Anaerobic Composting

Anaerobic Composting / Conserving Valuable Resources Composting, often described as natures way of recycling, is the biological process of breaking up of organic waste such as food waste, manure, leaves, grass trimmings, paper, worms, and coffee grounds, etc., into an extremely useful humus-like substance. Today, the use of composting to turn organic wastes into a valuable resource is expanding rapidly in many countries, as landfill space becomes scarce and expensive, and as people become more aware of the impact they have on the environment.

Actinomycetes and More... Composting is nature's process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich humuslike soil booster known as compost. The primary microorganisms responsible for composting are bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. Actinomycetes are similar to fungus in the way they grow and spread, but its distinguishing elements are that the types of materials they are efficient at decomposing. The active nature in this microscopic bacteria and the sheer number present (about 10 million per 1 gram of soil), make them highly effective at breaking down materials like tree bark, newspaper, and other hard organic material. Compost is rich in nutrients that are ideal for soil and plants. Basically, composting is of two types namely aerobic composting and anaerobic composting.

Digging Deeper into the Process The term "anaerobic composting" is used to describe putrefactive breakdown of the organic matter by reduction in the absence of oxygen where end products such as CH4 and H2S are released. It is mostly produced in a closed system, perhaps in a plastic bag or a sealed bin or sometimes even in open exposed piles. This process also takes place in nature, such as decomposing organic mud at the bottom of marshes and in buried organic materials with no access to oxygen. Microorganisms that thrive in a low-oxygen environment (mostly bacteria) reduce nitrogen-containing or sulphurcontaining compounds found in organic matter to yield organic acids and gases (ammonia etc).

Mix it Up Anaerobic composting works best with nitrogen-rich materials such as non-fatty kitchen waste and soft green clippings. Although it is less labor intensive because it does not require

frequent turning of the pile but it is smellier (methane and sulphate gasses being the byproducts). Moreover, the compost maintains both weeds and pathogens, hence is a slower process. However the reduction in the volume of pile by anaerobic organisms is lot less than the aerobic organisms resulting in more humus. Avoid adding carbon-rich materials such as dry leaves, sawdust and woody yard waste as these materials can retard or even halt the anaerobic composting process. Composting may be accomplished in large, well packed stacks or other composting systems containing 40% to 75% moisture, into which little oxygen can penetrate, or in composting systems containing 80% to 99% moisture so that the organic material is a suspension in the liquid. When materials are composted anaerobically in this way, not covered with water, the odor nuisance may be quite severe. However, if material is kept submerged, gases dissolve in the water and are usually released slowly into the atmosphere. If the water is replaced from time to time when removing some of the material, no serious nuisance is created.

Bring the Heat Since there is no significant release of heat to the mass in anaerobic composting, one may assume that it can pose a problem for treatment of contaminated materials. High temperatures are needed to destroy pathogens and parasites. But high temperatures do not play a part in the destruction of pathogenic organisms in anaerobic composting. The pathogenic organisms gradually die in the organic mass, because of the unfavorable environment and to biological antagonisms. Their disappearance is slow and the material must be held for periods of six months to a year to ensure relatively complete destruction of Ascaris eggs.

4 Quick Tips Here are few things that you should keep in mind while composting anaerobically:
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A moist composting pile with a "slimy" consistency and a slight sulphur odor indicates your bin is working properly. Do not be panicked by the presence of insect larvae, worms, beetles, and other scavenging organisms. They are all a part of the composting process and also signify a productive bin. Remember not to open your anaerobic composting bin more than two times per week. A composting bin should be watered at least once a month or before it is dry. Over exposure to oxygen impedes beneficial microorganisms and slows efficient composting.

Sources http://www.rivenrock.com/composttypes.htm www.lessismore.org/.../Backyard%20Composting%20Program/Section%203%20%20%20An aerobic%20Composting.pdf http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/fundamentals/biology_anaerobic.htm

Anaerobic composting or composting without the presence of oxygen has been practiced for centuries. Records indicate that the Chinese are the oldest known civilization to practice this form of composting to fertilize their rice paddies. In more technical terms it is composting organic materials using living anaerobic organisms such as bacteria in an environment that has no oxygen present. This is the same process you will find occurring in nature as peat bogs and marshes. Unless you happen to have access to a large field of water you are going to have to find another way to create your anaerobic compost pile. While most composting experts will talk about not letting your compost piles get too wet or they will rot, anaerobic composting requires approximately 70% moisture levels in order for it to work properly.

The Standard Compost Pile

You can turn your current compost pile into an anaerobic one quite simply and effectively by adding plenty of water. Yes I know we have spent hours telling you how important it is to maintain moderate to low moisture levels, but with this type of composting you need to remove the oxygen from your compost pile. The water will drive out the oxygen and keep it out if you keep the water level high enough. By covering the pile to help keep in the moisture, you will end up with a slimy mess, which indicates that it is working properly. You should however, be prepared for a very odoriferous compost pile. This is really more suitable to households with larger tracts of land where the aforementioned odoriferous pile can be placed away from the house or the neighbors.

The Submerged Pile

This method of creating anaerobic compost is very similar to that which is has been in use by the Chinese for centuries and involves keeping your compost under water. For this you will need a large tank, plastic pool or tank that is big enough to hold your compost and then be filled with water. As your compost pile decomposes the odors are trapped in the water. While slightly more involved than a standard anaerobic compost pile, your neighbors will certainly appreciate it.

The Big Bag Theory

You have probably seen this method in use in the local farmers fields, this would be the long white bags that lay in the fields over the winter. This version is a little simpler and a lot smaller. You can use a large heavy duty plastic garbage bag. You first layer the bottom of the bag with soil or cured compost, then add your compost and add enough water to make everything moist. Seal the bag so that no air can get in and roll it to get things started and then leave it alone for 6-8 weeks.

No Hole in My Bucket
Off all the different forms of anaerobic composting, the bucket method is perhaps the easiest and least offensive. This is a long term project and will take up to a year to create the compost you are looking for. You simple cut the bottom from a five gallon bucket and plant it a few inches into the ground. You then fill it with your scraps and organic waste, place the lid on it and forget it for a year. Do not open until the year has passed or you will let in more oxygen

and ruin the process. At the end of the year you will have perfectly usable humus. All of these forms of anaerobic composting work well, some will produce more compost than others, while at the same time creating a rather smelly situation. Dont forget Bokashi composting which also uses the anaerobic composting method.