High fibre composting
Encyclopedia
High-fibre composting (high carbon) is a system which has been developed and trialled at the Centre for Alternative Technology
(CAT) in Wales
with good results. It consists of adding all cardboard (including packaging, toilet roll tubes, cereal boxes), newspaper, magazines, etc. to the composting stream. Such material should be distributed thoroughly throughout the heap, and well stirred through (mixed) in order to increase its surface area and improve aeration in the heap. It would be ideal for adding where there is a large proportion of nitrogen
ous material, e.g., grass mowings, vegetable wastes, and so on, and is thus well-suited to household-scale composting. CAT provides a detailed factsheet on the high fibre (or high fiber) compost method for home gardeners.
In the past it was not considered advisable to add coloured inks to compost due to the possibility of contamination by poisons. CAT has stated that due to changes in printing processes (soy ink
s), this is no longer an issue (Cornell FAQ). Other sources claim other inks are still widely used.
Composting of paper products is a practice which is being actively promoted by waste recycling officers in many UK
Local Authorities, as well as in North America, and if widely adopted could alleviate some of the current problems associated with post-consumer waste disposal, e.g., pressures on land fill sites.
Centre for Alternative Technology
The Centre for Alternative Technology is an eco-centre in Powys, mid-Wales, dedicated to demonstrating and teaching sustainable development. CAT, despite its name, no longer concentrates its efforts exclusively on alternative technology, but provides information on all aspects of sustainable living...
(CAT) in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
with good results. It consists of adding all cardboard (including packaging, toilet roll tubes, cereal boxes), newspaper, magazines, etc. to the composting stream. Such material should be distributed thoroughly throughout the heap, and well stirred through (mixed) in order to increase its surface area and improve aeration in the heap. It would be ideal for adding where there is a large proportion of nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
ous material, e.g., grass mowings, vegetable wastes, and so on, and is thus well-suited to household-scale composting. CAT provides a detailed factsheet on the high fibre (or high fiber) compost method for home gardeners.
In the past it was not considered advisable to add coloured inks to compost due to the possibility of contamination by poisons. CAT has stated that due to changes in printing processes (soy ink
Soy ink
Soy ink is a kind of ink made from soybeans. As opposed to traditional petroleum-based ink, soy-based ink is more environmentally friendly, might provide more accurate colors, and makes it easier to recycle paper...
s), this is no longer an issue (Cornell FAQ). Other sources claim other inks are still widely used.
Composting of paper products is a practice which is being actively promoted by waste recycling officers in many UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Local Authorities, as well as in North America, and if widely adopted could alleviate some of the current problems associated with post-consumer waste disposal, e.g., pressures on land fill sites.
See also
- Container composting
- German mound
- Leaf moldLeaf moldLeaf mold is a form of compost produced by the fungal breakdown of shrub and tree leaves, which are generally too dry, acidic, or low in nitrogen for bacterial decomposition.-Description:...
- Worm compost
- Spent mushroom compostSpent mushroom compostSpent mushroom compost is the residual compost waste generated by the mushroom production industry. It is readily available , and its formulation generally consists of a combination of wheat straw, dried blood, horse manure and ground chalk, composted together...
- Sheet composting