What is Compost?

Decomposition of organic matter creates compost. It is dark & crumbly, smells like earth and is food for plants. We have forgotten the importance of compost in our daily lives. You can create organic compost at home from your kitchen waste - it is satisfying & addictive! The image above shows mature, sieved compost.
Compost is a nutrient-rich organic material created through the natural process of decomposition, where microorganisms break down organic matter, such as food scraps, yard waste, and other biodegradable materials. The result is a dark, crumbly, soil-like substance that can be used as a natural fertilizer to enrich soil and promote healthy plant growth.

Key Features of Compost:

1. Components: It includes organic materials like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, leaves, grass clippings, and even paper products.

2. Process: Composting involves aerobic (oxygen-based) decomposition with the help of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, as well as worms and insects in some methods.

3. Benefits:

• Enriches soil, improving its structure and fertility.

• Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

• Helps retain soil moisture, reducing water usage.

• Diverts organic waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions.

How It’s Used:

Compost can be mixed into garden soil, spread as a mulch, or used in potting mixes to provide essential nutrients for plants. It’s an environmentally friendly way to recycle organic waste into something beneficial.

What is Composting?

Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter, such as food scraps and yard waste, into a valuable fertilizer that can enrich soil and plants.This process involves the decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms under controlled conditions, resulting in a nutrient-rich substance known as compost.
Composting is the 'breaking down' of organic matter. This decay is a thriving process of change involving millions of organisms busily recycling organic matter & converting it into nutrient rich compost. You can easily do this at home with your daily kitchen waste!

Key Components of Composting

1. Organic Materials: These include “greens” (nitrogen-rich materials like fruit and vegetable scraps) and “browns” (carbon-rich materials like dried leaves and cardboard).

2. Microorganisms: Bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms break down the organic matter, producing heat and accelerating decomposition.

3. Oxygen and Moisture: Adequate aeration and moisture are essential to support microbial activity and ensure efficient composting.

Benefits of Composting

Soil Enrichment: Compost improves soil structure, enhances nutrient content, and increases moisture retention, promoting healthy plant growth.

• Waste Reduction: By diverting organic waste from landfills, composting reduces methane emissions and decreases the volume of waste requiring disposal.

• Environmental Impact: Composting contributes to a circular economy by returning valuable nutrients to the soil, supporting sustainable agriculture, and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Engaging in composting, whether at home or through community programs, is a practical step toward environmental stewardship and resource conservation.

The Composting Process

A natural process

Oxygen ensures no bad odours

It's full of life!

Just like a banana peel goes black over time, all organic matter decomposes under the right conditions. Decomposition is a natural process, it is natures way of recycling and is not man made.

It's full of life!

Oxygen ensures no bad odours

It's full of life!

Bacteria, fungi, worms, beetles, mites, ants, lizards and more are all present and help decomposition. Time to make new friends!

Oxygen ensures no bad odours

Releases leachate & reduces in volume

When oxygen circulates in the pile it releases carbon dioxide which is odourless. A lack of oxygen causes the release of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide which are smelly gas. HomeCycle composting is smell free as Remix powder provides air gaps for oxygen and absorbs moisture.

Releases leachate & reduces in volume

Water in the organic matter is released during decomposition. This water is called leachate. This release shrinks the volume of organic matter by at least 70%

Generates heat

Releases leachate & reduces in volume

Needs the right mix

Decomposition is an exothermic reaction which means it releases energy in the form of heat. This is thanks to the millions of bacteria that work to break down organic matter into compost.

Needs the right mix

Releases leachate & reduces in volume

Needs the right mix

When one or more element is not in balance, aerobic decomposition is not optimal. This is when it takes longer or remains incomplete. It's just like getting the right balance of materials while cooking

What is Composter

Composter for Urban Households

A composter is a container or system used to facilitate the process of composting, which is the decomposition of organic waste into nutrient-rich soil or humus. Composters can come in various forms, such as bins, tumblers, or piles, and are designed to provide the ideal conditions (aeration, moisture, and temperature) for microorganisms and decomposers (like bacteria, fungi, and worms) to break down organic materials such as food scraps, yard waste, and plant matter. The result is compost, a valuable resource for enriching soil in gardens, lawns, and agricultural applications.

Composter for Urban Households

For urban households, especially those in apartments, shophouses, or other small living spaces without gardens, a composting solution must be practical, compact, and odor-free. Here are key requirements for an ideal urban household composter:

1. Compact Design

• The composter should be small and easy to store, fitting into limited spaces such as kitchens, balconies, or utility rooms. Ideally, it should be no larger than a kitchen bin.

