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Hot Compost In NYC

  • Writer: Danna
    Danna
  • Apr 19, 2020
  • 5 min read

Updated: Apr 26, 2021



Tracking the temperature of a compost pile


My first experience with compost was, unknowingly, in my own backyard. My mother use to collect egg shells, crush them and sprinkle them over the soil. At the time I was probably around 10 years old and didn't think twice about it. About 9 years later I was sitting in a Soils and Vegetation course in college and learning about how vital compost was to a farmer in India whose land had become barren. Compost brought the soil back to life and saved his family from starvation. Still, it wasn't until a few years later that I was able to compost my self.


A NYC apartment is not exactly the place you would imagine composting is possible and yet I found my self immersed in its process.


 

What is Compost?


Compost is essentially humus. The difference being that humus is the natural process of decomposition of organic matter while compost is human aided decomposition of organic matter. There are many different methods of compost developed.



Why is Compost Important?


Compost provides the soil with almost all the organic matter necessary to increase cation exchange capacity (CEC). Therefore increasing fertility and reducing need for chemical fertilizers as well as providing soil with beneficial bacteria and fungi. It also helps improve soil structure and influences the soils pH in turn affecting nutrient availability. Basically if you want healthy beautiful looking plants you may want to add compost.


It is also a method of deterring organic material from ending up at a landfill. Landfills contribute to pollution and risk of environmental hazard such as production of toxins, leachate and greenhouse gases. Data from the 2017 Waste Characterization Study, NYC Residential Waste Profile states that over 30 % of waste discarded by NY residents are suitable for composting. This waste is made up of 21% food waste, 8% food-soiled paper and 6% yard waste. .


How to: Outdoor Composting*


Compost is made up of 5 factors: ingredients, moisture, oxygen, size of ingredients and lastly the size and shape of compost bin or pile.


Combining browns and greens to build a wire bin

Looking Inside a windrow at Earth Matter NY

  1. The process begins with collecting the ingredients to create the ideal carbon to nitrogen ratio. All organic matter contains carbon and nitrogen. The amount of each in organic matter varies depending on material. Ingredients high in carbon like wood chips, dry leaves, paper, are considered browns. High in nitrogen ingredients like fresh moist fruits, vegetables and garden trimming, coffee grounds, are termed greens. A good rule of thumb is add two parts brown and one part greens.

  2. Chop up greens to increase surface area and promote decomposition. Mix with chopped browns. Regularly mix recipe. Cap pile* with a layer of browns to buffer potential odors produced by food waste and avoid pests like flies and rodents.

  3. Maintain a moisture range that is most hospitable for aerobic decomposers, 45-65 %. When necessary add water, you may also use this time to adjust size of pile, add more greens or adjust the shape of the pile to increase or decrease water retention.

  4. Make sure there is enough oxygen in the pile, ideally 10% . Decomposers consume oxygen as they work. Turning and mixing materials helps break up any sneaky anaerobic pockets. A trick is to add bulking agents to create air pockets and prevent compaction or for larger piles it may be recommended to install an aeration system. Keep the pile Aerobic! a sign of your pile becoming anaerobic is the smell. A healthy pile will have an earthy smell, an anaerobic pile will smell like rotten food. A bulk density test can determine the amount of pore space available to accommodate oxygen.

  5. Be considerate of the size and shape of your bin or pile.Piles that are at least one cubic yard will likely retain heat even the during coldest winters. The pile can be shaped to increase or decrease water capture. Larger bins contain enough decomposers to generate the appropriate heat required to speed up the decomposition and kill potentially harmful pathogens. On the other hand very large piles can get too hot, and would require adjustments to keep temperatures below 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The right size and shape of bin or pile will influence how often you need to turn and water your ingredients. Some options include wire bins, wood bins, plastic bins, metal bins, tumblers. Single vs. multi bin systems, piles, windrows, trench, or even sheet (lasagna).

  6. Keep track of temperature changes. Changes in ranges are representative as a different phase in decomposition. The first mesophilic stage begins within a few days of creating the pile*and can last up to 2 weeks, during this phase the temperatures range from 68-104 degrees Fahrenheit. Then comes the thermophilic stage that lasts from 3 weeks to several months at 105-150 degrees Fahrenheit. Following the thermophilic stage, you can keep the pile around 130 degrees to further the reduction of pathogens. Otherwise the pile will go to a second round of its mesophilic stage at temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit lasting one to several months, cooling and maturing until the pile is complete. During each of these phases the temperatures will influence what kind of decomposition is occurring and who is doing the decomposing. Decomposer organisms in a compost pile are an important part of complex ecosystem that is required to decompose organic waste. The chemical decomposers are microorganisms that create enzymes or acids to break down the organic matter to forms that they can consume. These decomposers are Bacteria and Fungi. Fungi are predominantly mesophilic they break down tougher more complex matter that is too dry, acidic or low in nitrogen. The other powerhouse of decomposers are physical decomposers aka macro-organisms, such as worms, mites, flies and snails. These physical decomposers are most active in piles below 104 degrees.

  7. At end of process you may sift to remove materials that may not have fully decomposed or are inorganic materials that may have made their way into system. Finally the result of all that work is COMPOST, ready to use.

*process assuming the compost is made in 1 cubic yard pile.


Additionally tips for odor control which may be a sign of anaerobic decomposition: mix pile add more dry brown. If material is in a bin allow the bin to drain excess moisture add more dry brown and turn. If you are not able to compost organic material immediately, consider freezing it until you are ready to begin composting.


Indoor Composting?


Options for indoor composting are limited. The most common is through a worm bin. This method will produce high quality vermicompost, aka black gold! Its not only rich in nutrients, but it is the safest to use indoors.


 

As I mentioned before there are many benefits to composting. But unless you have the space for it, what options do you have to get involved? I had the fortune of learning about the NYC Compost Project. This project was developed by the New York Department of Sanitation in 1993 to help rebuild the soils of NYC. They do this in partnership with local community organizations by providing New Yorkers like myself with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to produce and use compost locally. Through this program I met some incredible people who are actively involved in community gardens or in creating their own community compost and or drop off sites.


Currently, because of COVID-19 food scrap drop off sites are closed and curbside compost pickups have been stopped, but this is only temporary. Once curbside composting resumes and drop off sites are opened. You will most likely see me dropping off food scraps at my local farmers market. If you do, don't hesitate to say, Hi!


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