In that case I wouldn't class it as 'finished.'

I know I can't "do" finished compost in 12-15 hours. ;-)

Lloyd

When it comes to AD, I can't recall the official name for the leftover byproducts but it usually isn't "compost" in the technical papers but I can understand using that term to describe it and would hesitate to claim it's a conspiracy or a con game.

Lloyd

I'm with Lloyd

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity/ignorance/incompetence/poor communication.

My apologies for butchering and clarifying the quote.

The idea is that, whatever it is, if it processes waste into something usable that's better than piling it up in a landfill. But it isn't technically 'finished compost' if it burns plants when applied or has any odor other than an earthy smell. In that state it isn't usable and still needs some curing time.

Readers will note that the finished compost should be mixed with soil, ratios given.

HTH, and thanks to OP.

Rosie, Sugar Hill, GA

semantics aside.

Yea I am not sure why some are talking about microbes I am sure this "compost" is dead. Not sure why so many dont understand that this is infact true. Fact is they turn paper/food scraps into a usable fertilizer for plant in 15 hours. That to me is amazing and completly understanble becasue they are prob using the gas to "ultra heat" it.

Some fail to understand that this can also help cut back on petrol based ferts.

They use it at Disney Land? If so, I think that says it all.

Then I would speculate it is a small gasifier that produces syn (synthetic) gas (CH4, CO, H2) and (smoky smellin') biochar residue. if the raw material has lots of green stuff, then some nitrogen will be left in the char.

A reporter would not know the difference between methane and syn gas, and compost and biochar (and the smell of a smoke house and barbeque sauce!).

I hope someone reports "the rest of the story".

Until then, Californian's tale is OK by me.

Rick

But I think the point remains that certain composting processes take much longer than 15 hours, hence the problem of 'burning' plants. Unfinished compost contains acetic, oxalic, butyric and other organic acids, and these acids are what burns plant roots. In composting, these eventually form humic and fulvic acids.

I'll bet it's good stuff, but, yes, semantically, it's not finished compost.

Maybe that is a new definition of "finished" compost, though.

But calling it "compost" or calling something hot - "finished", are semantics problems for us composters.

If they are using it as mulch but their landscaped areas include large mulched areas not densely planted with small plants or shrubs, then there would be large areas that could benefit from this as weed-barrier and eventual soil-builder and it would not be hurting plants much.

When I have a need to cycle through a compost container more quickly, perhaps to take advantage of a large new influx of compostables, I will do the same thing with partially finished compost by putting it on an open spot away from plants or in a fallow garden bed. Of course I have to pick out the occasional read-able paper item or chunk o' something.

Whether finished by composters' standards or not it's still a usable product which turns garbage into an Earth-friendly product. We need to look at the big picture.

That is why you would add to somthing (peat/wood chips) then mulch with it.