• Options like countertop composters or compact bins are ideal for such environments.

2. Odor Control

• Proper ventilation and odor management features are essential. A well-sealed composter with air vents or carbon filters helps to minimize bad smells and keep the environment clean.

• Some composters have specialized lids or activated carbon filters to absorb odors.

3. Low Maintenance

• A simple design that is easy to use and doesn’t require much effort to maintain. For example, composters with easy-to-turn mechanisms (like tumblers) or automatic electric composters that handle the turning and aeration.

• For manual composting, look for products with straightforward, no-fuss mechanisms.

4. Efficient Aeration

• Adequate airflow is necessary to speed up the decomposition process. Composting systems should have features that allow for aeration, such as ventilation holes or rotating functions, to prevent anaerobic conditions that can cause foul smells.

5. Bokashi or Vermicomposting Options

• For households without access to a garden, methods like Bokashi composting (which uses fermentation with the help of beneficial microbes) or vermicomposting (using worms to break down organic matter) are ideal. These can be done in compact bins without needing soil and can work well in apartments.

6. Odor-Free and Quick Decomposition

• Electric composters or other modern systems designed for indoor use can speed up decomposition and keep odors to a minimum. These are especially useful for urban settings as they are fast and less labor-intensive.

7. Sealed or Covered Containers

• A composter with a tight-fitting lid prevents pests like fruit flies, rodents, or other insects from being attracted to food waste. It also helps keep the composting process hygienic.

8. Ease of Waste Disposal

• The system should allow for easy disposal of finished compost, either by being able to remove the composted material easily or by including features that allow for proper storage or transportation to a local composting site.

9. Sustainability Features

• Look for products made from recyclable or biodegradable materials, contributing to the sustainability of the composting process. Plastic compost bins should be durable, but ideally made from recyclable materials.

10. Educational Support

• Many urban dwellers may be new to composting. A good urban composter often comes with educational materials or access to online resources to help users get started and troubleshoot any issues.

Types of Composters for Urban Households:

• Countertop Compost Bins: Small, odor-controlled containers for organic waste collection and treatment in 30 -60 days.

• Bokashi Bins: Ferment waste quickly, which is perfect for those without garden space.

• Electric Composters: Fast, automated systems that process food waste into compost in as little as 1-2 days.

These solutions can fit well into apartments or small spaces while helping to reduce food waste and create useful compost for plants, even without a garden.

FAQs about Composting Basics

1. What is composting?

Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter, such as food scraps and yard waste, into a valuable fertilizer that can enrich soil and plants. This process involves the decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms under controlled conditions, resulting in a nutrient-rich substance known as compost.
Composting is not a new idea. In the natural world, composting is what happens as leaves pile up on the forest ﬂoor and begin to decay. Eventually, nutrients from the rotting leaves are reclaimed by living roots. This completes nature’s recycling process.

2. How old is the composting practice?

It is as old as man. Some cultures practiced it more than others. In recent times its advantages have made it an important part of agricultural practice world wide. It is gaining recognition as a safe method to regenerate the earth.

3. Is composting recycling?

Yes, because compost is nature's way of recycling nutrients

4. What do I need in order to do composting?

In broad terms, there are two major kinds of food that composting microbes need: 'Browns' are dry and dead plant materials such as straw, dry brown weeds, leaves and twigs. These materials are primarily composed of chemicals that are long chains of sugar molecules linked together. Browns are a source of carbon and energy for compost microbes. 'Greens' are fresh plant materials such as green leaves and garden clippings, kitchen, fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, etc. Compared to browns, greens contain more nitrogen which is a critical element in amino acids and proteins. So greens can be thought of as a protein source for the billions of multiplying microbes. Browns, tend to be bulky and promote good aeration. Greens, on the other hand, are typically high in moisture, and balance out the dry nature of the browns. A good mix of browns and greens forms the best nutritional balance for microbes. This mix also helps maintain aeration and moisture levels in the pile. The above explanation is a simplified way of understanding compost.

5. Does the weather affect the composting process?

Yes, compost happens faster in warm weather. Our Vietnamese weather is ideal for composting in most parts of the country. We just have to make sure that the moisture is right in places where it gets too hot and dry

6. Does composting reduce global warming?

Composting helps prevent global warming by reducing emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas which gets produced when organic waste decomposes when buried in landfill sites.

When people start composting in their home/community, they re-engage with the cycle of Nature. Very often, if they are not already gardening, they start doing so and the compost feeds their soil. We have seen this happen over the years with our customers.

