Commercial Composting

Commercial composting follows the same biological processes as composting at home to break down organic materials. The main differences are that it’s done on a much bigger scale, there’s more use of machinery and technology, the process is faster, and higher temperatures are often reached.

Industrial composting facilities use a few different methods depending on the volume of waste they manage, the available space, and the technology and machinery. It can take between six weeks and six months to produce nutrient-rich compost, depending on the process. Once your organic waste reaches an industrial composting facility, it may go through one of four processes.

These are the main methods of commercial composting:

• Windrow composting – this is the most common type of industrial composting. Windrows are long and high piles of organic waste that are often between four and eight feet high, up to 15 feet wide. Organic waste is added and the piles turned regularly (usually by machines) to let in air, heat, and moisture so the microbes decompose the materials quickly. It takes around four months for waste to compost in windrows.
• In-vessel composting (IVC) – organic materials are shredded and placed in a commercial composting machine, which controls the temperature, oxygen, and water. The in-vessel composter rotates and applies high temperatures to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens while ensuring everything decomposes at the same time. It can take just one month to create compost, but there’s a limit to the volume of organic waste that can be composted at one time.
• Static pile composting – a similar process to windrow composting, except loose and dry compostable materials like wood chips and shredded paper are mixed in with it. This enables airflow through the pile, so there’s no need for regular turning. The piles are occasionally turned or mixed by machinery, and it can take just three months to generate compost.
• Vermicomposting – some homes may use vermicomposting, but it’s one of the least used techniques on an industrial scale as it’s harder to manage and less efficient than other methods. Using vermiculture in commercial composting involves worms breaking down organic materials into nutrient-rich soil. It can take two months on a small scale.

You might have a compost bin or pile in your garden at home. The basic underlying process to compost waste at home is similar to commercial composting, but there are some significant differences:

• Size – industrial composting is done on a huge scale with large windrows and tonnes of organic waste processed while most domestic composting only handles a few litres of waste.
• Speed – composting at home can take many months or even years to break down, while some industrial processes take as little as a month.
• Temperature – much higher temperatures are reached at industrial composting facilities, which speeds up the decomposition process.
• Control – there’s greater control over the temperature, oxygen levels, and other factors at industrial composting facilities. This speeds up the process and ensures a better quality of compost usually.
• Compostable waste – more types of biodegradable waste can be composted at industrial facilities. The likes of bones, mango pits, and shells can take longer to break down in garden compost piles, while the temperature doesn’t reach the required heat for some bioplastics and compostable packaging to break down.