PowerPoint Presentation Slide 1

What can’t I put into my compost?

• Large quantities of meat products
• Dairy products – cheese
• Plastics
• Metal – aluminum, steel etc

Compost should be a balanced mix of –

• Compost should be a balanced mix of –

greens : browns : air : water

Layering the materials

Moisture and Air

• Composting organisms need both moisture and air to survive.
• Moisture content should be around 60%
• Some moisture will come from the materials, but you will also need to add water
• Check the moisture level by squeezing some material with your hand – it should feel like a wet sponge

To ensure there is enough air the heap should be turned regularly

• To ensure there is enough air the heap should be turned regularly
• Speeds up process by aerating the heap
• Moves material from outside into the centre
• Should be turned about once a month

Turning the compost

Temperature and pH

• The process of composting has 3 main stages – heating, cooling, maturing.
• Temperatures

- Heating phase: 60 to 65°C

- Cooling phase: 25 to 40°C

- Maturing phase: 20 to 40°C

• Different things are going on inside the heap at the different stages

Surface area and volume of the heap

• Minimum size – 1m x 1m
• Maximum size – no wider than 2.5m, no higher than 1.5m – this is for practicality of managing the heap e.g. turning
• It can be as long as you like…this is termed a windrow

What can go wrong – problems and solutions

Problem	Indication	Solution
Too dry	Look for white fungal growth in the heap	Add water
Too wet	Material will be slimy and have a strong smell	Turn the heap and add more dry material.
Lack of oxygen	Material becomes compacted, forming tightly packed clumps	Turn heap and break up material
Low quantity of material	Temperature too low.	Add more nitrogen rich materials
Lack of microorganism	None of the other conditions apply	Add old compost, manure or soil to the heap to introduce microorganisms