Tuesday, May 17, 2011

What is Composting

What is composting

The following article explains the process of composting, provides you a brief history of composting and explains why composting is an important aspect of waste management.

Composting is a specialized part of recycling in which organic wastes are biologically decomposed under controlled conditions to convert them into a product that can be applied to the land beneficially and without adverse environmental impact. The composting process should destroy pathogens, weed seeds, insect eggs, and other unwanted organisms. Adding compost can lighten heavy soils, improve the texture of light solid, and increase water  retention capacity, Composting is a natural process that has been used in an organized fashion to deal with garbage since at least the early 1900s (Journal of Waste Recycling. 1991).

      Composting is a important component of a modern integrated waste system for one very simple reason: in North America we generate a considerable amount  of yard waste and other organic wastes that are really compostable. Studies have shown that a significant fraction of municipal solid waste consists of yard waste, ranging from 5% to 20% by weight, with a typical value of 18%. Thus, composting can make a significant contribution to waste diversion. Furthermore , composting is a relatively low-technology and low-cost process that can be readily established by most communities.

       Generally, only materials of biological origin—such as leaves, paper, wood, and non-meat food scraps—are suitable for composting. Synthetic organic materials, particularly plastics and rubber, are seldom compostable.

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