Composting

Hot Composting:

Uses insulation to generate and retain high temperatures for rapid breakdown

Produces compost the quickest, but requires frequent mixing and moisture monitoring.

Cost: Moderate to High

Odor: Low if managed properly, can become high with neglect.

Time Frame: Weeks to a few months, depending on materials and management.

Bin Composting:

Mulched waste contained in removable bins with periodic turning

Useful for smaller volumes with better control, but small batch size limits heat retention.

Cost: Low to Moderate

Odor: Low to Moderate, depends on proper turning and aeration.

Time Frame: Several months to a year, influenced by turning frequency.

Trench Compost:

Organic waste buried in trenches and covered with soil. Simple trench system.

Cost: Low

Odor: Low due to burial, minimal exposure.

Time Frame: Months to over a year, slower due to minimal aeration.

Pros - Simple and low labor trench digging system. Buried waste has little exposed odor.

Cons - Slower degradation rate due to minimal mixing or aeration. End compost more variable.

Sheet Composting:

Thin layers of organic materials applied directly as mulch over soil.

Very low labor, allows in-situ composting prior to bed preparation but can be slow

Cost: Low

Odor: Low, but may take time for materials to break down.

Time Frame: Months to a year, gradual breakdown over time.

Static Pile Compost:

Compost pile is not turned. Simple but slower breakdown.

Cost: Low

Odor: Low to Moderate over time, especially with lower aeration.

Time Frame: Several months to a year or more, slower without turning.

Pros - Easy to set up and maintain. Low labor requirement.

Cons - Slow breakdown. More odor over long composting time. Lower aeration leads to lower quality compost over time.

Aerated Static Pile:

Compost is aerated mechanically or by air pumps to speed decomposition. Uses perforated piping under pile to introduce and distribute air flow.Forced aeration speeds process but at higher complexity and cost

Cost: Moderate to High

Odor: Low with forced aeration, but energy-intensive.

Time Frame: Weeks to a few months, accelerated breakdown with forced aeration.

Pros - Forced aeration accelerates breakdown process. Can handle large volumes. Automated systems available.

Cons - Energy required to power aeration system. Higher capital costs. More technical complexity.

Windrow Compost:

Long rows of compost turned regularly to aerate. Efficient for large volumes

Cost: Moderate

Odor: Moderate, exposed windrows can contribute to odor.

Time Frame: Several months, regular turning speeds up the process.

Pros - Efficient for large volumes. Regular turning aerates materials for faster compost.

Cons - Labor intensive turning. Exposed windrows can lead to more odor. Variable moisture and aeration can affect end quality.

Vermicompost:

Uses worms to break down waste. Produces high quality compost.

Cost: Low to Moderate

Odor: Low, well-managed systems have minimal odor.

Time Frame: Weeks to a few months, efficient breakdown with worms.

Pros - Produces high quality compost and "compost tea". Worms continually aerate materials. Low odor production.

Cons - Regular maintenance of worm population and moisture levels required. Limited to relatively small volumes.

Continuous Flow Vermicompost:

Waste is continuously added to the top and castings are easily harvested from the bottom.

Cost: Moderate

Odor: Low with proper balance, risk of odor if not managed well.

Time Frame: Ongoing, continuous addition and harvesting.

Pros – Steady addition of waste matches natural worm population expansion. Less labor intensive monitoring.

Cons – Requires careful control of population and environment balance. Risk of toxic overloads upsetting system.

Black Soldier Fly Compost:

Black Soldier Fly larvae break down waste. Produces compost and insect protein.

Cost: Low to Moderate

Odor: Low if managed properly, potential odor from larvae frass.

Time Frame: Weeks to a few months, rapid reduction in volume.

Pros - Reduces volume quickly. Produces compost and insect biomass. Insects self-regulate populations.

Cons - Requires insect population maintenance. Potential odor from larval frass. Need output processing systems.

Bokashi:

Fermented bran speeds breakdown to produce nutrient-rich compost. Requires two stage process.

Cost: Low

Odor: Low during fermentation, stronger odor during the second composting stage.

Time Frame: Weeks for fermentation, additional time for the second composting stage.

Pros - Composts faster via fermentation. Lower odor during fermentation stage. Nutrient rich end product.

Cons - Requires two stage composting. Leachate can have strong odor during second composting stage.

Jadam Liquid Compost:

Fermented plant extract adds microbes/nutrients. Can be used as compost tea.

Cost: Low

Odor: Low, depends on the materials used for fermentation.

Time Frame: Weeks for fermentation, ongoing production for extracts.

Pros – Simple fermentation of plant juices to create microbe rich amendment. Adds nutrients and organic matter.

Cons – Regular production of extracts requires plant matter inputs. Benefits highly dependent on materials used.

Anaerobic Digestion:

Composting occurs without oxygen via microorganism breakdown in a closed vessel

Produces biogas and nutrient rich compost, but systems require technical expertise

Cost: High

Odor: Can be high if not well-controlled, closed vessel helps contain odors.

Time Frame: Weeks to months, influenced by the digestion process in a closed vessel.

Pros – Not only produces compost, but also creates usable biogas.

Cons – high cost and more complicated procedure.

Johnson-Su Bioreactor:

Passive composting system designed for the production of soil rich in microbes and fungi. It consists of a 4' diameter cylinder made of metal mesh placed on a pallet that is wrapped in weed barrier fabric with perforated pipes placed in the middle to add aeration making it not needed to be turned.

Cost: Low

Odor: No odors or associated insects.

Time Frame: 9 months to a year for the composting period.

Pros – Simple and low cost to build. Creates fungally-dominated compost.

Cons – Slower composting method. Removing perforated pipes can be difficult.