Over time, public awareness of environmental issues has continued to grow. This is reflected in the increasing concern and active participation in managing both organic and inorganic waste.
One standard method of processing organic waste naturally is composting. Making compost is relatively easy, and the tools and materials are also readily available.
However, the compost-making process can be time-consuming. But this does not mean it is entirely out of reach to make it on your own. Curious about how to get started? Let's discuss and learn more in this article!
How to Make Compost
If you enjoy gardening, chances are you are already familiar with compost. In simple terms, compost is a natural fertilizer made from organic materials, including leaves, plant residues, and other biodegradable waste.
As a type of organic fertilizer, compost helps reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, making it a more environmentally friendly option for nourishing your plants. Ready to try it yourself? Here is how to make compost step by step:
1. Prepare the Tools and Materials for Making Compost
The first step in making compost is preparing the tools and materials. It is essential to understand that compost originates from organic waste. Therefore, you must first collect and separate it from inorganic waste.
For the tools, you will need a knife for chopping or cutting, a stirrer, gloves, a container for collecting waste, and a bucket for dissolving the activator. The materials needed to make compost include:
- Vegetable and fruit scraps.
- Eggshells.
- Dry leaves, grass, or plant cuttings.
- Coffee grounds.
- Finely chopped wood or bark.
- Expired kitchen spices.
- Used newspaper, paper, or tissues.
- Dust from the back of the refrigerator.
- Straws.
- Sawdust from untreated wood.
- Sufficient water.
- Soil.
- Husk charcoal.
- An activator (a substance used to activate decomposing organisms to accelerate the decomposition of organic matter).
2. Chopping Stage
Once the tools and materials are ready, begin by chopping the organic waste using a knife. The goal is to reduce the waste to a smaller and finer size, ideally around 1–2 cm.
You can prioritize smaller materials. The smaller the organic waste, the quicker it will break down into compost.
3. Mixing Process
Once all the ingredients are chopped, mix them thoroughly. This method helps maintain optimal moisture and porosity and shortens the composting process.
Do not forget to add manure, finished compost, sawdust, or soil as an inoculant. Then, pour a water solution with an activator, such as EM4, into the compost ingredients and stir thoroughly.
4. Cover the Storage Container
Next, place the organic waste mixture into a tightly sealed container. Ensure the container is completely closed, as exposure to air can interfere with the decomposition process and prevent it from proceeding properly.
5. Letting Process
To protect it from rain, store the compost container in a shady location. Let it sit for a few days until the decomposition process begins. To ensure proper air flow (aeration) inside the container, you can stir it once a week.
This composting method also ensures that the compost remains moist. This will speed up the composting process.
6. Waiting Time
As composting takes place, the temperature inside the container will rise. This indicates that several microorganisms are working to break down the chemical compounds in the organic waste into simpler compounds.
Besides stirring, it is also advisable to moisten the compost if the humidity drops below 40–60% during the decomposition period. You can water it at any time if the compost becomes too dry.
7. Harvesting Stage
After the composting period, which typically lasts 7 to 8 weeks, the organic waste will have matured into compost. At this stage, the temperature in the container begins to return to normal.
The compost is now ready for use in agricultural purposes. High-quality compost is generally characterized by fine grains, a blackish-brown color, and an earthy odor.
Once the compost is ready, you can use used plastic bottles, such as AQUA bottles, as planting containers or simply to store the compost. This way, unused Aqua bottles can be transformed into something more useful.
Furthermore, storing compost in AQUA bottles also makes the compost neat and organized. Once you have the seeds, you can place the seeds in the AQUA bottle containing the compost and plant them. It is much more practical, isn't it?
That concludes our discussion on how to make compost easily from organic waste. The process offers a more sustainable and economical alternative solution for waste and soil management.
While composting, the ehydrated due to insufficient water intake. Avoid becoming overly tired and” dengan“be mindful not to overexert yourself or become dehydrated due to inadequate water consumption. Therefore, always keep AQUA Life on hand. AQUA Life is a bottled version of AQUA made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
AQUA Life bottles are recyclable, so you can use them to store compost. This also aligns with AQUA's #BijakBerplastik program and AQUA's commitment to environmental sustainability.
AQUA also comes from selected mountains whose spring water sources are protected through 9 selection criteria, 5 stages, and at least 1 year of research on more than 600 parameters. This authentic Indonesian product has also received halal certification.
Furthermore, AQUA products comply with the Indonesian National Standards (SNI) and the regulations of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM). AQUA is 100% Pure, 100% Indonesian, and 100% Halal. So, make sure to always have AQUA on hand to accompany your daily activities!
