Serious Composting for Serious Recycling

Composting is actually an easy and efficient way to dispose of trash and recycle it back into your garden. Many believe that compost bins are big, smelly masses that are perhaps not worth the trouble. However, I would encourage even the part-time gardener or those with just small gardens to give composting a try. It will not only save you money in terms of not having to buy soil amendments, it will also help greatly in saving the environment by eliminating the amount of trash which finds its way into landfills. Here is a brief tutorial on the two main types of composting -- aerobic and anaerobic -- and some tips on successful composting.

Aerobic Composting

Aerobic (with air) composting tends to be the most common form of composting. It is easier, faster, and lacks the offensive odor often associated with the middle stage of anaerobic composting. Most commonly there will be three sections to a large bin, which is open to the air. The first section is for new materials, such as grass clippings, leaves, and vegetable waste. As this breaks down, it is moved into the second bin. Finally, after further breakdown, the material from the second bin is moved into the final bin, where it will turn into rich compost to be used in the garden. The three-section system is not always required. Many gardeners just place composting material into one big pile. Whichever system you use, one thing is definitely required: turning. The mass needs to be turned on a fairly regular basis (usually about once or twice a week) to encourage breakdown and heating of the pile. (Most well-maintained compost piles will reach temperatures of between 90 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. These high temperatures help kill harmful microbes.) The drawback to this form of composting, however, is that many of the nutrients are leached into the ground during the process.

Anaerobic Composting