UK composters suffering from the heat

The drought has put many composters on high alert – forced to constantly water and turn windrows to ensure they don't dry out, as well as keeping an eye out for potential fire hazards.

At the same time, some yards are seeing a reduction in incoming volumes of green waste.

Ensuring the compost doesn't get too dry is a vital consideration for composters, as moisture helps to regulate the temperature of the compost heap, ensuring the most efficient breakdown process.

Eco Composting's Trelawney Dampney in Dorset has said the company has been “actively pumping 1000 cubic metres a week (400 cubic metres more than usual) into the compost to maintain the desirable moisture levels”.

Another concern is that the compost will heat up too much and create a fire hazard. Elizabeth Thompson, of the Durham-based potato crisp composting business A&E; Thompson, said that in order to reduce the fire risk, the company is turning the compost more regularly than usual and taking temperature probes every day.

Tonnage
The dry weather has also had an impact on the amount, type and weight of waste coming into composters, since a lack of water not only reduces plant growth, but also means green waste is generally lighter.

Luke Stacey from A R Stacey and Son in Buckinghamshire has said that incoming tonnages for green waste are reducing. However, he said his company was coping with the water shortages, explaining: “Our compost isn't drying out as we source from curbside bins which carry a lot of excess water.”

Another company who have noticed a change in the type of incoming materials is New Earth Solutions in Dorset who take in about 20,0000 tonnes of green waste a year. The company's sales and marketing director Peter Mills said: “We have seen a decrease in green waste coming in but as more people are eating salads there is more vegetable waste so our ratios are varying.”

Despite no change in SITA's incoming green waste tonnage, the company's composting manager Dr Stephen Wise-Merry conceded that since composting is a 3-4 month process, the repercussions of the drought are yet to come.

Dr. Wise-Merry revealed: “If our incoming green waste tonnage was to fall we might have to source extra waste from other areas to fulfill our 35,000 tonne contractual obligations with the local authority of Leicester.”