ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the organic feedstocks amenable to composting, the programs and systems in use, legislative laws and initiatives relating to composting, fundamentals of the composting process, and information about the compost product's utilization and marketing. One half of the states support backyard composting programs. These programs include education, promotion, funding, and/or compost bin distribution. States have taken various approaches to encourage and manage the development and oversight of composting programs. Regardless of the technology used, control of the composting process is dependent on the control of a variety of parameters such as oxygen, moisture, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. The presence of water is necessary to the composting process, however the balance of water-to-solids is a delicate parameter that can have a large impact on aerobic activity. The composting process can be used to prepare woody and vegetative materials into a better mulch product, and in less time, than it would take to produce humus product (i.e., a mature compost).
