Composting

• Application to Utilize Alternative Materials (GD# 676)
• Class II Compost Registration Form  (GD# 461)
• Class III Compost Registration Form (GD# 448)
• Class IV Compost Registration Form  (GD# 460)
• Compost Facility Class I & II License Application
• Log of Operations - Compost Facility (GD# 010)
• Permit-to-Install Application - Appendix F5 - Class I Solid Waste Compost Facility (GD# 501)

• Licensed Class I & Class II Composting Facilities
• Registered Class II, Class III & Class IV Composting Facilities

After you build a compost pile, nature does most of the work. Your job is to bring the raw materials together in a way that promotes decomposition. Successful composting requires four things:

• Organic matter, such as leaves, grass clippings, garden plants, kitchen scraps and shredded paper make excellent compost materials. Leaves, woody branches and paper have a high carbon content, which microorganisms need for energy. Grass clippings and vegetables are higher in nitrogen, needed to make the enzymes used in decomposition and other processes. Achieving an optimum balance of carbon to nitrogen (C:N ratio) is important for effective composting.

A higher ratio of carbon to nitrogen is preferable; 30:1 is ideal. High carbon materials are commonly referred to as “brown” and high nitrogen materials as “green.” A variety of materials is desirable, with a rule of thumb being a ratio of five parts brown to one part green. (It’s not 30:1 because every organic waste has a different ratio, ranging from 5:1 all the way to 500:1, so our five parts to one part is based on averages.) The composting process slows if there is not enough nitrogen, while too much nitrogen may cause the unpleasant odor of ammonia gas.

• Soil organisms, such as bacteria, fungi and other decomposers, are largely responsible for the composting process. Since these organisms naturally occur in soil and vegetable matter, their presence is guaranteed. A couple shovelfuls of compost will make a great “starter” of decomposers for your next batch.

• Water is essential for composting. A moisture level of 40 - 60 percent is best. Your compost pile should be about as wet as a wrung-out sponge. If it is too soggy, the bacteria and other beneficial organisms will not get enough air. On the other hand, a lack of moisture will cause microorganisms to go dormant and delay the composting process. Generally, the initial moisture will be adequate when grass clippings, vegetable trimmings or garden plants are used. Since leaves usually contain little moisture, a pile with large quantities of leaves will probably require the addition of water.

• Oxygen is vital because composting is essentially an aerobic (requiring air) process. The bacteria need oxygen to live and multiply. If the air supply is cut off, anaerobic bacteria will take over, resulting in unpleasant odors. To ensure that enough oxygen is available, turn your compost pile. Turning also brings the outer, less decomposed portions of the pile into the center where the soil organisms do their work.

You can purchase a composting bin in a wide variety of types and prices, or you can build your own. All bins should have some method of easy opening for turning and retrieving the compost. The ideal size for a composting bin is 1 cubic yard (3’x3’x3'). Multiple bins or piles are recommended for different stages of the process. It’s important to note that while many people prefer to use an enclosure for composting, bins are not essential to the process. Excellent compost can be made in open piles.

Build Your Own Bin

• Logs or poles stacked or bound together

• Cinder blocks laid without mortar, with air spaces between them

• Snow fencing or chicken wire supported by upright posts

• A steel barrel with the bottom removed and holes punched in the sides

• Other container, limited only by your imagination

First, select a well-drained spot out of direct sunlight. Then layer your materials like this:

• Start with a layer of “brown” material, like straw and leaves.

• Add a layer of “green” material, such as grass clippings.

• Alternate layers of brown and green materials as they are available.

Once your bin is full, or the pile is the size you want, turn the mixture every three to five days. You may turn it less frequently or not at all, but the compost will take longer to heat up. Water regularly to ensure enough moisture is present. Remember that when squeezing a handful of compost, it should be as wet as a wrung-out sponge.

If you do not have enough material when you start your pile, additional layers may be added later. Smaller piles are okay, but the rate of decomposition will be slower. If you have a thermometer available, test the temperature of the pile. The temperature inside of the pile should range from 130 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. When it begins to cool, the bacteria and other organisms need more air, so it’s time to turn and water the pile.

The top should be covered with a layer of earth, with a depression to collect water if precipitation is low. This top layer should be thick enough to retain the heat of the pile and prevent rapid loss of moisture. Your compost pile will also benefit from ventilation. A broomstick, fence post or similar device can be used to punch three or four holes from the top to the bottom of the pile.

