Commercial Composting Facilities


Commercial composting facilities produce compost, sometimes mistakenly referred to as humus. Compost is derived primarily from animal and plant matter which are organic materials. These are decomposed by the actions of microorganisms through a process called aerobic decomposition. This organic material comes from once-living organisms, is capable of decay and is composed of organic compounds. Because compost can be high in nutrients it is used in gardens, for landscaping and horticulture as a soil conditioner and as a natural pesticide. The process of composting is simple and can be practiced by individuals at home or commercially at facilities owned by industries and cities. There are several types of commercial composting facilities including in-vessel composting, aerated static pile composting and anaerobic digestion facilities.  To find a facility near you go to http://www.findacomposter.com.



Composting facilities require four specific conditions to function effectively. Commercial composting facilities are designed to properly maintain and regulate the compost to assure that these conditions exist. These are:
  • Proper Mixture Ratio: Proper composting requires a good mixture ratio of carbon and nitrogen containing materials. The most efficient composting occurs with a carbon/nitrogen mix of about 30 to 1. High carbon materials tend to be brown and dry. High nitrogen materials tend to be green or colorful, such as fruits or vegetables, and wet.  These ratios are carefully contolled at commercial facilities.
  • Temperature: Composting facilities turn their mixtures and monitor the internal temperature to assure it is between 105 and 145 degrees.
  • Oxygen: Oxygen is required to assure the microorganisms receive enough oxygen to survive and for oxidizing the carbon. The air flow is regulated by turning and aerating the piles.
  • Moisture: The proper amount of moisture is needed for the microorganisms to survive. Commercial facilities monitor this and add water as needed.


As organic materials are broken down by aerobic decomposition heat is generated. In that process a great deal of water will be released as vapor and oxygen will quickly be depleted. This is why it is so important for compost piles to be monitored in commercial composting facilities. The hotter the piles get the more often air and water are added, thus speeding up the decomposition process. Conversely, too much air and water slows the process down, as does too much carbon or too little nitrogen.


There are several benefits to using commercial composting facilities. Perhaps the most important is that processing waste in these commercial  facilities reduces the amounts of waste in our landfills. Consequently, methane gas production is reduced thereby reducing global warming. Secondly, biodegradable materials such as bioplastics can be composted in these facilities. Thirdly, composting supports recycling efforts by converting decomposable organic materials into a useful stable product. Lastly, commercial composting facilities are government regulated to control against disease and groundwater pollution.