How to compost organic waste(For households) Takakura Composting method Prepared by, R. M. Asanka Dilini Green Practices Committee

Making fermenting liquid Use compost container of organic waste Three Major steps Takakura composting Method Making fermenting liquid Making fermenting bed Use compost container of organic waste

Making fermenting liquid If fermented foods are available, Fermented foods + Sugared water Ingredients A Brown sugar 50 g Tap water 15 liters Ingredients B Fermented foods Curd/yoghurt ( 5 table spoons), Dry yeast (12g) Mix together Cover the mouth of the container and mix it well. Place the container for 3 to 5 days with lid closed properly.

Sugared water Add fermented foods - Curd

Vegetables/Fruits + Salt water If fermented foods are not available, Vegetables/Fruits + Salt water Ingredients A Salt(120g) Water(15 liters) Ingredients B Leaf vegetables, fruit and vegetable peels Orange, Apple, Papaya, Water melon, Banana, Tomato, Cucumber, lettuce, Pumpkin etc.(200g per each) Mix together Cover the mouth of the container and mix it well. Place the container for 3 to 5 days with lid closed properly. Be sure to add fruit peels to intensify the fermentation Don’t use root vegetables

Use vegetables and fruits to replace fermented foods

Make sure to add vegetable and fruit peels

Add sugar Add vegetable and fruit peels Fermenting liquid

Fermenting liquid after 3 days Vegetables/Fruits + Salt water Fermented Foods + Sugared water Fermenting liquid after 3 days

Making fermenting bed Base Materials Rice husks ( 50 cm3 ) Rice bran ( 50 cm3 ) Straws/fallen leaves may be added Rice husks : Rice bran = 1 : 1 Add the fermenting liquid to the base materials, and mix well. If necessary, add water to maintain an appropriate level of liquid. Add leaf mold if available. If not available, add an additional quantity of fallen leaves Mix well Adjust moisture level to 40-60% by adding the fermenting solution and water

Rice husks : Rice brains = 1: 1(Base materials) Adding fermenting liquid to base materials

Fermenting liquid + base materials Mix it well Cover the fermenting bed from a newspaper

If the moisture content is right, mixture becomes a lump with out oozing of water when squeezed lightly with a hand

Now cover the fermenting bed with breathable fabric to ensure that insects do not get in. The cover can be made from newspaper or fabric. The compost is ready when white bacteria have proliferated across its surface. This takes between three days and a week. When the entire surface become covered with white mould, it indicates the completion of fermentation. Then let it dry afterward

Surface become covered with white mould

Use compost container of organic waste(for household waste) A Container Use a breathable container. A shopping basket, bamboo basket, or cardboard box If the container has large holes in it, it should be lined with carpet, fabric, cardboard etc., in order to prevent entering the container. Fill the container 60% full with fermenting bed. Cover the bed with newspaper. Chop the organic waste finely, place it in the container and mix well. Squeezing water out of the waste before it is added will also avoid the compost becoming too wet. Mix the compost once per day, to allow air to reach the bacteria. Keep the container covered properly to avoid entering of insects.

Place a cardboard box inner side of the container Chop up organic waste, put it into the container & mix well Keep the container covered properly Cover the organic waste with seed compost

Be sure to stir the entire content once a day The smaller the waste is chopped, the quicker it will ferment Be careful not to let the moisture content become too high. Otherwise the fermentation will be inhibited. Be sure to stir the entire content once a day

Removing the compost If the breakdown of organic waste has taken place as expected, it should take around 3 months for the container to become full. Once the container is full, part of the compost should be removed. At this point, take care not to remove all the compost from the container. The remaining compost will continue to act as the fermenting bed. It takes 3 – 6 months for the container to become full with 500g of organic waste input everyday

Mature the compost The compost that has been removed cannot be used as fertilizer immediately. Remove the compost, and place it in a breathable cardboard box. Keep the water content at the same rate as the compost (40-60%) and store for 2 weeks. Finally organic waste will be changed to compost.

How to compost organic waste Composting centers Seed Compost prepared by Takakura method : Organic waste 1 : 1 Pile up the mixture in a trapezoidal shape with a height of roughly 0.6-1.5m Mix and shred Repeat once a day stirring for about 7 days Maintain the temperature at approximately over 600C.

Your final compost product is succeeded if, Approximately moisture content around 40-60% and maintains the temperature at approximately 30 0C even after stirring. Organic waste has lost shape almost completely. It smells like a soil. Extend fermentation period if fermentation is not yet completed.

When the fermentation is completed, dry the compost by spreading and ship it No need to make new seed compost every time since the dried compost can be substituted for it Fermentation performance is enhanced by replenishing new seed compost by little by little continuously