12 Things to consider when choosing a composter

12 things to consider when choosing a composter

This is a rough guide to consider what it is you want out of composting and things to think about that might affect your decision.   We all have different needs so one system might suite one person but not you.  It’s up to you to choose a method that works for you.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website.

1. What is it you hate about composting?

• The time it takes to manage some composters – and/or it’s a chore
• Smell produced by some composters
• Difficulty with getting the right nitrogen/carbon mix
• Don’t like big composters taking up space or being visible in the garden
• Vermin they attract – flies and rats or snakes nesting inside them
• The continuous cost of any extra product to make some composters work

2. What do you want to achieve by composting?

Or – What do you like about Composting.

• Produce soil to use for growing veggies and ornamental plants
• Can’t stand smelly council bins
• Don’t want to use fertilizers in your garden
• Prefer a more organic system
• Want to help the environment
• Just want good soil in your backyard
• Hate throwing your waste in the council bin or
• Storing waste overnight in a freezer
• Can’t stand smelly council bins

3.  What do you want to compost?

• All your kitchen waste or just some of it.
• Worm friendly waste only
• Garden waste, green waste, grass clippings, weeds etc
• Paper, cardboard, junk mail, old bills
• Animal excrement – dog and cat poo in particular
• Farm animal waste

4.  Do you have animals that get a portion or all of your waste?

• Chickens / Ducks / Geese / Guinea Pigs / Rabbits
• Horses / Cows / Goats / Pigs / Sheep
• Dogs / Cats
• Wildlife – Bandicoots / Foxes / Busk Turkeys / Antechinus / Racoons (Canada)
• Ground Hogs & Prairie dogs (America)

5.  How much time do you have to compost?

• Your time is your own – unlimited (retired perhaps)
• You have some time but prefer to use it for gardening or other activities
• You are too busy to compost 
• You have children that can do it for you

6.  Do you grow or want to grow vegetables?

• You want to grow your own vegetables
• You already grow your own vegetables
• You want to teach the kids how to grow their own vegetables
• You have not had much success with propagating and growing your own food

7. Your physical fitness?

• Back problems – Can’t lift heavy weights Can’t bend down
• Disabilities – wheelchair bound
• Age
• General health

8. Size of your property?

• Farmland – unfenced / fenced
• Large / small urban block
• Courtyard
• Unit / Balcony
• Other

9. How many people in your household?

• One person
• Two people
• A family of three to five
• A family of five to ten
• More

10. How much waste do you produce?

• One bucket full a day
• One bucket full every 2 to 3 days
• One bucket full once a week
• One bucket full every two weeks
• More than one bucket a day

11. What is your climate like?

• Temperate
• Tropical
• Sub-Tropical
• Cold
• Arctic – You live in the snow perhaps
• Desert – Hot and dry

12. What type of soil do you have?

• Normal
• Sandy / Sandy Loam
• Clay / Clay Loam
• Shale or Caliche soil
• Introduced top soil
• Raised Garden Beds – a mixture

8 Different Methods of Composting

1.  Open air composting (hot /cold composting)

2. Direct Composting (trench or in-ground composting)

3. Tumbler composting (A form of hot composting)

4. Worm composting (Vermicomposting)

5. EMO composting (Bacteria composting)

6. Compot Composting (Combination Composting)

7. Commercial Composting

8. Mechanical Composting

8 Methods of Composting
Pros and Cons of Open Air Composting
Pros and Cons of Trench Composting
Pros and Cons of Tumbler Composting
Pros and Cons of Worm Farm Composting
Pros and Cons of EMO Composting
Pros and Cons of Combined Compot Composting
Pros and Cons of Commercial Composting
Pros and Cons of Mechanical Compostingeo.

Shop Compots

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Learn about composting principles©

The demand for composting services is growing in the United States. Commercial composting businesses collect organic waste from businesses and individuals to turn it into nutrient-rich compost. This compost can then be sold and used for landscaping, gardening and growing fruit & vegetables.

When you start a compost business, it is important to have the right compost equipment and compost tools to get the job done. These composting tools help save time, energy and they make composting easier, more efficient, and more effective. For example, investing in an excavator to move piles of compost. This can save you a lot of effort than shoveling and moving it all yourself!

