HOME COMPOSTING:

Recycling our kitchen waste

By
GRACE P. SAPUAY
Solid Waste Management Specialist
Founder, KaliKaSan

What is composting?
Composting is the purposeful biodegradation or
decomposition of organic matter such as kitchen
wastes or yard wastes.
It is the oldest and most natural form of recycling
organic (biodegradable) materials.

What is Organic Matter?

Organic matter: matter that came from a
once-living organism, composed of
organic compounds and capable of decay.
Examples:
plants

animals

What is compostable material?

A compostable material biodegrades
substantially under specific composting
conditions. It is metabolized by the
microorganisms, being incorporated into
the organisms or converted into humus.
The size of the material is a factor in
determining compostability, and
mechanical particle size reduction can
speed the process.

What is a biodegradable material?

A biodegradable material is capable of being
completely broken down under the action of
microorganisms into carbon dioxide, water
and biomass. When sufficient humidity,
oxygen and the appropriate amount of
microorganisms are present, which usually
exists in manure, the biodegradable
products will be broken down into H2O and
CO2 by microorganisms in 20-45 days.

What is home composting?

Home composting is recycling our own
biodegradable kitchen waste into usable
form: humus soil.

Why do we need to compost our

kitchen waste?
1. It is a great way of recycling kitchen
waste
2. So that our house dont smell of rotting
garbage when the garbage collector
doesnt collect on time.
3. Compost is a great way of replenishing
nutrients in the soil .

The home composting process

1. Prepare a suitable composting container

2. . Cut or mince your kitchen waste

3. Place your minced kitchen waste in your

compost bin or clay pot

Cover the kitchen waste with soil

Leave your composting materials to

biodegrade
It takes between nine and twelve months for your
compost to become ready for use, so now all you
need to do is wait and let nature do the work. Keep on
adding greens and browns to top up your compost.

Use your compost

What to compost
Greens: quick to rot and
provide important nitrogen
and mositure
Tea bags
Vegetable peelings, salad
leaves and fruit scraps
Old flowers
Coffee grounds and filter paper

Browns:
Slower to rot, provide carbon & fibre and allow
air pockets to form.
Cardboard
Egg boxes
Scrunched up paper
Fallen leaves
Sawdust

Twigs, branches and bark

What not to compost

Certain things should never be placed in
your bin.
Meat
Cooked vegetables
Dairy products

Diseased plants
Dog poo or cat litter
Nappies
Perennial weeds or weeds with seed heads

Recycling makes a real difference in

protecting our environment.
Our household waste also effects climate change...

Do the GREEN THE GREEN THING.