The process of Biological conversion of organic waste into organic manure (compost) is called composting. It is an old age process and being followed by various old and advance techniques like ditch composting, static pile composting, windrow composting, bin composting, Vermicomposting and some advance techniques includes Biological reactor composting & composting by adding inoculum & compost seed. Static pile composting is one of the old age composting technique which can be done at your backyard.

It is very simple process and easy to set up static pile at your backyard. To install a static pile at you backyard or even in your schools/institutions follow the following steps: (A demo of static pile has been set by me and my team at my institute named College of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab)

Step-1

Take a mesh of pore size less than 3mm and cut it into size of 3?ft. Join both ends of mesh to make cylindrical shape as shown in figure below:

       Cutting of Mesh and making a cylindrical shape 

      (Team: Dr. Shafique, Mr. Ahmad & Ms Amna) 

Step-2

Mark the land where you need to set your static pile, dig the circle and insert your cylindrical pile into it. 

Marking the land area for Static Pile 

(Team: Mr Farhan, Mr Umer & Ms Maria)

Setting up the Static pile into the marked area

(Team: Ms Maham & Mr Farhan)

Step-3

Add segregated waste into the pile after mixing the browns (Dry Leaves) & Greens (Fruit/Vegetable waste) in appropriate ratio (Appropriate ratio can be set to attain Carbon: Nitrogen 25:1). Keep mixing the waste gradually and keep it aerated by using shovel.

Mixing of Brown (Dry leaves) & Green (Orange Peels) waste in appropriate ratio and adding into the Static Pile 

(Team: Mr Umer)

Mix the waste after gradual interval and keep it aerated manually by using shovel (Regular aeration restrict the emission of foul gases and also restrict the emission of methane). Once the waste will turn to dark brown, remove it from the pile and dry it (reduce the size by using mechanical shredder if available). This is your final product if it gets the dark brown to black colour. Add prepare compost to the ground/land to accomplish the land requirement for nutrient to some extent.

Backyard composting is a greener solution to manage household/kitchen/institutional organic waste and helps to reduce the landfilling cost of organic waste as well as save the environment from the emission of greenhouse gases. So convert the waste into resource and help you mother earth to live green.  

Farhan Ahmad

Eco-generation Embassador for Pakistan