DEFINITION
Compost refers to the process of consciously collecting and aggregating organic materials - often food scraps and yard or lawn clippings - into a container or pile where it is broken down by bacteria, fungi, and other microfauna into a nutrient-rich soil-like material that can be used for growing plants and amending/improving soil.

Composting can occur on many scales, from a worm bin inside an apartment, to backyard (or front yard, median) compost bins, to municipal collection and large-scale industrial compost systems. Thus there are many opportunities to integrate compost into Green Infrastructure, and thus recycle energy and nutrients emodied in ogranic 'waste' back into the landscape quickly, efficiently, and in a healthy manner.

AKA
compost tea, vermicompost, worm bin

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
carbon to nitrogen ratio is important, as are aeration and moisture content

ILLUSTRATION
a diagram or drawing that demonstrates the basic pattern or concept

CASE STUDIES
links to separate pages documenting specific places or projects where this element is on display

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

See images of compost, and compost systems on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/compost/pool/