What compost equipment do I need for my business?

In our last blogs, we found out all the reasons you should start a composting business & how to set up a composting business. If you're planning on starting a commercial composting business in the United States, there are a few essential pieces of equipment you'll need. Here's a list of the most important compost tools, and why each piece is important for your composting business.

Compost equipment for a small-scale business

If you are just starting out with your compost business, you might want to keep costs as low as possible. Focus on spending money on key composting tools or ones that will help you save time and money. Here is a list of compost tools for a small-scale compost business.

Collection containers

You will be collecting lots of organic waste from businesses and individuals. To do this, you'll need containers that are specifically designed for collecting organic waste. These containers should be sturdy, easy to clean, and weather resistant.

Small truck or trailer

You might want to get a small truck or trailer so that you can drive your collection containers to your customers to collect their composting waste.

Good quality shovel and pitchfork

You will be moving and turning piles of compost so a sturdy shovel and pitchfork is a must!

Compost bins

Depending on the size of your compost piles, compost bins are covered bins that protect your pile from drying out or getting too much water. It also helps keep the temperature of your compost pile warm, helping breakdown your material. For larger piles, bins aren’t big enough - you’ll need to cover your piles in plastic.

Goto Anhui Tian jian to know more.

Compost sifter

Once you have made your compost you will need to make sure that it is free from plastic and large rocks. A dirt sifter or screener is perfect for this as the wire mesh allows the fine compost to fall through, separating it from the unwanted materials. You can pick up a small, basic compost sifter for only a few dollars and as your business grows you can think about investing in a trommel.

Compost equipment for a large-scale business

Collection containers

Just like in the section above, collection containers are important for safely storing and transporting your compost feedstocks. For larger businesses, you will need a fleet of these!

Dump trucks

Once you've collected the organic waste, you'll need a way to move it to your composting facility. This is where trucks come in. These trucks should be large enough to hold the waste you collect, and should be designed with features that make it easy to unload the waste at your facility.

Excavators and Loaders

An excavator can help move large amounts of compost materials easily. They can help turn your compost pile and loosen dense material, making it easier for oxygen to mix and speed up the composting process. Excavators are great for loading trucks and sorting materials so you don't have to move large piles by hand.

Compost turners

Once the organic waste is at your site, it needs to be turned regularly to aerate (mix in air) the compost and help it break down. This is where compost turners come in. These machines are designed to mix and aerate the compost, and can make the process much more efficient.

Compost turner

Compost aerators

There are lots of different ways to mix air into your compost pile. Compost aerators are important as they help to circulate air - important for speeding up composting. Compost aerators are available in different forms such as manual hand tools, electric power tools and machines, so you can choose one depending on your budget and needs. You can also lay down clay pipes with holes in them and put in units that blow air directly into the piles - the video below explains everything you need to know!

Pipes used for aerating compost

Compost screeners and sifters

As the compost breaks down, it will need to be screened. This removes any large pieces of debris that didn't break down completely or any plastic waste. Screening your compost is important if you want to produce a high-quality product. Scalping screens are great for screening compost but the best machine for the job is a trommel. Find out more about trommels here in our blog.

Moisture meters

In order for the compost to break down properly, it needs to be at the right moisture level (the amount of water). Too much moisture can lead to anaerobic decomposition, which can produce odors and attract pests. Too little moisture can slow down the composting process. Moisture meters can help you monitor the moisture level of your compost, so you can make sure it's at the perfect level.

Thermometers

The temperature of the compost is another important factor in the composting process. Too low of a temperature can slow down the process, while too high of a temperature can kill the bacteria that are breaking down the organic waste. Thermometers can help you monitor the temperature of your compost, so you can make sure it's at the right level.

Conveyors

Conveyors are a great investment for a composting business as they can move your screened compost directly from the screener to stockpile it far away from your machines. You also won’t need to move your piles with an excavator saving you lots of time driving about loading and unloading it.

Compost equipment summary

Overall, starting a commercial composting business in the United States requires a significant investment in equipment and infrastructure. But with the right equipment and a well-designed facility, you can provide a valuable service that helps businesses and individuals reduce their environmental impact and produce nutrient-rich compost for agriculture and gardening.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Commercial Food Waste Composting Equipment.