Recycling yard and landscape waste into compost.

By Matt Eul

Across the U.S., landfills are filling up, garbage incineration is unpopular and other options for waste disposal are hard to find. The need to responsibly manage organic resources is more important than ever, and opportunities abound to recycle what was once considered “waste” into a usable commodity. As Americans are increasingly becoming environmentally conscientious and wanting to live more sustainable lives, composting as a waste disposal method has been growing in popularity. With that growth comes opportunities for businesses to specialize in serving this growing market.

Advantages of Composting

Composting provides a way to reduce the amount of organic waste, such as grass, bushes, trees and so on, that needs to be disposed of naturally. It also is a method of converting the waste into a product that can be reused in landscaping, road construction, municipal, farming and gardening applications, and on golf courses, to name a few.

Why composting? There are a number of reasons, according to the U.S. Composting Council. Compost has the unique ability to improve the properties of soils, allowing for better growth physically (structurally), chemically (nutritionally) and biologically.

Although the benefits of using compost can be realized quickly with lush-green plant growth, the true benefits are long term and long-lasting, including:

  • Improved soil structure, porosity and density, thus creating a better plant root environment
  • Increased infiltration and permeability of heavy soils, thus reducing erosion and runoff
  • Improved water-holding capacity, thus reducing water loss and leaching in sandy soils
  • Improved supply of macronutrients and micronutrients
  • Control or suppression of certain soil-borne plant pathogens
  • Improved and stabilized soil pH levels
  • Ability to bind and degrade specific pollutants

With all the benefits and uses of composting, it is still a relatively small market in the U.S. According to Mike DiMucci, Manager of Garden Prairie Organics (GPO), headquartered in Garden Prairie, IL, the market is still in the beginning stages. “We have been working with customers in our area to help them understand what compost is and how to use it,” DiMucci said. “Many customers come into GPO thinking they need topsoil. When we ask them what they are using it for, they often say they are seeding and need it to cover the seeds. What they really need is compost.”

DiMucci continues, “There’s still some stigmas out there about composting—a lot of customers still think it smells because they used it 15 years ago, and they got a bad batch, or used something that was not completely processed. Between when the yard waste ban into landfills took effect in the 1990s to now, the advances in research and processing of compost has come really far. Compost, as long as it’s been processed properly, is a viable alternative for waste disposal and organic material use.” (See Many Shapes and Sizes sidebar, page 24).

How is Compost Produced?

Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a soil amendment used to create a fertile soil environment. At the simplest level, the process of composting simply requires making a heap of wetted organic matter (leaves and yard waste) and waiting for the materials to break down into humus after a period of weeks or months.

GPO employs a more modern, methodical way of composting. It is a multistep, closely monitored process with measured inputs of water, air, carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials.

The decomposition process is aided by grinding the plant matter, adding water when needed and ensuring proper aeration by regularly turning the mixture. Aerobic bacteria manage the chemical process by converting the inputs into heat, carbon dioxide and ammonium. The ammonium is further converted by bacteria into plant-nourishing nitrites through the process of nitrification.

Getting started

To get started in this market opportunity, waste and recycling companies should consider enrolling operators in licensed training courses. The U.S. Composting Council and multiple local universities provide training courses to help operators have a better understanding on the composting process, and to become a certified compost facility operator. This education will help ensure success when companies are deciding what equipment to purchase, as well as how their facility should be laid out for optimal returns.

From waste to wealth

With a larger focus on “going green” and being “eco-friendly,” many companies like GPO are viewing waste in a new way. This is why composting is no longer a method of disposal solely used in rural areas; it is becoming a common way to manage waste and produce a usable product, creating a viable business opportunity.

Matt Eul is Marketing Specialist – Recycling and Forestry for Vermeer Corporation (Pella, IA). Matt specializes in product marketing, public relations and content marketing for the recycling and forestry markets. He can be reached at [email protected]. For more information, visit www.vermeer.com.

This article contains third-party observations, advice or experiences that do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Vermeer Corporation, its affiliates or its dealers. Testimonials and/or endorsements by contractors in specific circumstances may not be representative of normal circumstances experienced by all customers.

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