Composting 2.0

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This is a project undertaken by the Green Garage community leadership to update the current composting systems used at the Green Garage.

Importance

Why is composting important?

  • diversion from landfills
  • energy in hauling
  • healthier ecosystem (i.e. soils) around building

Compostables

  • Browns (C:N > 30:1)
    • Paper towels
    • Coffee cups
  • Greens (C:N < 30:1)
    • Coffee grounds and tea leaves
    • Lunch scraps; fruits, vegetables, etc.
    • landscape plant cuttings

Volume

  • Est. 5 lbs/day food scraps | 3 Full + 2 half = 4 containers / week

?/week paper products | Measurement in cubic yards?

  • Results of study, week of 8/31:
    • 7.5 lbs paper products (6.5 lbs paper towels [app. 350 towels] & 1 lb cups & other products)
    • 20 lbs food scraps

Composting Google Worksheet


Current System

  • Food scraps/coffee grounds/tea leaves collected daily, stored in tote bin outside
  • Paper towels collected daily / paper cups collected weekly, stored together in plastic bags outside
  • 1x/month, food scraps & paper towels incorporated into backyard pile
  • Compost added to gardens in winter and spring

Current Issues

  • Volume of paper towels (Matt)
  • Volume of Green waste (Matt)
  • Winter? (Tom)
  • Waste in backyard issues (Matt)
  • Ants, fruit flies (Matt)
  • Length of time to compost?
  • Mix of brown and greens by weight or volume? (Tom)

Sustainability 3D Goals

  • Environmental
  • Community
  • Economic

Composting 101

Composting Ingredients.png


Research

Potential Environmental Issues


Design

  • Assumptions
    • 4 month scrap to compost outdoors
    • 2 Green -to- 1 Brown ratio


  • Worm Composting (DEC-MAR)
    • In basement (temp needs to be above 50F)
    • Use bin system
    • Need bins to handle 25 lbs of Green per week
    • Need 7,000 worms .... start with 3,000 worms?
      • they can grow in number and then separate
    • Composted material carried up to pile in backyard during winter (need bin?)
      • Do weekly
      • Use small pail so it is not heavy
    • Don't know how much paper towel is needed...some is needed for bedding


  • Bin Composting (APR-NOV)
    • Use composting barrels
      • Need to hold 20 cu ft (= 4.4 cuft x 4 months round up)
      • Use Dual Tumbler Senior or [1]
        • Need 2 barrels
        • Volume: 11 cuft -or- 12 cuft
        • Size: 36"x28"x29"
    • Also have vertical square bin to hold near-finished or finished compost that isn't placed yet.


  • Shredder
    • Buy a commercial shredder
    • Use to:
      • shred paper towels
      • shred business paper from Bus in Res


  • Compost Pail
    • Consider new pail for top lid to prevent fruit flies
  • Other Items
  • Need gloves for basement
  • Need 5 gallon buckets (Qty = 3)
  • Separator for the castings
  • Compost Sifter for harvesting (here's one for sale on eBay)
  • Small tarp