By: Alasdair Meldrum

What is composting? Composting is a natural process which can mean different things to different people. The term ‘composting’ is used to describe a wide range of activities, from a heap of manure at the bottom of a garden to sophisticated treatment processes for commercial wastes and is designed to reduce the quantity of organic waste sent to landfills.

Community composting sites tend to be relatively small. A typical site may process up to 200 tonnes of material a year. Commercial sites, where composting is specifically a business activity, or local authority sites set up to divert biodegradable material from landfill are much larger. With some of the larger sites processing tens of thousands of tonnes each year, materials handling equipment and systems become a necessity.

The purity of the product is very important and is graded according to its organic purity. Glass is the main product that needs to be eliminated to produce a compost that is pure enough for sale. This has caused a few problems with some main commercial composting facilities therefore rendering the compost to be used for capping material until a solution can be found.

But put simply, the microbes break down large molecules into smaller ones that they can use as food. This releases heat energy, water and carbon dioxide during the breakdown as by-products and it is this heat that causes the temperature to rise, which is why compost heaps are often warm and steamy.

Here are 5 reasons why everyone should consider composting:

1. Composting reduces the environmental impact of having to incinerate organic waste.

2. Organic material can form up to 1/3 of our weekly waste. Without composting, this goes straight to landfill. Composting minimises our landfill waste and recycles it back into our gardens.

3. Organic waste which is dumped in landfill rather than composted stagnates and produces methane and toxic run-off which contaminates soil and groundwater.

4. Composting can successfully be carried out at any level, from multi-acre commercial or municipal windrows to simple backyard bins.

5. Composting is fun, easy and very satisfying.

Composting is a fun and environmentally-friendly activity. It’s something anyone can do to make a positive contribution to helping the environment.

Albion Environmental Ltd can advise if you have any composting problems. We have experience in helping our clients achieving PAS100:2005 status.

By: Andrei Smith

Cleaning or scooping dog poop is a major hassle if you don’t know exactly how to dispose them. It is a challenge that all dog owners around the world face everyday. However, there are many different methods that you can do to dispose your pet’s stinking waste. Many of these ways are environment-friendly and do not cost much.

Dog poop, if not disposed correctly, can be a threat to your health. When smelly dog wastes are left on the ground, harmful worms and other parasites can stay in the soil and later infect people who come contact with it. Here are some environment-friendly dog waste disposal methods that you can follow:

1. Make A Doggy Loo – You can dump dog poop into a doggy loo that is buried in your backyard. This is an economical way of disposing waste because all you need to set up is a bucket with holes in the bottom that go directly to the soil or ground. To ensure that the waste goes to the ground and breaks down, you will need to pour water with special enzyme drain cleaner into it.

2. Use Biodegradable Dog Waste Bags – For those who love to bring their dogs outside, the easiest method to clean after your dog is by purchasing biodegradable dog waste bags. Unlike standard plastic bags, these specially designed dog poop bags break down easily when exposed to heat and moisture. The waste is then converted into the natural elements of carbon dioxide, water, biomass and minerals. You can buy these dog waste bags in your local supermarkets and shops.

3. Buy A Doogie Dooley Pooper Scooper – This is one of the most popular commercial dog waste disposal systems that you can buy in pet shops today. If you don’t like exerting effort building your own doggy loo, purchasing a doggie dooley dog pooper scooper is the way to go. Similar to do-it-yourself dog toilets, doggie dooley pooper scoopers come with digester powder that will help in breaking the dog poop faster. It works similar to a septic system by using enzyme and good bacteria to turn dog poop into a ground absorbing liquid that is not detrimental to the environment.

4. Build Worm Compost Bins – If you want to convert dog poop into something useful, building a worm compost bins is a great way to achieve that. Nowadays, there are worm compost bins available for dog waste as well as manure worms that eat the poop and then make fertile castings for the plants in your garden.