Some people are concerned that their compost piles will have an unpleasant odor or attract animals. To avoid this, omit cooked kitchen waste, grease, meat, bones and fat unless the bin is rodent-, fly- and dog-proof. But if your pile smells bad, turn it to make sure it has enough oxygen. Earthworms, sow bugs, pill bugs, centipedes, mites, ground beetles and many other kinds of small living things will find homes in the finished compost and in the garden soil to which compost is added. They help with the decomposition process and add value to the soil.

Also, do not use weedy or diseased plant material to eliminate the possibility of spreading it through your finished product.

Compost can be made in just two or three weeks during the summer if the leaves and other materials are finely ground or shredded, turned frequently to provide good aeration and supplied with sufficient moisture and nitrogen. The usual method, however, is to turn the pile once a week for two or three weeks, then once a month until the compost is ready to use. Compost made in the fall is usually not ready for use until the following spring. Shredding or grinding the material prior to adding it to the pile will expose a greater surface area to the bacteria and fungi and will speed up the process.

Heat is generated inside the pile as soil organisms decompose organic material. Therefore, temperature is a good indicator of effective composting. A compost pile with a temperature over 130 degrees Fahrenheit is composting efficiently. (You may see steam when you turn the file.) Larger pile size helps retain heat.

Compost is ready to use when it is dark brown in color, easy to crumble and breaks up readily when turned over. A good practice is to screen the compost through a 1/2-inch screen. The material that falls through is ready to use. Return the unfinished material to the bin for further decomposition.

Compost can be used as mulch or worked into the soil to improve its structure. If used as mulch, it should be applied 2 or 3 inches deep. The same amount or more should be worked into heavy clay soils. You’ll discover that compost is a valuable soil conditioner easily available to every Ohioan willing to invest a little time and effort in cooperation with nature.

To find out what composting options are available in your area, contact your local solid waste management district, health department or Ohio EPA office. Additional information is available from your local library and through the resources below:

• OSU Extension

• Compost Resource Page

• U.S. Composting Council

• Ohio Compost Association

Class I and II Composting Facilities

Class III and IV Composting Facilities

Ohio EPA has received increased interest in capturing the food waste stream for purposes of composting by universities, businesses and organizations. The motivations for this initiative generally include diversion of the waste stream from landfills, the processing of the waste into a compost product and other environmental benefits associated with composting. Grocery stores and other food waste generators send a significant amount of waste to landfills. Some studies suggest up to 80 percent of a grocery store's waste stream is comprised of food waste, while approximately 50 percent of all food waste generated in the United States comes from businesses that handle food.

Ohio categorizes composting facilities into four classes: Class II facilities are those facilities that can accept food waste, as well as the authorization to accept yard waste, agricultural waste and animal waste. There are three components associated with establishing a Class II composting facility: (1) registration, (2) license and (3) financial assurance.

The registration is a notification to Ohio EPA that provides information, such as facility location, contact person and facility map (no fee). A license is required to operate this class of composting facility, and the fee is based on the maximum amount of waste to be accepted daily. Lastly, financial assurance is money set aside to cover closure costs for the facility.

For more information on Class II composting facility requirements, see Ohio EPA's publication Class II Composting Facility Requirements. The composting rules allow Class II facilities to utilize the following methods of composting: windrow; aerated-static pile; and in-vessel. While Ohio EPA does not promote specific methods or products for composting, the Agency does recognize that there are many products available on the market for composting food waste. You may want to contact the manufacturers or customers of in-vessel systems to learn more about the effectiveness of each product. 

Paragraph (A)(1) of Rule 3745-27-03 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) does exempt from the solid waste regulations any single-family residential premises that disposes (composts) of solid wastes generated on the same premises. Therefore, a homeowner may compost yard waste, animal waste and/or food waste, as long as those wastes were generated on the property. However, the exemption does not apply to a single-family residences that take wastes from either other residential or business neighbors. Furthermore, the single-family residence exemption does not apply to a business that chooses to compost yard waste, animal waste and/or food waste on the business premises.

If you have additional questions or need more information on the regulations for food waste composting, see Ohio EPA's Food Scrap Management website. Also, please see Regulations for Community and Commercial Food Scrap Composting Facilities.