Recycled green waste converted to ericeous compostMon, 26 Jan 2009 20:34:00 +0000An ericaceous compo...

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Recycled green waste converted to ericeous compost
Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:34:00 +0000
An ericaceous compost made from recycled green waste is finally commercially available for
gardeners.The compost from Vital Earth is said to be the first of its kind on the market.It includes
humite, a mineral which helps to lower and stabilise pH at around 6 - in addition to the companies
popular organic, slow release fertiliser.The main ingredient of the composts is the composted green
material (composted botanical residues, from licensed municipal council green waste
collections).How green waste is converted into high quality organic compost using a digester After
selecting and mixing the raw material to the appropriate carbon, nitrogen and moisture ratios, Vital
Earth loads the mix into 40 cubic metre stainless steel digesters for a seven-day composting cycle.
Air flow in the digesters ? the critical element in successful composting - is directed by co-ordinated
inlet and exhaust fans which are regulated by an automated control system designed specifically for
the composting process. The system receives regular temperature readings from internal probes and
adjusts the speed of the fans in line with changes to the temperature of the compost. The process
requires the material to reach a temperature of 65C twice for at least two consecutive days, thereby
ensuring full sanitisation of the compost. All data from the digesters is logged on computer and
downloaded each night, so providing total traceability throughout the process. By way of a natural
method of filtration widely used in the composting industry, the exhaust air from the digesters is
extracted through a wood-chip biofilter where any odours are filtered out. Following initial
composting, the material in the digesters is emptied into large maturation buildings where the
compost matures in batched and fan-aerated rows for a further seven weeks. The process, once
again, is monitored and controlled by remote probes linked directly to the computer. Maturation
inside rather than in the fresh air eliminates contamination from air-blown weed seeds, other
contaminants and animals. It also allows Vital Earth to control moisture levels during the wettest
winters and driest summers, so ensuring throughout the year a consistent product for our final
blending and bagging process, yielding consistently high quality compost.Definitely worth a try if
you are struggling to produce enough compost in your own garden!

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