The Cornell University Center for the Environment's internet site The Science and Engineering of Composting provides all the background information necessary to understand successful composting, including simple and well-explained equations. The content is divided into four categories: (1) Background Information covers four key areas of composting: invertebrates, microbes, chemistry, and physics; (2) Getting the Right Mix introduces composters to the concepts necessary for creating a successful compost pile, including moisture content, bio-availability, and carbon content; (3) Composting Experiments offers ideas for projects to investigate factors influencing the composting process, such as temperature, pH, and invertebrates; and (4) Composting Engineering Fundamentals focuses on three engineering principles used in composting: process analysis, odor management, and water quality protection.
1.6 million tonnes (7 per cent) of household waste was collected for recycling or composting during 1996/7 in the UK.