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Composting Composting is a natural process of organic decomposition which has recently received increasing attention as a well developed and proven technology to effectively manage solid waste resources and extend landfill life. Composting has:a broad range of applications, not only in the scale of operation, but also in the variety of wastes that can be utilized. Com- posting operations can range from individual recycling of household kitchen and garden wastes, to commercial -200 -ton per day municipal operations. Classes of wastes which may be composted include: crop residues, agricul- tural processing wastes, manures, municipal refuse, sewer sludge, park and institutional organic wastes, home garden and kitchen wastes. Biological principles involved in composting are similar at all scales and with each type of waste. However, the method of applying these principles may differ according to the component, volume, and the materials handling which is required. Similarly, problems in implementing and sustaining a composting operation will vary with the type of waste. To date, the limited market opportunities for finished compost and the need to compete economically with other waste treatment methods has made the utilization of mechanized composting systems doubtful. However, simple windrow composting of vegetative matter has proven to be efficient, econom- ically viable and ecologically sound. This method of composting is neither capital nor labor intensive and is relatively easy to implement on a local basis for local consumption. Compost Program Considerations • Source and Quantity of Vegetative Materials: Vegetative materials such as leaves, grass clippings, shrubbery and tree trimmings are available from residents, commercial services such as tree trimming and landscape maintenance services, and from city or county land maintenance opera- tion.- The quantity of materials available depends largely on the botan- ical charactertistics of the area and the types of materials the com- posting program is able to accept. Studies on per capita waste generation of various types of vegetative matter in San Joaquin County are not available. Typically, vegetative materials make up approximately 30 percent of the municipal solid waste stream. Using a composite value of 15 percent yard and garden waste and approxi- mately 1,650 tons per week disposal rate at the Harney Lane site, as presented in the San Joaquin Solid Waste Management Plan, approximately 1,060 tons per month of compostable vegetative matter is disposed of at the landfill.