Now supermarkets, schools and hospitals have an inexpensive way to compost.
Peninsula Compost Group in Wilmington Delaware has built the largest compost
center on the East Coast that will handle commercial as well as residential waste. The
center will produce 100,000 tons of compost annually.
Institutions will benefit as they will pay less to compost their waste than to throw it in
a landfill. They will be charging their institutional clients $50 a ton to dump their
waste at the compost plant.
center on the East Coast that will handle commercial as well as residential waste. The
center will produce 100,000 tons of compost annually.
Institutions will benefit as they will pay less to compost their waste than to throw it in
a landfill. They will be charging their institutional clients $50 a ton to dump their
waste at the compost plant.
One caution when picking up institutional compost!
First in England, and now here in the States, there has been some chemical contamination to compost by Dow weed killer aminopyralid (ingredient in Banish, Milestone, Forefront, Halcyon, Runway) and/or by their herbicide, clopyralid (sold as Reclaim, Stinger, Hornet, Transline, Confront, Lontrel, Curtail and Millenium Ultra). The former is used by horse and cattle owners to control weeds- and therefore gets in hay and manure. The later used as broadleaf weed control on residential lawns. Both persistent chemicals' residues have wreaked much damage as compost in vegetable gardens. Tomatoes wilt and die when exposed to these chemicals. Many other vegetables wither or become deformed. Please check to see if your municipalities' public compost is contaminated before using.
Household Composting:
When organic waste decomposes in oxygen-poor landfills it generates large amounts of methane (which is 23 times more potent than CO2). When composting waste in the presence of oxygen, methane production is reduced. Composting also helps soil to store more carbon and produces a nutrient-rich material that helps eliminate the need for artificial fertilizers.
When organic waste decomposes in oxygen-poor landfills it generates large amounts of methane (which is 23 times more potent than CO2). When composting waste in the presence of oxygen, methane production is reduced. Composting also helps soil to store more carbon and produces a nutrient-rich material that helps eliminate the need for artificial fertilizers.
For those who are considering starting a compost at home--- or need a bit of advice---
this is the best article on home composting I have come across---
www.motherearthnews.com/Compost-Made-Easy
Cold Winters:
But, I did not see cold winters mentioned in the above article.
This is what I learned this past winter-
In the fall- close up your summer/fall pile and start a winter pile.
If need be, put your summer/fall compost in a bag or receptacle.
Start winter pile with a layer of leaves, or seaweed, or newspaper on the bottom to add insulation.
Remember the microbes are still at work in the winter- they just slow down to a crawl...
Do not turn the compost in the winter, the heat will remain in the inside layers.
Keep the pile slightly moist. Check moisture once a month.
In the spring, the winter pile will speed up.
A clear plastic cover, or bubble wrap, will allow more heat in from the sun.
And, if you are really serious, you can make an outdoor compost box out of old windows or a plexi-glass sheet...
Or, just keep your winter compost in the sun. For ease of access keep it close to the back door, or in the garage, if that works.
Urbanites must use worms. Remember though, worms die below 35F, so do not stick your compost out on the balcony!
Food scraps were 12.7% of waste generated 2008, while yard trimmings were 13.2%
Only 2.5% of all waste food was composted in 2008 – the rest went to landfill or incinerators. www.epa.gov
Further Reading:
www.peninsulacompostcompany.com
www.jgpress.com/archives/_free/001710.html
planetark.org/wen/56333
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