It’s best to use a variety of different ingredients in the compost, as this provides an input of a wider range of nutrients, and produces a richer compost. It also allows you to adjust the moisture level of the compost, adding water to dry areas, or mixing saturated layers with dryer materials. It took me a while before I got my first hot compost heap, so don’t be discouraged if it takes you a while too. As temperature increases in the pile, populations of bacteria rise, dominate, and fall, either going dormant, or becoming fodder for the next wave of bacteria that thrive in hotter temperatures still.

Compost worms ( Red Wrigglers) can eat their own weight in decaying material in a single day, pushing it through a gut that contains 1000 times more microbial life than the food it consumes. If you’re as impatient as I am, and are wondering how to speed up your compost heap, you’ll find the following 18 tips will help you really accelerate the process! For more info, check out our expert tests of the best wormeries or read our guide on how to set up a wormery. In a hot compost pile, the size of the pile—and the particle size and mix of materials that go into it—are optimized to generate high temperatures. Commercial food waste composting and recycling solutions Tidy Planet manufacture the Rocket composter and other food waste reduction products.The air vents do allow small flies to enter, and during warm weather, these fly out in clouds when the hatch is first opened, so opening it and standing back for a minute is advisable. Composter Rotating Drum Technology is Destined For China This Model 515 BioReactor Composting System (BCS) will be utilized as a Demo Unit For Pilot Projects in all market sectors based in China. When there’s enough carbon to fuel the lives of billions of microbes, enough nitrogen and water to build these billions, and enough oxygen to give aerobic bacteria the advantage, magical things happen in compost piles. With static pile composting, you add a slightly thicker green layer when the pile is built up one-third of the way, and again at the 2/3 mark. So if you’re using a compost heap rather than a bin, increasing the size of your compost heap will speed up the process.

The goal at this point is to start the composting process, and let it “simmer” until you’re ready to turn up the heat.WARNING: Do NOT add dolomite lime or large amounts of wood ashes to compost piles (a light dusting of hardwood ashes between layers is okay).

The nitrogen content of composting materials is denoted by the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio) assigned to them, as detailed in the tables in the next section. Save money by recycling your waste with the help of the Thermo-Star Composter , made from the high quality Thermolen material which is both UV and water resistant. feet (60cm) of loose materials will compress down to about 8” (20 cm) after you’ve walked around on it. When you’ve used up 2/3 of your compost ingredients, add another high-nitrogen layer, along with another pound or so of soft phosphate, greensand, and/or oyster shell flour, if you’re adding organic soil amendments to the pile.

Indeed, another study found that lowering moisture content from 66% to 61% increased the temperature of a compost pile from 55℃ to over 75℃. To test, put gloves on and squeeze a handful of the compost materials, which should only release one drop of water, or almost drips a drop. All woody waste is first shredded by my Bosch Quiet Shredder before being added to the heap – in theory (see below).

Items not able to be processed: Metal, Wood, Plastic and Bones unless the optional shredder attachment is incorporated. While the heat generated is a natural by-product of the bacteriological action, the process will slow and may stop if the temperature is not maintained. A narrow plastic bin is perfect for a little city garden, but might not work for a bigger space in the country. It is possible to remove the compost from every side of the composter making it easy for you to collect the nutrient rich compost from the thermos-star.

But over time, as you add materials and measure the temperature, you start to get an idea of what works best. My little nieces were tickled at the idea of a compost bin having a hot water bottle to keep it warm at night! It's made from slats to allow air circulation around the compost and the front ones are removable, making filling up the bin much easier and allowing lots of room to get at the compost when it’s ready. Boasting dimensions of 65cm in height, 92cm in length, and 92cm in depth, this spacious composter holds an impressive 500+ liters of organic material. Made from sustainably sourced Scandinavian softwood, the planks easily slot into upright grooves on the corner posts and the bin can be accessed from every side.