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Composting
by Alasdair Meldrum
Published on this site: September 19th, 2006 - See
more articles from this month
What is composting?
Composting is a natural process which can mean different things to different
people. The term 'composting' is used to describe a wide range of activities,
from a heap of manure at the bottom of a garden to sophisticated treatment
processes for commercial wastes and is designed to reduce the quantity
of organic waste sent to landfills.
Community composting sites tend to be relatively small. A typical site
may process up to 200 tonnes of material a year. Commercial sites, where
composting is specifically a business activity, or local authority sites
set up to divert biodegradable material from landfill are much larger.
With some of the larger sites processing tens of thousands of tonnes each
year, materials handling equipment and systems become a necessity.
The purity of the product is very important and is graded according to
its organic purity. Glass is the main product that needs to be eliminated
to produce a compost that is pure enough for sale. This has caused a few
problems with some main commercial composting facilities therefore rendering
the compost to be used for capping material until a solution can be found.
But put simply, the microbes break down large molecules into smaller ones
that they can use as food. This releases heat energy, water and carbon
dioxide during the breakdown as by-products and it is this heat that causes
the temperature to rise, which is why compost heaps are often warm and
steamy.
Here are 5 reasons why everyone should consider composting:
- Composting reduces the environmental impact of having to incinerate
organic waste.
- Organic material can form up to 1/3 of our weekly waste. Without composting,
this goes straight to landfill. Composting minimises our landfill waste
and recycles it back into our gardens.
- Organic waste which is dumped in landfill rather than composted stagnates
and produces methane and toxic run-off which contaminates soil and groundwater.
- Composting can successfully be carried out at any level, from multi-acre
commercial or municipal windrows to simple backyard bins.
- Composting is fun, easy and very satisfying.
Composting is a fun and environmentally-friendly activity. It's something
anyone can do to make a positive contribution to helping the environment.
Albion Environmental Ltd can advise if you have any composting problems.
We have experience in helping our clients achieving PAS100:2005 status.
Alasdair Meldrum - is founder and director of Albion Environmental
Ltd. Specialising in providing training and consultancy services to to
waste management and environment industry across the UK.
http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk
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