How do composted materials break down?

Question

I have a compost bin for pickup by our local garbage collection company, they come by once a week to pick up our composted waste materials... food scraps, used napkins, yard waste from the backyard, etc... how long does it actually take for these materials to break down into soil? How does that process work?

Answer 1

Composting can take as long as years or as little as a couple weeks. So many variables, temp, moisture, aeration, size of material, frequency of turning, kinds and ratios of material. Composting is part art, part science and part work. The process itself is the work of various bacteria, fungi and other "wee beasties". RScott

Answer 2

Easy ones (leaves) break down in a few months due to bacterial action. Heftier things like food scraps could take till next year for the same breakdown. Composting is not a quick process even under the best of conditions (lots of warmth and water).

The larger the pile of stuff you are composting the more it heats up and encourages the bacterial growth so the faster it works. When towns collect the stuff and do their own composting they throw in everything including small tree branches. After the composting they throw it into a screener that will take out any uncomposted trash before they consider it finished.

Answer 3

Mostly by bacterial action. As RScott said, it's part art, science and work. Composting works best when there is a proper mixture of materials containing carbon and those containing nitrogen. Turning the piles often introduces oxygen which the bacteria needs. Commercial or municipal composting operations use heavy equipment to turn the compost which is usually formed into long piles or windrows.

Visit our website for more compost info at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/compost.html

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 4

I examine someplace that the wee wee from an previous adult men who've been to the pub is what you may desire to characteristic on your compost to assist it smash down speedy. possibly you may desire to place your compost heap on the brink of the path and encourage previous adult men to "use it" on their way domicile after a drink!!! in easy terms a concept.

Answer 5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composting