How scraps become compost.
What makes a pile of scraps break down?
Loading the experiment…
What makes a pile of scraps break down?
Add both green scraps and brown leaves.
Aerobic microbes need organic material, oxygen and moisture. Dry browns add carbon; fresh greens add nitrogen. Turning the pile brings in air. Too much water displaces that air, while plastic remains contamination.
Equal carbon units per ingredient: browns C=300,N=5; greens C=300,N=15. Relative activity index, no real-time temperature or day prediction. Plastic is contamination, not compost feedstock. Air and moderate moisture enable aerobic microbes.
Build a moist, aerated mix close to 30:1 carbon-to-nitrogen.
Support aerobic microbes with a balanced compost mix.