subject: Seven Types of Composting For Homes And Businesses [print this page] Seven Types of Composting For Homes And Businesses
Food waste recycling (also known as composting) is the forced biodegradation of organic material, resulting in compost - the remaining material from vegetation and creatures that are decomposed. Compost has been applied to gardens for thousands of years as an organic fertilizer or enrichment.
There are two main categories of food waste recycling solutions: in-home composting & industrial composting.
Residential composting techniques are normally limited to leftover food and lawn trimmings. Methods of consumer-driven food recycling include:
Vermicast: This system of composting requires the employment of worms and other types of insects to create a mixture of biodegraded food waste and worm poop. Vermicastings or worm poop are the by-product of the breakdown of food waste by worms; the castings are full of nutrients and act as a soil enrichment.
Bokashi Food Recycling: This means of accelerated composting calls for the fermentation of food waste using a wheat bran inoculated with special micro-organisms. The microorganisms degrade the food and after it's fully fermented, the food waste may be trenched in soil where it will completely biodegrade and will fertilize the soil.
Open Pile Composting: This method of composting calls for an open air pile (or heap) of organic matter which is turned to ensure that the correct distribution of heat, moisture, and oxygen in the pile is maintained. The appropriate balance of wet and dry matter should also be met to ensure that the compost pile will not smell. This method of food waste recycling is typically limited to vegetables, as meat and meat products can bring vermin.
Commercial composting centers can accept discarded food, lawn trimmings, animal manure, compostable food packaging, and most organic matter. Types of industrial composting include:
Windrow: Windrow composting is the process of generating compost by shaping organic waste into extended rows or semi circle shaped piles. These rows are turned over by large machines to maintain even levels of temperature, humidity, and oxygen content. Rows will normally range from 4-8 feet tall and 14-16 feet long.
Aerated Static Pile (ASP): Aerated static pile composting involves the construction of compost heaps which have air pushed through them. Piles are not turned over and may be left open or closed. Closed piles are protected by heavy duty plastic tarps. Aerated static piles are generally used by composting facilities processing substantial volumes of wet organic waste.
In Vessel Composting: In-vessel organic recycling makes compost by using enclosed "reactors" that tightly monitor heat and oxygen content levels during the biodegradation of organic materials. Compost production happens rapidly, taking just a few weeks, but materials can require curing for several weeks after. In vessel composting has larger cash outlays than Windrow or ASP, but demands less land and labour.
Anaerobic Digesters: Anaerobic digesters degrade organic matter without oxygen. Co2 and methane are created at a roughly one to one level and methane is captured and used as a fuel source. Once gas generation is complete, the organic materials are cured with oxygen and can be used as compost. The capital costs however for anaerobic digesters are considerably more than aerobic food recycling solutions.
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