Composting is both art and science
Backyard
When composting at home, best practices are that only fruits, vegetables, paper, leaves, small branches, and wood chips are acceptable. Rules in backyard composting are driven by the size of backyard bins, the ongoing availability of various carbon and nitrogen materials, and the expected seasonal need for compost. This means that composting is generally cold and takes a relatively long time to produce a usable product.
Community/ Small Scale Commercial
Once your pile or compost bin exceeds one cubic yard, you can now achieve year-round what is referred to as aerobic thermophilic composting. The range of materials that you can successfully and responsibly compost expands beyond coffee grounds, vegetable and fruit scraps.
Industrial/ Large Scale Commercial
When you have to process a lot of organic waste, then you need to be much more thoughtful and attentive to your ongoing need for inputs stockpiling and securing enough materials to meet disposal customers’ and compost users’ demands. Any and every permitted waste stream is at your disposal to craft a balanced soil amendment. The same principles still apply and factors of C:N ratio, moisture, bulk density guide the recipes.