The Hottest Mess
Composting is a beautiful natural process, and it can happen in many ways.
Takeaway: Microbes Good, Landfill Bad
Organic material is going to decompose no matter what. However, the conditions surrounding that process can have an enormous effect on how it happens.
Food waste in the landfill gets compressed and deprived of oxygen. Our microbe friends can’t work their magic. So, the waste releases methane as it decomposes.
When composted, the microbes get to breathe, and they transform organic matter into luscious, finished compost while producing drastically less emissions.
You can get worms to help, too! Vermiculture is great for smaller spaces. Obviously Compost loves worms, and all invertebrates, but our microbes get top priority. We aerate our piles, and the regular infusions of oxygen make the microbes crazy happy. But the happy microbe party gets so hot (140F) that worms can’t survive.
Aerated Static Composting.
Actually, our shit doesn’t stink, thank you very much.
We construct cubical bins which are paneled with wire mesh. Beneath each bin is a grid of perforated pipes. At regular intervals, an air blower forces air through the pipes, delivering oxygen to the center of the pile.
The simple addition of blown air yields wonderful efficiency. Compost aerated in this manner heats up very quickly, which mitigates odor, and speeds up the processing and curing process. The pile does not require turning and uses less land space than windrow composting.