Choosing a composting method

Choose an approach that best suits your reasons for making compost, the location of the compost site and

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.

Easy way to make compost

When is the compost finished?

There is no fixed time to produce finished compost. Duration depends on feedstocks, composting method
used and management. It can take as little as three  months and as long as

The Role of Composting

As it will be described in other chapters, composting has been used for many years
throughout the world in the stabilization of organic residues. Initially, in the management
of municipal solid waste (MSW), the emphasis was on composting the organic fraction
of MSW; sewage sludge (biosolids) was regarded principally as a source of nitrogen and
phosphorous, and to a lesser extent of potassium for enriching the organic matter and
thus promoting the compost process (Rodale, 1943; Truman, 1949; Golueke, 1950, 1953,
1972, 1977).