COMPOST FACT SHEET #7:
Compost Equipment
Cornell Waste Management Institute
Play Before You Pay
Before purchasing composting equipment of any type,
decide whether or not composting fits into your operation and
schedule. Consider the feedstock that you plan to use and try
a few different recipes. Experiment with equipment that is on
site or close by, like a farm tractor, loader or even a pitchfork.
The pile can be a round haystack approximately 5-6 feet tall or
a windrow 5-6 feet high x 6-10 feet wide x greater than 4 feet
long. After you create the mixture, check the moisture level.
Take a handful of the mixture and squeeze. A few drops of
liquid should come out. If the handful is too wet, add bulking
material such as hay, woodchips, bedding material, etc. If it
is too dry, add water. Monitor temperature in the pile with a
compost thermometer. A thermometer is one of the best
indicators that the process is progressing. If temperatures are
not elevated, the carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio may need to
be adjusted or the pile may need to be aerated. Temperature
in a good working pile should range from 120-1500F.
Visit sites and talk to people that are using different
composting methods and equipment. Rental is a good option
while making decisions, especially when considering
screening, bagging, or collection of organics like food scraps.
Always consider renting equipment with an option to own. If
the equipment is right for your operation, you will come out
ahead economically. Used equipment is available from
equipment dealers and on web sites.
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Rice Hall • Ithaca, NY 14853
Cornell University
(607) 255-1187
E-mail: cwmi@cornell.edu
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu
Manure Management Program
www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu
Cornell Cooperative Extension
COMPOST
FACT SHEET SERIES
2004/2005
For these fact sheets and other
compost information:
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/Composting.html
Fact Sheet #1
Marketing Composts and Meeting
Consumer Needs
Fact Sheet #2
Regulation and Certificati