Choosing a Compost System
Choosing the right method, or, better yet, a combination of compost methods, is important.
There are a lot of different ways to compost organic waste. Some methods don't require any special tools or even a compost bin. Other methods rely on the design of a compost bin to speed up the process. Some cost a lot of money and some don't cost very much at all. Some methods are only suitable for small quantities of waste and others can handle large volumes. Some require more work than others and some require that you have a higher level of technical knowledge about the composting process. Not all composting methods are suitable for all types of organic wastes.
The best thing you can do is to pick and choose a combination of the methods and tools available to create a compost system that will suit your budget, the type and volume of waste you have, your technical knowledge and your enthusiasm.
Ask yourself some questions
What materials would you like to compost?
Food scraps, Grass clippings, Yard and garden waste, Leaves, Livestock manure How much waste do you have?
Kitchen scraps from a two person household?
Or do you have a dozen kids, a half acre lawn and six horses? How much space do you have?
Allow room for your compost bin, room for storage of raw materials like wood chips and other bulking agents and you will probably need some room for a compost curing pile Why are you composting?
Are you highly motivated? Some people really want the compost for their garden, and they really want to keep all those valuable nutrients out of the landfill and they really like the idea that they are not only saving money but they are also saving the planet.
Other folks think all of the above are nice ideas but they really just want some place to put the grass clippings and would really just rather go fishing.
TYPES OF COMPOST METHODS
Dig a Hole and Bury It
PROS:
CONS:
Not suitable for large volumes of waste Requires dedicated space for a year or more Ground may freeze solid in winter Recommended for a limited range of waste types, primarily food scraps
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Mulching
PROS:
Conserves moisture in the soil Suppresses weed growth and seed germination Moderate’s soil temperature year round Prevents soil erosion and compacting Also can be used for soft paving of paths and play areas
CONS:
Woody mulch competes with plants for nitrogen if deep in soil Can spread weeds through seeds or spores Grass clippings treated with weed killers may poison other plants if used as mulch
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Grass-Cycling
PROS:
Eliminates the need to bag grass clippings Adds nutrients to your lawn Reduces the number of grass clippings going to the landfill
CONS:
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Heap
PROS:
Inexpensive Low maintenance
CONS:
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 Pallet Holding System
PROS:
CONS:
Pallets are irregularly sized and sometimes broken Used pallets can look unattractive Heavy and bulky to move In static holding system expect slower composting rate
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Wire Mesh Holding Bin
PROS:
CONS:
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Plastic Holding Bins
PROS:
CONS:
Some have limited holding capacity Relatively expensive Door may not open easily, especially if compost has compacted at bottom of bin
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2-bin Turning System
PROS:
Can produce high-quality compost in a shorter amount of time Allows composting of large volumes of yard debris Concrete block system is durable and long-lasting
CONS:
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3-bin Turning System
PROS:
Can produce compost in a shorter amount of time Allows composting of large volumes of yard debris Concrete block system is durable and long-lasting
CONS:
Can be expensive to build Requires careful attention to composting guidelines in order to achieve rapid composting Labor intensive Requires fairly large amount of space
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Barrel Turning System
PROS:
High degree of pest resistance Makes turning of materials easier Finished compost in short period of time
CONS:
Requires careful attention to composting details in order to achieve rapid composting Relatively expensive Full barrel is heavy Must compost in batches, so you may have to stockpile fresh materials
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Worm Bin
PROS:
Can compost food and paper waste year round Produces high quality worm castings Can be scaled to match volume of food waste Rapid composting rate with minimal effort
CONS:
Must protect worms from hot sun and freezing weather Requires timely attention to maintenance Moderately expensive to get started Too much moisture or over feeding can kill worms
Comparing the Types of Compost Methods
You can divide the composting methods into two groups: Passive and Turning.
Passive Systems tend to cost less and require less work. They are called passive systems because you take a passive role in the compost process, that is, you pretty much don't intervene once the process is set in motion. The trade off is that the rate of composting tends to be fairly slow.
Turning Systems are designed to accommodate your intervention into the process. Theoretically your intervention, mostly turning the composting materials and maintaining moisture levels, will accelerate the rate of decomposition.
There are two tables for each of the Passive and Turning compost method groups. One of the tables shows which waste types are suitable for the methods that can be employed. The other table gives relative values for
Volume: of waste the method is capable of processing Cost: of equipment needed to employ the method Work: physical labor required to keep the system working Complexity: the level of technical knowledge required Space: the amount of space the method requires
Passive Composting
Turning Compost Systems
Klickitat County Solid Waste
in cooperation with Underwood Conservation District
and the Washington State Department of Ecology Sustainability Group
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