Understanding the Process of Composting
Making your own compost from garden or household waste is one of the best ideas that anybody can think about it. Let us first talk about waste, from where it comes? We must have heard about wastes generated in kitchen, garden etc.. But do we realize where the waste goes after its disposal? Does it rotten up or does it get piled up somewhere? Is it consumed by other organisms? Or do we turn a blind eye towards it and allow the Municipal authorities to take care. However, it was of interest to us to see ourselves what exactly happens to the waste generated by us. The treatment it gets at the beginning and the phases there after.
What if the stinking waste gets converted magically to something beneficial? Keeping this in our mind we came up with a few bright ideas to make the best use of waste at source or at least minimizing the contribution of waste generated. Our office was the most suitable site to think of effective waste management. Apart from reducing waste production at source we thought of alternative ideas like composting the canteen waste, vermi composting the garden waste and recycling and reusing paper, tetra packs, plastics etc.
So, we decided upon treating the degradable wastes generated at our office premises. On experimental basis we thought of doing the 'compost' experiment on a small scale.
Plastic crates were arranged for this purpose. We categorized the canteen waste into cooked and uncooked types. We were curious to learn about the time period required for decomposition and changes happening with the waste in terms of color, texture, odors, pest problems etc.
We labeled the crates as follows:
Crate 1: Composting of canteen waste, leftover food(cooked)
Crate 2: Composting of vegetable peels (uncooked).
Treatment of waste , First Week, (5-12-09)
Cooked and uncooked waste from the canteen was collected separately in 2 crates. Both these wastes were mixed with dry leaves obtained from the garden. These crates were half filled with waste mixture and were kept one meter away from walls. Water was poured into these crates on alternate days. The mixture was mixed regularly.
In a day or two, we found ants all over the crates. The cooked and uncooked waste mixture started smelling slightly. To avoid this stench, we put magic powder + jivika powder (to enhance decomposition) in both crates.
Second Week (12-1209)
We observed that waste mixture mixed with powders reduced odors remarkably. Towards the end of this week, other than ants we also observed Millipedes. We had an idea that by regularly watering the crates would destroy ant nests and thus would avoid ants. The color of the waste was becoming darker. The waste in it looked like a paste when freshly watered.
Third week (18-12-09)
There were many changes observed during this week. There were several rats seen around the crates (canteen waste and vegetable waste). Rats had had made huge burrows around both the crates. The rats had also spread soil in
both crates. So, we tried clearing out the soil from these crates. (However, presence of soil would not harm the composting but the initial parameters kept in mind for decomposition would get disturbed). We now placed the crates on a firm base. We placed the crates on stone to avoid giving the direct exposure of the waste in the crates to the ground. We added the magic powder + jivika regularly along with water. Now the leaves started appearing dull. Grey, brown and black spot were found on the waste. Canteen waste began to decomposing at a faster rate. Towards the end of this week, we had to put powder many times because ants and rats did not stop coming (Some where the thought was that adding more of these powders would avoid intruders in our crates).
Fourth Week( 24-12-09)
The site of composting turned into a dilapidated condition and we could sense a horrible state ! Again there were severals big holes around both crates. We cleared the area around the crates and further made the foundation strong to place the crates.
Fifth Week, ( 31-12-09 )
We had to throw the cooked waste (there was no other go... despite the use of powders the strong smell continued). Since then, rats had disappeared from the spot (it was good news for us!). Ants and millipedes remained in both crates (but ants vanished when the crates were watered... anyway ants did not bother us now). We found that strong smell from crates because “microbes release gases during the process.” Jayashree Ramdas.(2001)
Sixth Week, (8-01-10)
Now, we had just one crate (uncooked waste). As usual, we added the powders. Towards the end of this week, waste mixture looked darker, the mixture became coarser. Water is poured and mixed properly. During hot days the mixture became dry. We learnt the importance of water for decomposition.
Seventh Week (16-01-10)
Water is poured into crate occasionally. Having put the water, it is mixed properly. We have put again the jivika powder in crate so that it will increase the process of decomposition……
Eighth Week (24-01-10)
Finally, we found that our sincere attempt has come into realization. This weekend, our composting has become ready for nurturing and increasing the fertility for soil and plants.
Reference
1- Jayashree Ramdas.(2001), Small Science, Class IV, teacher's Book, Chapter 10, What Is Thrown Out.
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