Composting and applying the compost to soil, contributes in a positive way to restoring soil quality and sequestering carbon in soils. Application of compost ( organic matter) can lead either to a build-up of soil organic carbon over time, or a reduction in the rate at which organic matter is depleted from soils. In either case, the overall quantity of organic matter in soils becomes higher than if no organic fertiliser was used.

Over time, increasing organic matter in soils also has other greenhouse gas-saving effects, such as better water retention of soil, less production and use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, and reduced release of nitrous oxide - a potent greenhouse gas.

In addition to individual home gardeners and customers using the compost in their urban gardens, we also work with individual farm owners and farmer groups to apply compost and regenerate their soil.

FAQs about Home Composting

1. What is the difference between composting at home and large scale composting in farms, food processing & livestock breeding units?

The first difference is the volumes of waste that are managed. Home composting only deals with about 15-30 kgs of waste per month per home. Large scale composting deals with thousands of tonnes of organic waste so problems of leachate management, pests, odour, pollution of soil and air, etc are much bigger.

2. What percentage of household waste can be composted?

About 50 -70% of Vietnam household waste generated is organic in nature and can be used to make compost. A family of 4 in a city produces anything from 500 grams to 1 kgs of kitchen waste daily.

3. Can cooked food waste be composted?

Yes, you can add cooked waste food to your HomeCycle Bin – just make sure you have enough Activator Substrates – so that flies do not have anything to get attracted to.

4. Do I need a product/bin to make compost at home?

No. Compost can be also made in open piles, a pit in the ground, a bucket, etc. You just have to know some basics of the magic! You can use carton box, composting Bag or HomeCycle Composting Bin with more clean and durable than home made box.

5. What are the advantages of HomeCycle products over pits and open piles?

A product helps keep the piles neat, retain heat and moisture. It is convenient to use, a pit is very difficult to maintain. The product is designed to absorb the leechate and thus prevent bad odour or leaks. The product makes it easy to use in places where space is at a premium. It keeps rats, rain and pests away Is beautiful so can be proudly displayed in your garden or balcony.

6. What is leachate?

Kitchen waste has a high water content which is discharged when decomposition begins. This discharged liquid is called leachate. Leachate is nutrient rich and when diluted is a good additive to plants. The Homecycle products are designed to take care of this. The Homecycle products are designed to absorb this liquid into the finished compost and prevent leaks

7. Can I do vermi-composting in HomeCycle compost bins?

Sure! - here's what you need to keep in mind. You can add earthworms in the last stage of your composting in HomeCycle composters. Do NOT add them in the fresh waste, as they need a well balanced pH and temperature environment and cannot handle citrus, dairy or meat products. Vermicomposting needs some expertise and consistent looking after. While it produces superior compost, it's not something everyone can do. We suggest you first get the hand of aerobic composting for a few cycles and then experiment with it.

8. What is a composting accelerator?

Any additive that speeds up the process of decomposition can be called an accelerator. Remember, however, that you can make compost without any of these – just by making sure you keep the dump moist and aerated. Mixing a fresh pile of waste with a pile of semi-composted material also speeds us decomposition. Compost eventually…………happens! (You can slow it, but cannot stop it!) HomeCycle supplies many different kinds of accelerators and our Activator Substrates has accelerator mixed into it!

9. Why do I need to add Activator Substrates?

You need to add Activator Substrates because kitchen waste discharges a lot of water when decomposition happens. This will make the pile over wet if it is not balanced out with dry organic material. Also microbes need carbon to do their work of decomposition. Activator Substrates has the right mix of carbon and microbes that help decomposition and reduce bad odour. Using Activator Substrates ensures you do not need to stir and waste your time!

10. I do not have access to Activator Substrates ? What should I do?

You can use crushed dry leaves or cocopeat powder. You will need to stir the pile well. Also crushed dry leaves take longer to decompose. You can use curd or buttermilk in place of Compost Microbes but do add sufficient cocopeat or dry leaves to balance the wetness.

11. How much compost will I generate with the waste of my home?

Depending on how many kilos of waste you generate – you can produce up to 2 - 6 kgs of compost per month.

12. Can I add garden leaves and clippings to my HomeCycle kitchen waste composter?

Leaves and garden waste are bulky and will take up too much space in your kitchen waste composter. We suggest you compost these separately in Leaf Composters. Garden waste takes 6 months to become leaf mulch and 12 months or more to become leaf compost. You can read more on Leaf Composting here

13. I still am not convinced. Is it really a good idea to compost kitchen waste at home?

We feel strongly that you should at least try and see the difference it makes to you once you see orange peels and rotting papaya turn to dark, sweet smelling compost. You will look at yourself and the world differently – with a sense of wonder and awe!

What is Compost?

What is Compost?

15 benefits of compost