COMMUNITY LEVEL COMPOSTING OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

RISE-AT Waste Management Factsheet 2
Community Level Composting of Municipal Solid Waste
Figure 9 : Turning Procedure for Aeration Tunnel (method 2)
Section Through Pile Ready for Turning
Section Through New
Pile
1
2
gap approx 1m
Vacant Aeration Tunnel
1
2
1
2
1
STEP 4 – HOW TO SCREEN AND MATURE THE COMPOST
The compost is ready when it has become a dark, crumbly texture and has a fresh, slightly
sweet smell. Very little of the original organic material should be identifiable. A constant
temperature, below 45°C, also indicates that the process is complete. Depending on
conditions, (moisture level/ number of times the compost has been turned, etc), the
compost should be ready after about 4 – 5 weeks. Again, pilot tests monitoring
temperature should be used to determine the time accurately for a new composting
facility.
Following the completion of this composting stage the compost must enter a maturing
stage, which should be at least 2 weeks. This ensures that the compost is completely
matured and safe to use.
For the maturing stage the compost can be left in the pile or removed from the
pile/windrow and moved to another area. In this way the windrow area can be used for
new incoming waste. The size of the maturing pile is not so critical and the compost can be
left in the pile until it is required for use.
After the maturing phase the compost will require screening before it is ready to be sold
as a soil conditioning product. (Alternatively this screening can be done before the
maturing process if preferred.) This screening phase will remove any large pieces of
cloth/plastic/glass etc that may not have been removed in the initial sorting process. This
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