PRODUCTION OF COMPOST

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26523, 11 September 1951, Page 3

PRODUCTION OF COMPOST

BROMLEY EXPERIMENT INSPECTED

An experiment in producing compost from city garbage and sewage sludge, which has been conducted by Mr H. T. Tidswell and Captain W. M. Bell at the sewage farm, Bromley, was insoected by members of the Christchurch City Council and the Christchurch Drainage Board and their officers on Saturday morning. Those who inspected the project were most impressed with what they spw. The finished product has not yet been tested, but Mr Tisdall and Captain Bell are confident of the result, and claim that the scheme could be developed into easily the biggest in the Dominion. One of the features of the experiment is the minimum of handling and expense. Bins for the experiment were built early in February and two loads of household rubbish were’ delivered on February 23. About 14 cubic yards of it were spread in a layer about two feet thick and covered with six inches of wet sludge from the sewage tanks. This was turned on March 6 and further loads of rubbish were packed on the turned heap, which was covered with about three’or four inches of sawdust. The bin was turned again on April 10 and finally emptied on June 7. The compost was then sieved. The temperature of the material averaged 147 degrees in March, 145 degrees up to April 10, 136 degrees after turning and 125 degrees for May. On June 26 a second trial was begun with the three loads of rubbish. Two more loads came the following day and one the next day. The heap was then covered with grass cuttings and "mat” from the top of the sewage tanks. The material retained on the sieve from the previous experiment was added and the whole covered with six inches of sawdust. Two more loads of garbage were added on July 12, followed by more sludge. The bin has not yet been turned as the board’s dragline which is used for the purpose is under repair. The temperature averaged 145 degrees for July and 159 degrees for August. The makers hope that the scheme will be taken over by the local authorities and compost produced on a big scale and sola for the benefit of ratepayers.