the amount of specialized equipment you have available to produce compost (the Figure). Where you
are located is important from environmental impact and potential nuisance perspectives. For example,
composters located in rural areas need to be concerned that composting activities don't adversely
affect surface and ground waters, but they usually are less concerned about neighbor complaints related to
odors, noise and dust. Composting sites located in rural-urban and urban areas often are forced to use
high technology options to minimize nuisance complaints.
The decisions about technology options and management intensity can be viewed as a continuum (the Figure). If you are new to composting and want to make compost exclusively for your own use, you might
start out at the low to intermediate scale. Later if you decide to make a saleable product or expand your site,
you might decide that you can justify the costs of higher technologies and more intensive management.
“Low technology” composting Low technology options usually go hand-in-hand with
minimal management. Examples include static, passively aerated piles where you would use dry and
large-particle size feedstocks to give the compost pile sufficient porosity. Use of a bucket loader to turn piles
infrequently (every two weeks) would also be considered a low-technology option for on-farm
composting. These options make the most sense for individuals in rural areas making compost largely for
their own use.
“Intermediate” technology options Intermediate technology - moderate management intensity includes turned windrow composting using non-specialized equipment. The most common example is building and turning piles using a manure spreader. These windrows would likely be turned once per week during the active phase of composting and then monthly during the curing phase. The passively aerated windrow system (PAWS) would also be considered an intermediate technology option because the composter will need some kind of equipment to premix feedstocks and will need to purchase perforated pipe for placement underneath
the compost pile. Management of the PAWS system is intensive in the pile establishment phase, but minimal
thereafter. Both of these intermediate technology options are suited to rural or rural-urban fringe
locations. Composts produced using these methods would be best suited to internal use, unless the
composter can demonstrate product consistency over time.
“High technology” composting High technology options usually include specialized composting equipment: tractor-pulled or self-propelled windrow turners, forced aeration systems with perforated pipes and blowers and enclosed (or in-vessel) systems. These require serious financial and labor commitments. Use of these technologies are justified when the composter intends to make a saleable product and when the compost site is located either on the rural-urban boundary or within an urban setting. Management intensity of these systems is usually high. For turned windrow systems, windrows are usually turned 2-3x/week during the active phase of composting (minimum of 1x/week) and then 1-2x/ month during curing. For the forced-aerated and enclosed technologies, you will need to monitor the equipment to make sure that air
flow and moisture are optimized to produce the desired temperature range.
