compost heaps
Garden waste mounds
Compost heaps are piles of organic matter—food scraps, yard waste, leaves—left to decompose into nutrient-rich soil amendment.
The heap generates heat as microorganisms break down material: The compost heap was steaming in the morning cold.
Gardeners turn their compost heaps periodically to speed decomposition.
Also called compost piles.
- pitchforkPronged tool for moving straw
- earthSoil or electrical grounding
- soilGround matter for planting
- dirtLoose dry earth
- humificationConversion to humus
garden beds · detritivores · steam · kitchen scraps · egg shells · thermophilic · humus · black gold · aerobic · leaf litter · nutrients · organic matter · mulch · manure · worm bin · green waste · yard waste · coffee grounds
- allotmentsallotments, kitchen gardens, potting sheds, tool sheds, raised beds
compost heapslandfills
Engineered waste disposal sites
garbage dumps · incinerators · garbage patches · ocean dumping · sewage systems
compost heapspollution sources
Origins of environmental contamination
environmental hazards · contaminated sites · industrial waste
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