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€OMPOSTI]\G... 



A Recycling Alternative 



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Nancy E. Adams 



E, 



Invironmental activism is experiencing a renais- 

 sance in the decade of the 90's. Issues such as solid 

 waste and water resource management are receiving 

 renewed interest as Americans begin to wrestle with 

 these complex topics. 



In New Hampshire, solid waste is one of the tough- 

 est issues facing us today. Landfills are being closed 

 and tipping fees are steadily increasing. But efforts to 

 divert material entering the solid waste stream can 

 save money in avoided disposal fees and conserve 

 valuable landfill space. 



One way to reduce our solid waste stream is 

 through composting leaf and yard waste material. In 

 fact, the State of New Hampshire passed a law effec- 

 tive July 1, 1993, that such material may no longer be 

 landfilled or incinerated. This act has prompted many 

 towns to begin actively composting their "soft" leaf 

 and yard waste material. 



Consider this: leaf and yard wastes comprise ap- 

 proximately 18 percent of the annual municipal solid 

 waste stream, but may be as high as 35-40 percent 

 during certain times of the year. Can you estimate 

 how much organic material you dispose of annually at 

 the local landfill? 



I would like to suggest that many plant growers 

 and landscapers can actively compost their leaf and 

 yard waste and old plant material right at their facili- 

 ties. The resulting humus material, although usually 

 not rich in nutrients, is a valuable soil amendment 

 and some growers are including compost in their pot- 

 ting mix. Properly done, pathogens such as weeds 

 and diseases are killed by the high temperatures 

 achieved during active composting. 



To date, no New Hampshire state agency permits 

 are required for yard waste composting, although 

 large commercial composting facilities will need to 

 comply with all local governmental regulations. 



Should you compost? What is needed in terms of 

 equipment, land, and personnel? What other disposal 

 options are available? Here are some points to con- 

 sider. 



• Experience has shown that actively managing a 

 composting operation requires a commitment on the 

 part of the producer. Time, equipment, labor, and 

 land resources must be allocated to this activity to 

 ensure that the necessary steps are followed for 

 success. 



• A suitable location must be selected. This ideally 

 has a gentle two-to-four-degree slope, drains well, 

 and can handle heavy equipment. It should be conve- 

 niently located at or near the place of business. The 

 amount of material generated will determine the size 

 of the composting site. One acre can handle about 

 3,500 cubic yards of leaves, but most producers can 



manage with much smaller composting units. 



• Due to the nature of the ornamental business, more 

 compost material may be generated in the summer 

 and fall than at other times of the year — just when 

 "free" time is at a premium. It is possible to stockpile 

 some "green" waste material, but high nitrogen 

 wastes, such as grass clippings, will give off unpleas- 

 ant odors very quickly if not handled and composted 

 immediately. A plan should be in place that outlines 

 how the material is handled, by whom, and when. 



• Equipment can be very simple. A front-end/bucket 

 loader and a three-to-four foot long-stem thermometer 

 will work very well for most small-scale operations. 

 Excessive brush and small woody materials may re- 

 quire the use of a chipper or grinder, but these units 

 can be rented when necessary. Sophisticated machin- 

 ery can only be justified for larger commercial 

 composting facilities. 



• Currently, most New Hampshire towns do not charge 

 local landscapers and producers anything beyond the 

 usual dump' fee to dispose of leaf and yard waste 

 materials at the local transfer/landfill facility. This may 

 change as communities revisit their disposal options. 

 Once tipping fees are assessed, look at your opera- 

 tion. Composting may become an attractive, cost-ef- 

 fective alternative at your home site. 



• Composting, however, is not for everyone. Other op- 

 tions include dropping off the wastes at local private 

 or public composting facilities and paying the neces- 

 sary fees. This may be time- and cost-effective for 

 many businesses. Composting on-site where the waste 

 is generated and promoting the ecological benefits of 

 this activity to the client is another possibility in 

 some situations. 



• Reduce the amount of material being generated on 

 site. One way is to begin an educational program with 

 the client to support leaving grass clippings on the 

 lawn (which will recycle nearly one third of the ap- 

 plied fertilizer). Clippings decompose quickly and re- 

 search shows that this does not contribute to thatch 

 buildup. This is just one idea; do others come to 

 mind? 



If you would like to learn more about the mechan- 

 ics of composting, the Northeast Regional Agricultural 

 Engineering Service has produced an excellent 186 

 page On-Farm Composting Handbook. The handbook can 

 be ordered through your local UNH Cooperative Ex- 

 tension office for a cost of $15.00 per copy. 



Nancy E Adams is Extension Educator. Agricultural Resources. 

 UNH Cooperative Extension, in Rockingham County Her address 

 is PO Box 200, Epping, NH 03042 The phone number is (603) 

 679-5616 



December 1993 / January 1994 



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