One of the reasons many gardeners want to speed up decomposition in their compost piles is because they know the excellent nutrient value to plants, shrubbery, and trees. A compost pile is usually set in a designated location where it receives equal amounts of oxygen, sunlight, and moisture.

It’s important to know the specific process that helps compost decompose. When you know the process, you can tailor the speed of your decomposition to better suit your composting use. In addition to learning the decomposition process, it is necessary to know your compost pile contents. In most cases, compost is composed of moldering leaves, withered flowers, twigs, and scraps of household vegetables, coffee grounds, and other household waste.

Household food wastes are an ideal source to add to a compost pile. In some areas of the U.S., managing food waste is done in municipal composting piles. These are a great source of assistance for ideas on backyard compost piles or even one in an apartment for those who want to reduce and recycle household waste.

[Ref:https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericagies/2012/02/29/when-trash-becomes-a-resource/#3f040b7510b0]

Study the natural effect of blending composting materials to discover how to speed up decomposition. For example, vegetable scraps that contain a small amount of moisture blended with moldered leaves and lawn grasses will decompose faster when they are turned frequently.

Microbes in Compost

Compost contains microbes that need oxygen to decompose. When turning compost, these microbes are fed oxygen, which in turn breaks down compost pile contents. Since the contents added to a compost pile are organic, composting is an environmentally responsible method of reducing household waste to make it useful.

Even in an apartment, it is possible to start composting. Note that you can add uncoated paper from your paper shredder to your apartment composting bin, though it does not add nutrients to the pile. In an apartment, you will probably need assistance from red wiggler worms who will do the job of breaking down compost contents. If you do not want to go to the trouble of keeping a worm laden compost bin in your apartment, though, you can look to see if a service like Philadelphia’s Circle Compost, who picks up residential food waste by bicycle and makes it into compost, exists in your area.

Microbe Injections 

The materials you add to a compost pile already have microbes, since they are naturally organic. The addition of microbe injections may speed up the decomposition process, but can also add unnecessary amounts of microbes since household food waste already contains natural microbes.

Conclusion 

Vigilance is probably the best tip for how to speed up decomposition in your compost pile. Watch the degradation process, give the pile plenty of oxygen by turning it and study the effects of the materials you add.

(Kylie is the editor at Green and Growing. She enjoy the outdoors, especially when she can go on a fun hike or adventure. She likes to focus on the perks green living. She feels it is so important to take care of our earth and hopes to spread awareness as she edits and writes.)