the particle size of raw materials will increase the speed of the composting process. Size
reduction also reduces the volume of the compost pile, thereby saving space.
It is a good idea to chip or mulch small limbs and twigs to a size of 2-3 inches before
composting.
Particle size can be too small. For example, sawdust sized and wet materials can decrease
aeration, reduce the rate of composting and perhaps cause anaerobic conditions leading to odor
problems.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
Compost use can result in a variety of environmental benefits.
The following are a few of the most important benefits:
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Provides nutrients to the soil.
Protects soils from erosion.
Assists pollution remediation.
Suppresses certain plant diseases by reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides.
Prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants
Keeps organic wastes out of landfills.
Reduce the risks of global warming
Alternative, eco-friendly energy source
Compost enriches soils:
Adding compost improves soil fertility and stimulates a healthy root development in plants.
The organic matter provided in compost provides food for microorganisms, which keeps the soil in
a healthy and balanced condition.
Compost has the ability to help regenerate poor soils. The composting process encourages
the production of beneficial micro-organisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) which in turn break down
organic matter to create humus. Humus--a rich nutrient-filled material--increases the nutrient
content in soils and helps soils retain moisture. Compost has also been shown to suppress plant
diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, and promote higher yields
of agricultural crops.
Compost helps cleanup (remediate) contaminated soil
The composting process has been shown to absorb odors and treat semivolatile and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), including heating fuels, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and
explosives. It has also been shown to bind heavy metals and prevent them from migrating to water
resources or being absorbed by plants. The compost process degrades and, in some cases,
completely eliminates wood preservatives, pesticides, and both chlorinated and nonchlorinated
hydrocarbons in contaminated soils.
Compost helps prevent pollution
Rotting waste in landfill helps to produce a liquid called leachate, which can pollute
groundwater, rivers and water supplies. Composting will help to reduce this.
Composting organic materials that have been diverted from landfills ultimately avoids the
production of methane and leachate formulation in the landfills. Compost has the ability to prevent
pollutants in stormwater runoff from reaching surface water resources. Compost has also been
shown to prevent erosion and silting on embankments parallel to creeks, lakes, and rivers, and
prevents erosion and turf loss on roadsides, hillsides, playing fields, and golf courses.
COMPOSTING:
THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE FOOD AND GARDEN WASTE
 KEEPS ORGANIC WASTES OUT OF LANDFILLS:
Helps return organic materials to the soil, and keeps them out of landfills and waterways.
Since approximately 30-45% of the waste stream is organic matter, composting can play a
significant role in diverting waste from landfills thereby conserving landfill space and reducing the
production of production of leach ate and methane gas. It has the potential to manage most of the
organic material in the waste stream including kitchen wastes such as fruit and vegetable peels and
trimmings, egg shells, coffee grounds and tea bags (including restaurant wastes) and yard wastes
(leaves, grasses).
 REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS:
Minimize the Use of Toxic Chemicals
Food waste contains over 50% water, which is released when it decomposes. If landfilled,
this waste can combine with rain water and collect contaminants when it comes into contact with
garbage. This liquid, known as leach ate, could pollute neighboring ground water, lakes, and rivers.
Also, organic material frequently decomposes without air in landfills, and produces methane, a gas
that contributes to global warning. By composting your organic materials, you are helping to
reduce these environmental risks and conserve landfill space!
Reduce global warming:
Rotting waste in landfills is the main source of methane in everywhere. Methane gas is 30
times more potent then CO2 and could contribute to global warming.
OFFERS ECONOMIC BENEFITS:
Using compost can reduce the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. It serves as a
marketable commodity and is a low-cost alternative to standard landfill cover and artificial soil
amendments. Composting also extends municipal landfill life by diverting organic materials from
landfills and provides a less costly alternative to conventional methods of remediating (cleaning)
contaminated soil.
Composting turns waste into a valuable resource.
BEST OF ALL COMPOSTING is cheap and it is an alternative, eco-friendly energy source.
You can make it without spending a cent. It can be done inexpensively by every household in
backyard even in balcony
USING COMPOST: THE FINISHED PRODUCT
Compost is finished when it's a dark, rich color, crumbles easily, and you can't pick out any of
the original ingredients. It should have a sweet, earthy smell.
Finished compost adds nutrients and organic matter to the soil, improving its texture and
increasing its ability to hold air and water. Because it doesn’t burn plant roots, large quantities of
compost can be applied to the soil at any time.
Compost can be used:
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in the flower and vegetable garden or on the soil around trees and shrubs;
for house plants and planter boxes (after baking in a conventional oven at 82 degrees C/180
degrees F for one hour);
as part of a seed-starting mix;
on the lawn as a top-dressing (when screened);
for making compost tea;
dug into a garden when preparing the bed for planting, in the spring or fall;
spread in seed furrows, or added to each transplant hole; and
as a "top dressing", placed on the soil around flower and vegetable plants, shrubs and trees.
SOURCES:
1. The Miller Group, Pickering Composting Plant
www.millergroup.ca
2. The Composting Council of Canada web page
www.compost.org
3. Backyard Magic: The Composting Handbook –New Brunswick Department of the
Environment
http://www.gnb.ca/
http://www.gnb.ca/0009/0372/0003/0001-e.asp
4. Everyone’s Guide to Home Composting – Robyn BEM
5. The Real Dirt (The Complete Guide to Backyard, Balcony and Apartment Composting) –
Mark Cullen &Lorraine Johnson
6. The Magic of Composting (video tape) Recycling Council of Ontario
7. Compost This Book; The Art Of Composting for your yard, your community, and the planet
– Tom Christopher
8. http://www.compostinfo.com/tutorial/GreensAndBrowns.htm