Saturday, July 26, 2008

Biodegradable Waste and Your Compost Pile

By: Zark Barker

Biodegradable waste is a type of compost that has elements which breakdown more easily. Bioplastics are plastics that come from plants sources like hemp and soy beans as well as corn starch, as opposed to traditional plastics which are derived from petroleum. Biodegradable waste is cheap and good for our environment. These types of plastics degrade when they're exposed to oxygen or light however it is not a microbial degradation and this does not happen in a commercial compost bin or unit.

Bioplastics are seeing a lot of popularity in Europe. They have been reported as accounting for up to 60% of the market for biodegradable materials market. The most common end use market is for packaging which is a continually growing market segment and upon which many entrepreneurs have capitalized.

Synthetic fibers and green waste are two other forms of popular biodegradable waste. There s a large variety of synthetic fibers that are used in place of those natural fibers. These fibers, polypropylene and polyethylene, may be incorporated into paper as a way of imparting desirable physical properties. These elements usually come from living organisms such as animals and plants.

Green waste is waste which can biodegrade, it's usually made up of grass cuttings, old flowers, bushes or tree trimmings as well. Generally any type of cuttings from either a park or a garden. Green waste is often collected in municipal curbside collection schemes Biodegradable waste is good.

Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus will be produced naturally by the feeding of microorganisms, so few if any soil amendments will need to be added. When we begin composting humus is our goal. The organic matter provided in compost provides food for microorganisms, which keeps the soil in a healthy, balanced condition Humus is our goal when we start composting.

When plant matter dies, what ever is left is consumed by microorganisms from the soil and eventually it is turned into humus. Natural decomposition occurs anywhere there are plants. Some organic materials are broken down more easily than others Decomposition occurs naturally.

If the area in a compost heap turns toxic to a particular type of decomposer, it will die, or become dormant, sometimes they shift to other parts of the compost heap. Decomposition occurs anywhere plants grow. The elements vital to a healthy compost heap need oxygen and water in order to decompose the material correctly. Plants are subject to natural decomposition. The changing conditions inside the compost bin create a consistently evolving environment inside the pile. Decomposition occurs naturally anywhere plants grow.

The greatest compost mix is produced by balancing green and brown materials. The greatest compost mix is produced from a balance of green materials like fruit and brown materials like paper. The best type of compost is made up of three parts fibrous loam, one part peat, one part leaf mold and one part coarse sand or grit. Compost that has great success rates is generally at the BOTTOM of the pile.

The best compost is achieved using the anaerobic preparation instead of the aerobic preparation. The best type of compost is produced when the correct amount of air is present. The greatest compost mix is made In Tennessee. Compost that has great success rates is probably that which you make yourself. The local garden center produces compost simply by adding items to a compost heap when you feel like it. I produce compost in 21 days using the landfill method.

Anyway you do it, there is a complex process in play when biodegradation takes place.



source - www.keywordarticles.org

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