First Meeting With Jennifer Trent
Meeting | 45 Minutes | February 25 | Composting Basics
After completing the waste audit, it was time to bring in an expert to know how to get started. Makayla contacted Jennifer Trent, a compost expert who works at UNI. She served as an invaluable source at the beginning and her role amplified as she was willing to answer any questions.
Makayla learned important these important basics
Before even starting to get the compost set up, and contacting the city a DNR notification is required to send out as well as a yearly report of the compost pile
Getting Started
One of the most important aspects of a compost bin is a rough 30/1 carbon nitrogen ratio, which is food waste to green/brown waste. This will ensure that the active compost breaks down more efficiently, as well as odor. To ensure this source of carbon, it was suggested to look into moving the compost off-site and work with the city to have it at the yard-waste site. The site would not be able to accept any other type of compost without an expensive commercial license, so it would have to have it blocked off in some manner.
Reliable Source of Carbon
Start with a bulking agent such as wood chips or cornstalks ( as compost is added, add bulk)
Keep it watered (keeps microbes alive)
Make sure compost is big enough to retain heat ( keep all compost in one main pile and not in separates )
There is a legal limit of two tons of compost, but we are not a big enough school to produce more than that
Maintenance
Avoid
Milk, fats, greases, meats, dairy, All Contaminants, especially those > 13ml
Put in
Napkins, paper towels, peels, fruits, vegetables
Contents
To help keep the pile odor free:
The correct ratio of food waste to carbon needs to be maintained
The direction of the wind needs to checked before any mixing to avoid complaints from close-by residents
Avoid over-watering
have enough carbon/bulk prepared