Composting

Composting is a natural process in which aerobic organisms break down organic matter.  Controlled composting ensures the proper conditions (temperature, pH, types of organic residuals) are present to rapidly create quality compost.  Compost is a valuable soil amendment, providing organic matter and nutrients that enhance soil quality and crop growth.

Biosolids and other organic residuals are commonly composted in communities throughout North America.  Some of these residuals are composted with just wood chips and/or sawdust.  Others are co-composted with yard & leaf debris, food scraps, food processing residuals, pulp & paper mill residuals, wood ash, etc.

See:

• Biosolids Compost Fact Sheet, ACP, https://healthysoil.org (CA), 2020

• The Compost Story Video - from Kiss the Ground

• Biosolids Composting in the U. S. - 2010 Update (BioCycle, Dec. 2010)

• Profiles in Biosolids Composting Success (BioCycle, Jan. 2011)

• Biosolids Composting in the U. S. in 2010 (presentation to the NEWEA Annual Conference, Jan. 2011)

The Art of Composting - presentations at Tin Mountain Conservation Ctr., Albany, NH, May 23, 2013.

• The Art of Composting: The Basics (Olivia Saunders, UNH Cooperative Extension)

• The Many Benefits of Compost / Available Compost Products / Compost Quality & Safety (Ned Beecher, NEBRA)

Technical Details & Support for Composting:

• U. S. Composting Council - Resources

• Compost Council of Canada

• Compost Sampling Videos (Dec. 2018)

• Guidelines for Compost Quality, CCME, Canada, 2005

• Canadian BNQ & CCME compost quality standards, M. Hébert, 2012

A shout out to Connor Stevens from the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America for this helpful link: A Homeowner’s Guide to Composting. He found that guide and this webpage to be great resources as he pursued his Sustainability Merit Badge!

National Organizations

Compost Council of Canada
U. S. Composting Council
Research & Education Foundation
Institute for Local Self Reliance