Composting Resources

Information sources: books, journals, web sites, organisations

Magazines:

The following regularly include articles on composting:

Biocycle: This well known journal covers recycling and composting practice and also carries brief reports on research, written in a popular style. It is published monthly by The JG Press Inc, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, USA. (http://www.jgpress.com)

Organic NZ. This is the journal of the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand. It continues Soil and Health, the Compost Journal and the Compost Magazine (see below). (http://www.soil-health.org.nz/)

For historical interest see

• "Compost Magazine" (Massey University library has a fairly complete collection spanning the years 1943-1961)
• the subsequent "Compost Journal" (Lincoln University library has a collection from 1961-1965)
• "Soil & Health" (Massey University has a collection from 1965-1999 and Lincoln University has a collection from 1975-1999).

Academic journals

Much of the scientific literature on the composting process is published in the following:

• Bioresource Technology (in Auckland and Massey University libraries)
• Biotechnology Progress (in Auckland, Canterbury, Massey and Otago University libraries)
• Bioprocessing of solid waste and sludge
• Compost Science and Utilisation (in Auckland and Massey University libraries)
• Process Biochemistry (in Auckland, Canterbury and Massey University libraries)
• Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (in Lincoln and Massey University libraries)

Books:

See the Cornell site. (http://compost.css.cornell.edu/Composting_homepage.html)

A Guide to In-Vessel Composting

This guide, which includes a directory of system suppliers, was published in the UK in 2004 and is available from The Composting Association. It can be ordered through www.compost.org.uk.

Web sites:

ARC Big Clean up - Composting
guidance for home composting and worm farms
(http://www.arc/govt.nz/arc/index.cfm?543FE13C-903B-40E1-A043-9B1BEC3B9100)

BioBin Trail - ACT NOWaste
A report outlining the results of a household kitchen waste collection trail in Canberra, ACT, Australia.
(http://www.nowaste.act.gov.au/publications/publications.html)

BioNet: Includes access to technical publications and a database ofwaste management sites, in German and English. (http://www.bionet.net/)

Christchurch City Council - Composting
guidance for home composting and worm farms
(http://www.ccc/govt.nz/waste/guides/GardenComposting/)

Christchurch City Council Kitchen Organics Collection Trial
Christchurch City Council recently trialed collecting kitchen organics.
(http://www.ccc.govt.nz/waste/composting/kitchenorganicstrial.asp)

CityFarmer: A little off topic but still relevant. This Canadian site covers everything in respect to urban farming, so of course that means composting too. Includes paper abstracts, things happening in other countries, etc. (http://www.cityfarmer.org/)

Cornell Composting: Cornell's site is quite extensive covering research projects, a good section for school kids, and resource materials.
(http://compost.css.cornell.edu/Composting_homepage.html)

Ecorecycle Victoria
State government agency in Victoria, Australia. Resources include a guide to best practice, links to compost specifications and guidance on marketing compost products.
(http://www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au/)

Hutt City Council - Composting
guidance for home composting and worm farms
(http:www.huttcity.info/council/services/works/rubbish/compost.html)

Mastercomposter (www.mastercomposter.com): A wide range of information regarding different composting trials (coffee grounds, sifters). Includes pages on various composting methods, equipment, message board and even a composting chat room.

National Biosolids Partnership - USA
The Partnership, an alliance of the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is committed to taking a leadership role in advancing sound and sustainable biosolids programs designed to gain public confidence within local communities
(http://www.biosolids.com/)

New South Wales Environmental Protection Agency
Guidance for home composting, Draft Environmental Guidelines - Composting and Related Organics Processing Facilities
(http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/)

NZ Ministry for the Environment Waste pages: Information on the waste management activities of the MfE, including access to the NZ Waste Strategy and "Waste Line", an email newsletter.
(http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/waste/index.html)

New Zealand Water and Wastes Association - producers of the NZ Biosolids Guideline.
(http://www.nzwwa.org.nz/)

Resource NSW
Soil Carbon Sequestration Utilising Recycled Organics - A review of the scientific literature (August 2002, access through publications page)
Risk Assessment of Garden Maintenance Chemicals in Recycled Organics Products, (Sept 2002, access through publications page)
Recycled organics products in stormwater treatment applications (September 2002, access through publications page) (http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.htm)

The Composting Association (United Kingdom)
The Composting Association operates a voluntary standards for compost scheme in the UK. They also have information about the state of composting in the UK and guidance for large scale and home composting.
(http://www.compost.org.uk/dsp_home.cfm)

The Composting Council of Canada
The Composting Council of Canada is a national non-profit organization which serves as a forum to advocate and advance the use of composting to government, industry and the public as a means of reducing Canada's waste stream while reclaiming the organic fraction for beneficial purposes.
(http://www.compost.org/englishoverview.html)

The Composting Resource Page: Provides access to information on composting from backyard to large scale systems. Includes an interactive bulletin board for questions and answers.
(http://www.oldgrowth.org/compost)

US Composting Council
The USCC is a trade and professional organization promoting compost.
(http://www.compostingcouncil.org/)

United States Environmental Protection Agency - Compost Pages
Innovative using of compost, Biosolids Generation, Use, and Disposal in the United States, Composting, Yard Trimmings, and Municipal Solid Waste and links to home composting guidance.
(http://www.epa.gov/compost)

Victorian Environmental Protection Agency
(http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/)

WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme)
A range of reports on resource recovery including a comprehensive report on compost standards in Europe, North America and Australasia.
(http://www.wrap.org.uk/index.asp)

www.pigsinparadise.info
A site about issues and options regarding management of pig manure produced in American Samoa, primarily on the island of Tutuila. The site includes a section on composting of pig manure, with guidelines and photographs.

www.recycledorganics.com/index.htm
Provides information on the activities of the Recycled Organics Unit based at the University of New South Wales. Includes a description of the green and food residuals composting system operating on the UNSW campus.
(http://www.recyledorganics.com/index.htm)

For a more extensive list which is focused on resources for schools, visit the Californian Integrated Waste Management Board

Videos:

Composting at the Masterton landfill (12 min); Describes the adoption and practice of composting at a small New Zealand town. Available from: IT Unit, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Cost ($15; incl p&p within NZ). Contact: Kevin Harris

See the Cornell site for more videos.

Organisations:

Soil and Health Association of NZ
P O Box 36-170,
Northcote, Auckland 9
New Zealand
Ph: +64 9 480 4440
Fax +64 9 480 4440
Web: http://www.soil-health.org.nz/

Compost New Zealand Homepage