Social, Cultural & Economic

Benefits of Composting

Gift Marufu
Dip. (For.); B.Sc. (Hort.); M.Sc. (Soil/Plant);AAg
 What is composting?
• Biological process where plant material &
other organic matter decompose into humus
– Leaves, grass clippings, sod, mulch, greenhouse &
garden plant material, food waste
– Humus = dark brown, crumbly mass similar to rich
garden soil = suitable for growing plants
– Opportunity to recycle yard & other waste while
avoiding expense & effort of disposing
Composting drivers (Process)

http://compost.css.cornell.edu/microorg.html
 Composting drivers (Process)
• Whole composting process divided into three:
– Mesophilic or moderate-temp phase
• Lasts up to a few days
• Temps rising up to 400C
– Thermophilic or high-temp phase
• Lasts up to several months
• Temps above 400C
– Cooling and maturation
• Lasts for several months
• Constant temps of about 200C
 Composting drivers (Microbes)
• Composting process involves:
• Microbes breaking down organic matter & producing
– Carbon dioxide (CO2)
– Water (H2O)
– Heat (up to 550C)
• Above 550C, most microbes/pathogens are denatured
– Humus (biologically –stable organic end product)
• Oxygen (O2) is needed by bacteria to function optimally
– Compost Managers & Operators MUST ensure aeration & mixing
 Composting drivers (Microbes)

Bacteria (bacilli, cocci, spirilla): Actinomycetes (Bacteria):

Responsible for decomposition & heat Characteristic earthy smell of soil; break
down cellulose, lignin, chitin, proteins
http://compost.css.cornell.edu/microorg.html
Composting drivers (Microbes)

Fungi (molds & yeasts): Protozoa (one-celled):

Decompose complex plant polymers Microscopic animals – found in
in soil & compost before bacteria act compost water droplets

http://compost.css.cornell.edu/microorg.html
 Why composting
• Social benefits
• Cultural benefits
• Economic benefits
• Environmental benefits
 Social benefits of composting

• Provides local level

operation
• Institutional,
neighborhoods
• Encourages
volunteerism
• Encourages active
lifestyles
• More people get
involved

U of S Grounds
 Social benefits of composting

• Involves human
scale technology
• Compost benefits
local communities
e.g. parks, flower
beds, shrub beds,
new landscapes
• Quality compost has
value
Bowl; U of S Grounds
 Social benefits of composting

• Prisons schemes
• Military personnel
• Employment for
local unemployed
people
• Composting courses
incorporated in
vocational institutes

U of S Grounds compost site

 Social benefits of composting

• Projects for theses for

universities
• More participation in
schools
• Source of pride e.g.
students, staff
• Educating others
about compost
benefits

Bowl; U of S Grounds
 Cultural benefits of composting
• At U of S
departments are
coming together
• Grounds
Department
• University club
(coffee grounds)
• Food services (in-
progress)
• Agriculture
greenhouses
(greenhouse waste) U of S Grounds compost site
• NRC (greenhouses
waste)
 Cultural benefits of composting

• Stakeholders
combining efforts
• University of
Saskatchewan
Grounds
department &
Office of
Sustainability
encouraging
composting &
recycling
2013 Graduation Pow Wow @ U of S
 Cultural benefits of composting

• Office of
Sustainability
(recycling during
different functions)
• U of S community
increasingly
supporting
composting &
recycling initiatives
2013 Graduation Pow Wow @ U of S
 Cultural benefits of composting

• Continue changing
cultural attitudes
about compostable
waste
• Impact on life style
decisions by our
future citizens
• Once incorporated
in our daily thinking
mentality, it
becomes part of our
CULTURE 2013 Graduation Pow Wow @ U of S
Cultural benefits of composting
Cultural benefits of composting
Cultural benefits of composting

U of S Chefs on the Ag Rooftop

Cultural benefits of composting

Dr. Grant Wood (U of S Plant Sciences)

Cultural Benefits of Compostingof
composting

Grounds Dept Compost Application in the Bowl

Applying compost at U of S Bowl
Cultural benefits of composting

Grounds Dept Compost Application on Huskie Soccer Fields U of S soccer

fields
 Economic benefits of composting
• Long life span of landfills
• Reduce or eliminate dumping costs
• Reduce or eliminate cost of buying compost
• Can reduce or eliminate other costs e.g.
fertilizers
• Create employment
Economic benefits of composting
 Economic benefits of composting

• At U of S, we used
to take all our wood
chips to city landfill
• Past few years,
composting all
wood chips except
ELMS
• In a typical year, we
average 50 loads of
wood chips
• 50 x ~$300/load =
Savings in dump
U of S Grounds compost site
fees
 Economic benefits of composting

• Aerated static
piles/Windrows
• 90 m long, 4 m
wide, 3 m high
• 90 x 4 x 3 = 1080 m3
• 80% = good
compost
• 1080 m3 x 0.8 = 864
m3

U of S Grounds compost site

 Economic benefits of composting

• Two
windrows/season
• 834 x 2 = 1,668 m3
• According to Dean
(Dressler Soils);
• 1 cubic yard of
premium compost =
$40-45
• 1,668 m3 x $40 =
$66,720.00
U of S Grounds compost pile
 Economic benefits of composting

• One Operator at a
time
• Aerate or turn twice
a month in warm
weather
• Operator turns
water during same
visit

U of S Grounds compost site

 Economic benefits of composting

• 3 hours per visit

• Operator = $50/hr
• Loader = $60/hr
• $110 x 3 hr= $330
• $330 x 6 hr = $1980
• $1980 x 6 months =
$11, 880

U of S Grounds compost site

 Other economic benefits at U of S

• Avoid or reduce
fertilizer costs
• Compost-amended
soils easy to work
with
• Avoid or reduce
drainage issues =
huge savings;
Plumbers are not
cheap!!!
• Recycle top layer of
U of S Grounds
soil in existing
flower & shrub beds
 U of S composting facility

• Our area is not that

big
• 260’ x 300’ or ~87 m
x 100 m
• Area enough for all
our spring & fall
clean-up
• Core area of U of S =
6, 000, 000 square
feet
Thank you!!!